Hi all! Just wondering what my interpretation is of my blood results
Free T3 3.1 pmol/L (range 3.1 - 6.8)
Free T4 19.3pmol/L (range 10.8 - 25.5)
TSH 0.91 (range 0.27 - 4.20
My dose at the moment since 1st Nov is: 100/100/125/100/100/125 then repeat (levothyroxine)!
AleB
How long had you been on your 100/100/125/100/100/125 dose when this test was done?
Did you do your test under advised conditions, ie
* Early morning blood draw, no later than 9am
* Leave off Levo for 24 hours
* Fast overnight - normal evening meal/supper the night before and delay breakfast drinking water only until after the blood draw.
Your FT4 is 57% through it's range, your FT3 is at the bottom of the range. You are undermedicated and your conversion is poor.
We need optimal vitamins and minerals for thyroid hormone to work properly. What are your levels for
Vit D
B12
Folate
Ferritin
For good conversion, ferritin in particular must be at least 70.
Supplementing with selenium aids conversion.
Did you discuss with your endo the addition of T3 to your Levo as suggested by Greygoose in reply to your last thread?
Hello SeasideSusie, thank you for your response ... ok here goes:-
I have been on dosage 100/100/125/100/100/125 scince my first visit to endocrinologist on 1st November and was told my levels were too high from blood draw at GP surgry on 19th October 2018, which wereT4 21.4 (range 10.30 - 24.50) and TSH 0.26 (range 0.30 - 5.50) T3 not tested. My draw on the 30th Nov for endo was 8
30am no breakfast, definitely no levothyroxine but didn't fast the might before!
Other tests done at GP surgery on 30th Nov are Vit D 82, B12 1063 (range 180 - 1100) Have been taking 1000jug since early July. Folate 9.1 (range 3 - 13.00), serum Iron 12 (range 14 - 30.00), saturation iron binding capacity 18 (range 15 - 56.00), serum TIBC 65 (range 45 - 80), Ferritin 14.4 (20 - 300). Been eating 4 brazil nuts per day for selenium. Tested for coeliac 20/07/18 1
4 (range 0.80 - 2.80) gluten not tested, but I went gluten free on 18th Aug 2018 feel less bloated and windy. Went to endo today, told me I was normal🙈, but I questioned T3 and asked if I should be supplementing, told they don't offer that and then told me to increase my dosage (she wanted me to drop straight to 100mcg per day, I refused)! I don't know what to do ... taking 210mg of ferrous furmate x3 per day. My hair is falling out, weight is fluctuating (up), I can barely walk further than a few hundred yards. Legs are killing me, and I have had slurred speech over the past 3 days on slightly trying speed up! I don't know what to do!
AleB
You did your test perfectly. You don't fast the night before, as mentioned in my other post you fast after having your evening meal/supper until after the blood draw, which you did.
So if you'd been on that dose since 1st November and the test was 30th November, that's only 4 weeks and after a dose change it should be 6 weeks before retesting to allow levels to stabilise.
Your B12 is good.
Vit D could be better, recommended is 125nmol/L.
Your Folate range is strange but if it is correct then your level is over half way through which is good.
Your iron is dreadful. Saturation is very low in range, serum iron is below range, as is Ferritin, and you really should have been offered an iron infusion. Tablets will probably take many months to raise your levels. I expect this is causing problems. Have you had a full blood count - did it show iron deficiency anaemia?
Thyroid hormone can't work properly unless Ferritin is 70+.
Are you taking each iron tablet with 1000mg Vit C to aid absorption?
Are you taking your iron tablets 4 hours away from Levo and 2 hours away from other supplements and medication?
As for the Brazil nuts, you don't know how much selenium you are getti g from them, possibly nothing. They have to be grown in selenium rich soil to contain any selenium, and this will be on the packet if they are. Then the selenium content varies by area - see
honey-guide.com/2012/11/19/...
The only way to know for sure how much selenium you are taking is to use a supplement.
Your hair falling out could be your low Ferritin but could also be the hypothyroidism. Your low FT3 will be causing symptoms and preventing weight loss.
It's essential to get that iron sorted, whether the ferrous fumarate will do it I don't know but it will take some time if it does.
You also need that FT3 raised but your endo isn't any help there and probably doesn't even understand.
Maybe time to look for a better endo?
Oh thank you SeasideSusie ... I am so appreciative of your advice. I new it was too soon to check my thyroid levels but had waited so long for an endo appointment, I had googled her and she (endo) seemed to be more qualified on diabetes than thyroid! It's going to take ages to get iron back, I have a job to do and a family ... will have to go back to GP for this or try and find a good private one (not that I have much money), I'm desperate to feel better! How much selenium should I be taking as a safe dose?
AleB
Some people prefer to test selenium before supplementing, but if you don't want to do that you could take 100mcg or 200mcg (no more than 200mcg). The forms for best absorption are selenium l-selenomethionine or a yeast bound selenium, the worst forms for absorption are selenite and selenate so those two are best avoided.
Most endos speciality is diabetes, thyroid specialists are a bit like hens' teeth.
Thank you ... I shall look into it re the selenium. I take levo at 6am, wait an hour before eating and drinking then first iron tablet at 10am with 500 vit c, 2nd at 2pm with 500 vit c again and last iron at 8.30pm with vit c 500.
Your FT3 is extremely low
You need dose increase in Levothyroxine
As you have Pernicious Anaemia it's extremely likely your hypothyroidism is due to autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's
Ask GP to test TPO and TG thyroid antibodies as well as vitamin D, folate and ferritin
Low vitamins are extremely common result when under medicated, as you currently are
If you have Hashimoto's then it's extremely common to have gluten intolerance
Ask GP for coeliac blood test before considering trying strictly gluten free diet for 2-3 months
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