Help with blood test results please

[CornishChick]

TSH 0.004 (0.35-4.94)

FT4 8.2 (9-19)

T3 5.2 (2.9-4.9)

Following my last blood test post, I took the advice and have introduced a small amount of T3 and slowly reduced my Levothyroxine a little.

I was on 100mg levo only. I’ve slowly increased T3 upto 37.5mg and reduced my levo to 50mg. I’m assuming I’ve decreased my levo too much. I’ve been on these doses since 11/11/18.

My GP is excellent, whilst he doesn’t understand Hashimotos like some of you, he is with me in trying the T3 and understands about reducing levo slightly and gets the surpressed TSH. I told him I’m tweaking doses, and he amends my dose accordingly.

Could someone please tell me what I need to tell him now. Do I need a bit more levo again? Should I reduce the T3 a bit?

I’m still feeling wiped out reguarly, have chronic insomnia, brain fog etc. I am also dealing with adrenal fatigue and trying to tackle that too. I’d be very grateful for your input again SeasideSusie and greygoose

Many many thanks in advance.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

My own experience is that those results would have me feeling quite unwell, because I need a good amount of FT4 as well as FT3. I would reduce reduce T3 by 6.25mcg and increase Levo back up to 75mcg, that should increase FT4 and FT3 should reduce a bit but hopefully what natural conversion remains will mean there is still a pretty good FT3 level.

It may or may not be what's best for you, I spent many, many months tweaking doses to find what I needed.

[CornishChick in reply to SeasideSusie]

That’s brilliant, thank you very much for your advice, much appreciated.

[HughH]

I am assuming the T3 5.2 (2.9-4.9) is Free T3.

T3 is the active thyroid hormone which controls the metabolism and therefore the symptoms. Your Free T3 is above the top part of the normal range, so you should not have hypothyroid symptoms.

As you are still having what appear to be hypothyroid symptoms, one possible cause is a genetic condition: Impaired Sensitivity to Thyroid Hormone (more often known as Thyroid Hormone Resistance). It causes hypothyroid symptoms and requires very high T3 levels (often well above the top of the normal range) in the body to overcome the resistance.

As it is genetic if there are other family members with thyroid problems, fibromyalgia, CFS, ME, Coeliac Disease, MS, Heart Disease or depression this would further support this possibility. Even if you cannot identify any family history of this it is still possible that you have this condition.

[CornishChick in reply to HughH]

Thank you very much for replying, that’s interesting. Yes there is a lot of family history of thyroid issues, coeliac, vitiligo etc. Is there a way of testing this please?

[HughH in reply to CornishChick]

I will send more info by personal message.

[Hellonwheels in reply to HughH]

Please pm me the info as well? Many thanks