Do I need to supplement DHEA?

[Clara62]

Hello, this is my first post :). I've done this test recently through a website, I don't have an endocrinologist at the moment. I am not sure what to do. Thank you.

(I have hypothyroidism and I am on T4/T3 meds)

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Can you add a bit of info, like most recent blood test results TSH, FT3 and FT4, plus do you have Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease) diagnosed by high TPO or TG thyroid antibodies?

What dose of Levothyroxine and T3. Do you take T3 as split dose etc

What about recent levels of vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. Helpful to add, plus what supplements you are taking

[Clara62 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hello SlowDragon, thank you for asking. My recent Thyroid Blood tests, done 10 days ago:

TSH is 0.029 ( range is 0.27 - 4.20)

FT4 is 19.7 ( 12-22)

FT3 is 4.9 ( 3.10- 6.80).

REVERSE T3 12 ( 10-24)

Thyroid antibodies are always negative, I've tested them many times, so I assume I don't have Hashimoto..

B12 = 505 ( range 160-925)

Folate = 8.3 ( range 2.90-50.00)

Vit D = 131 ( 50-200) tested in 2017

Ferritin = 54 ( 40-250)

I am on:

85 mcg T4

10mcg T3

Supplements: VIt C= 800 daily

B6 = 50 daily ( I resulted low from a Genova test I did a couple of years ago)

B1 = 100 daily ( same)

Tumeric.

Magnesium sometimes.

Also I don't understand why my TSH is suppressed while FT4 and FT3 are perfectly in the range. As soon as I lower the dosage my TSH becomes normal but my FT4 goes down and so my FT£ ...apparently I am not able to have all of them in the range.

I have always quite low blood pressure and a lowish heart rate at rest.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions, I admit I am quite confused at the moment!

Forgot to mention that I have thyroid nodules, and I take the T3 dose only in the morning

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Clara62]

Taking virtually any dose of T3 suppresses TSH

Was last dose of T3 approx 8-12 hours before blood test? (Suspect not if you only take one dose per day)

Ideally we recommend splitting T3 dose the day before blood test, even if you don't do so normally, so that last dose is around 9pm and blood test is 8-9am next morning

If last dose of T3 was 8-12 hours prior to test, your results suggest under medicated on T3

I think you need to retest vitamin D at least annually

vitamindtest.org.uk

Many of us find a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial. Rather than individual B vitamins

Your folate is low

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast

Recommended brands on here are Igennus Super B complex. (Often only need one tablet per day, not two). Or Jarrow B-right

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...

Ferritin is borderline. Eating liver or liver pate once a week should help, plus other iron rich foods

Some of us find split dose is more effective, either 2 x 12 hours or 3 x 8 hour gap

[Clara62 in reply to SlowDragon]

SlowDragon, thank you very much for all the important information! I really appreciate it.

I didn't take any medication the day of the test, only after. So the last dose I took was the morning before. Maybe I should test again soon. It's difficult to split T3 because it's part of a compounded med, but yes I do feel like I am undermedicated, not easy to find the right dosage. I will buy the recommended brands of vitamin B complex. Actually, I didn't know that vitamins B affect the tests result...I was taking them, will keep this in mind for my next test. Where do you find only T3 medications here in the UK? I wasn't able to find it, the only thing I have is a compounded med and a lactose-free brand of T4.

Concerning my DHEA/Cortisol results, I guess I should supplement DHEA, it looks quite low...any thoughts? Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Clara62]

Personally I had similar low DHEA twenty plus years ago, but supplementing DHEA didn't help, in fact made things worse

I would not mess with adrenals , but look at finding the cause, if possible.

Many people do not get on with Teva brand of Levothyroxine (unless lactose intolerant)

T3 in UK, there's 3 brands. Mercury Pharma, Morningside Healthcare and also lactose free Teva

All three are similar price (£204 for 28 tablets) so NHS extremely reluctant to prescribe

Private prescription enables access to cheap T3 from Germany. Thybon Henning 20mcg- 100 tablets are 31 Euro

Post this afternoon discussing biotin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

[jgelliss in reply to SlowDragon]

I personally agree with you SlowDragon . Supplementing with DHEA can at times make us feel worse . Having our thyroid meds *Optimally Dosed* . Quality nutrients in place . Supporting adrenals with nutrients . Going gluten dairy sugar coffee free is very important too . Getting enough rest/sleep is very important .

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Clara62]

Teva is a Marmite brand

Love it or hate it

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

[Clara62 in reply to SlowDragon]

I would like to find an endocrinologist with the right knowledge who could help with Thyroid and adrenal issues but I don't know where to start looking even if I am based in London and therefore I suppose there will be many..or maybe not so many... . Thanks again for your help!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Clara62]

Email Dionne at Thyroid Uk for list of recommended thyroid specialists

please email Dionne at

[e-mail]

The answer is ....not so many

Any on list you think you might want to see, you can ask on new post for any members to contact you via private messages on their experiences (good or bad)

No comments about specific medics allowed on open forum

Getting vitamins optimal is first step for many of us

You can have Hashimoto's and never have raised antibodies

Ever had scan of thyroid?

Ask GP for one

[Clara62 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you Slow Dragon. I had many scans ( ultrasounds) during the years because I have thyroid nodules, cold nodules, discovered in 2001. These nodules have always the same dimensions. How can I know if I have Hashimoto then? There are other parameters to consider? It would be useful to know whether is Hashimoto or only hypothyroidism. I do have a lot of digestive problems ( chronic constipation, Sibo, food intolerances, acidity )

Yes, great I will email Dionne!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Clara62]

Yes I have nodules, but was "lucky" both my TPO and TG antibodies were off the scale they were so high.

Constipation, magnesium supplements can help

Usually acid problems are actually due to low stomach acid, not high acid

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

naturalendocrinesolutions.c...

SIBO common Hashimoto's problem

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2017/04/gu...

amymyersmd.com/2016/11/sibo...

naturalendocrinesolutions.c...

[Clara62 in reply to SlowDragon]

Again, thank you very much! So many useful information.

I wish I could do other tests to know for sure if I have Hashimoto...