I've been on Levo for approximately 10 years, and currently on 150mcg per day. I had a full Thyroid UltraVit test in Feb 2018 because all my symptoms returned a couple of years ago. After that test I acted on helpful advice from this forum and supplemented my vitamins etc. Earlier this week I had a second Thyroid UltraVit to see what effects the supplements had had, and I'd be grateful for your views on the latest results.
FEBRUARY 2018 RESULTS WERE:
TSH: 0.881 (Range 0.27 - 4.20)
Free Thyroxine: 18.5 (12.00 - 22.00)
Total Thyroxine (T4): 98.3 (59.00 - 154.00)
Free T3: 4.63 (3.10 - 6.80)
Active B12: 161.00 (25.10 - 165.00)
Folate (serum): 6.25 (2.91 - 50.00)
Vitamin D: 70.4 (50.00 - 200.00)
Ferritin: 213 (30.00 - 400.00)
Thyroglobulin antibody: 31.20 (0.00 - 115.00)
Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies: 269 (0.00 - 34.00)
SINCE FEBRUARY 2018 I HAVE BEEN SUPPLEMENTING WITH:
Vitamin D 3000iu Better You spray; Vitamin K2 MK7 200ug (I now know 200 is too much and will reduce when the current pot of pills runs out); Methylfolate 1000mcg; Magnesium Glycinate 200mg; Selenium 200mcg.
NOVEMBER 2018 BLOOD TEST RESULTS:
TSH: 1.33 (0.27 - 4.20)
Free Thyroxine: 19.20 (12.00 - 22.00)
Free T3: 5.18 (3.10 - 6.80)
Active B12: 118.00 (37.50 - 188.00)
Folate (serum): 19.58 (3.89 - 26.80)
Vitamin D: 84.8 (50.00 - 200.00)
Ferritin: 277 (30.00 - 400.00)
Thyroglobulin antibody: 32.300 (0.00 - 115.00)
Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies: 244 (0.00 - 34.00)
I've got Hashimoto's, so I'm glad to see my antibodies coming down - my plan is to soon go gluten free. Also pleased to see FT3 creeping up, but I think it needs to be higher? But TSH has gone UP, which annoys me. I know TSH isn't critical if I was feeling well, BUT I STILL HAVE MY SYMPTOMS and none of them seem to have improved at all since supplementing for 8-9 months.
Any thoughts on anything above would be much appreciated. Many thanks, Nick
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bristolboy
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I agree with you... FT3 can go up a bit. I would not want the FT4 higher. You might be able to get the levels where you want them by using a desiccated such as NP or NatureThroid. The issue seems to be conversion of the T4 into T3. If on synthetic, lower the T4 and add T3. But the synthetic does not work well for many people.
Eliminating gluten has worked for friends that have Hashi’s.
I agree, I think conversion of T4 to T3 might be the issue. A DIO2 gene test will confirm that either way - and if I'm not converting then I'll press the GP for a T3 Liothyronine prescription (NHS or private). Or I skip the test and find an Endo willing to prescribe T3!!
Your FT4 is 72% through range and your FT3 is 56% through range, so conversion isn't as good as it could be. You could push your Levo up a bit, which would increase our FT3 as well as your FT4, but that wont mean the conversion is any better.
Looking at your vitamins/minerals:
Folate is now much improved, when you've finished the 1000mcg methylfolate, you might want to consider going onto a good B Complex, one that contains 400mcg methylfolate and that will keep your folate in check. It will also contain some B12.
I see your Active B12 has fallen - presumably you're not supplementing with that so the B Complex will help maintain a decent B12 level. Consider Thorne Basic B - I do well on that for both folate and B12 - or Igennus Super B.
Ferritin is spot on!
Vit D could do with a nudge up. The Vit D Council says that anything below 100 is deficient and the recommended level is 125nmol/L
I'd increase your D3 supplement during the winter months then retest in March with City Assays vitamindtest.org.uk/ if you're not doing another UltraVit at the time.
I'd see what happens when you go gluten free.
Also, something to think about for the future if things don't improve (I haven't looked back at your other posts so don't know if I'm repeating any suggestion already made), think about testing adrenals - Cortisol plus DHEA not just Cortisol alone. When I was unwell on a good dose of Levo with a high FT4 and middling FT3, not only was I not converting well, my adrenal test showed "low adrenal reserve" (my practioner's term), low sex hormones, plus nutrient deficiencies and I had to address everything. I don't have Hashi's so I didn't have that to contend with as well.
Thanks again for your excellent advice, it's given me even more to think about!
I'll certainly look into getting a good B Complex to help with B12, and will increase the Vit D a bit. As I'm currently on 1 x 3000iu Vit D spray per day, do you think having 2 sprays (6000iu) on alternate days (and 3000iu the other day) would be too much? Or maybe 6000iu twice a week?
I'll be honest and admit that I'm hoping to avoid going gluten free - life is miserable enough at the moment without cutting out the occasional treat as well . And you also mention possibly testing adrenals - and you "had to address everything" with them, which sounds like more work. I suppose I'm getting a little fed up, and looking for a "quick fix" - which is why I have been considering the easier (or slightly less difficult) option of trying T3. I have 4 packets of T3 which I bought from pharmacies whilst on holiday in Crete earlier this year but have not used yet. I've also briefly met a private GP this week who happens to be hypo, and who might be willing to give me a private prescription for T3 which I could then order from Germany (I haven't consulted her formally yet, so don't know if she would be willing to prescribe or not).
Popping a T3 every day sounds easier than going GF and doing even more supplementing if the adrenals need it - BUT am I missing a vital point - will taking T3 (assuming I can even get it in the current climate!!) just mask something important that ought to be addressed? Might I end up apparently feeling better - but just be building up trouble for the future?
Sorry, I presume you're not a doctor so I don't want to put you on the spot. But if you have any views they would be very welcome. Thanks, Nick.
Everything is related. Thyroid and adrenals work together, thyroid hormone (including T3) needs optimal nutrient levels to work properly. Just taking T3 won't fix, for example, nutrient deficiencies or an adrenal problem. You may not have an adrenal problem, it's just something to think about in the future if you don't improve.
Not everyone benefits from being gluten free, it's just another thing to try to see if it helps. Some people say it helps enormously but others say it hasn't helped at all.
It's taken me 2 years, optimising nutrient levels, addressing conversion, sorting out adrenals. At the moment, thyroid-wise I know I'm there, but along the way I've gathered other unrelated chronic conditions that will keep me unwell for the rest of my life and those can't be sorted.
It's a PITA wading through all this mud.
If you're currently taking 3000iu x 7 days a week (21,000), if that was me I'd take it up to 30,000iu per week, so you could add 3 x 3000iu extra, say Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
I see what you mean, time effort and money used getting onto T3 could be pointless if my nutrient levels aren't right and so I'm not using the T3 effectively. I'll tweak the vitamins as you suggest, and then try gluten free for a few months. If I don't feel any improvement after doing that, then I'll look into testing adrenals before considering T3.
As you say, it's a long hard slog - like swimming through treacle. I was pleased to see you've finally cracked the thyroid issues - but particularly sorry to see that you've now encountered a new batch of problems. Life, as they say, is a beach - particularly at the seaside, Susie. Keep your chin up, and thanks again for all the amazing effort you put into supporting others on this forum - I'm sure there's many on here who don't know how they'd manage without you and the other Admins, Nick
I'm not gluten free, I'm lucky enough to have no signs of Hashi's so I don't feel inclined to go down that route. When you get round to it, if it helps that will be great, if not then don't deny yourself your treats.
It will be interesting to know the results of your DIO2 test as that may help you get T3 from your doctors rather than trying to source it yourself (and that's not particularly easy at the moment).
Thank you for your kind words Nick, it means a lot and they've come on the right day
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