SlowDragonAdministrator

Would avoid Teva

Just use the same brand as your 100mcg and cut 25mcg pill In half or take extra 25mcg on alternate days.

Use a weekly pill dispenser as well

SmPea in reply to SlowDragon

Any tips on cutting tablet in half? I have weak arthritic hands and wrists.

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SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to SmPea

A small craft scalpel is easy

Like this

amazon.co.uk/Wedo-7852199-C...

But it's perfectly fine to take 25mcg only on alternate days if you don't want to cut the tablets

Levothyroxine is a storage hormone

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SmPea in reply to SlowDragon

Thanks SlowDragon very helpful.

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greygoose

Sorry to be a wet blanket, but I really don't think increasing your levo by any amount is the answer. You're not converting T4 to T3, and increasing the level of FT4 will make conversion worse, not better.

It is low T3 that causes symptoms, and yours is too low for you to be well. So, what you really need is a small dose of T3 added to a reduced dose of levo.

But, you also need to increase your nutrient levels - they are all low except ferritin - which might help a bit with conversion.

SmPea in reply to greygoose

Problem with conversion has been mentioned before, I guess I haven’t really wanted to accept this as it means more hassle getting T3!

I do appreciate you pointing this out as it’s made me rethink what to do.

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greygoose in reply to SmPea

Yes, I know what you mean.

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SeasideSusieAdministrator

I agree with Greygoose. Your conversion isn't particularly good. Good conversion takes place when the FT4:FT3 ration is between 3:1 and 4:1, yours is 4.26 : 1

I think adding more Levo will take your FT4 over range and then you may start making reverse T3 rather than Free T3.

I would work on your vitamins and minerals, B12 is particularly low as anything below 70 it's suggested testing for B12 deficiency. Do you have any symptoms of that - check here b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Optimal levels for vitamins are

B12 - near the top of the range

Folate - at least half way through range

Vit D - 100-150nmol/L

Fortunately your ferritin level is good.

I would also supplement with selenium l-selenomethionine as that can help with conversion. Also maybe test zinc (and copper) as zinc is said to help with conversion so it's worth seeing if that's low.

SmPea in reply to SeasideSusie

Thanks for all the helpful info. I am taking Vit D and Igenus B Complex + K2.

How much selenium do you recommend I take?

If I find I am low in zinc, what should be the supplement?

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SeasideSusieAdministrator in reply to SmPea

The generally recommend ded amount of selenium is 200mcg.

See what your zinc level is first. Mine was very low in range but I don't take a separate zinc supplement, I take a multi mineral that doesn't contain iron, calcium or Iodine.

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MaisieGray

You can buy a pill cutter for next to nothing from a pharmacy or supermarket, if you decide to increase your dose, which is a boon if you have dexterity problems. But I agree with greygoose in that your T4 to T3 conversion is poor - a dose increase is likely to push your T4 to the absolute top or over range but your T3 won't be anywhere near, based on your current levels. Have you had the DIO2 genetic test to see if you may have a fairly common fault which can sometimes affect conversion? But in any case, rather than more T4, I'd agree you probably need T3 added to your existing T4.g

SlowDragonAdministrator

I see in previous posts you had very low vitamin D and were on B12 injections, stopped fairly recently

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Are you taking ongoing maintenance dose of vitamin D? If not you should be, and it needs increasing. Vitamin D needs to be at least 80nmol and around 100nmol likely better

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is good as avoids poor gut function. Suggest you supplement 1000iu for 2-3 months and retest.

It's trial and error what dose each person needs.

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Retesting twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

Folate is too low. Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex may be of benefit, one with folate in not folic acid

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

There's nothing on your profile. As you have Hashimoto's Are you now on strictly gluten free diet?

I see coeliac test was negative, that doesn't mean strictly gluten free won't help

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Your FT3 is too low. If it doesn't improve after increase in Levothyroxine and getting vitamins optimal and absolutely strictly gluten free diet then look at seeing a recommended endo from Thyroid UK list for prescription for addition of small dose of T3

Email Thyroid UK for list of recommended thyroid specialists, some are T3 friendly

please email Dionne


tukadmin@thyroiduk.org

DIO2 gene test may help get you T3 on NHS if you test positive

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...