Are My T3 And TSH levels Optimum? Advice/Thoughts Much Appreciated!

Hi! I have recently taken thyroid blood tests to eliminate whether my symptoms of hot sweats and palpitations are thyroid related rather than menopausal or something else . I am just starting menopausal age and hypothyroid. My previous blood results were pretty optimum.

I would value if folk in the know, could advise me if my T3 and TSH levels are out, or still optimum. I take Thyroid S and self medicating with my GP aware.

A GP (not my registered one) states that my T3 is too high and TSH is very low and claims that my symptoms are related to this. My hypothyroidism is auto immune related, probably Hashi's but not officially diagnosed. My levels are below:

FREE T3 LEVEL: 7.1pmol/L. norm range: 4.0 - 7.0

FREE T4 LEVEL: 16 pmol/L. norm range 10-25

TSH: 0.02 mU/L. norm range 0.55 - 4.78

Any thoughts please! 😊

[greygoose]

If you're taking NDT then your TSH is going to be low and it doesn't matter. TSH does not cause symptoms whether it's high or low. It's the T3 that causes symptoms if there's too much or too little of it.

0.1 over-range doesn't matter if you feel well with it. But, optimal is not a number, it's how you feel. If you think your FT3 is too high, try reducing it slightly, see if that makes you feel better. It's all trial and error, I'm afraid. No-one can tell you where your levels should be, or how much you should take to feel well. Only you can know that. Of course, the menopause does make things more complicated for many people. But, only you can know how you feel.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

Thank you, appreciate your advice 😊

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

You're welcome.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 regularly. Couldn't see any recent results in quick look at previous posts

Common for any, or all of these to be too low

Low B12 can cause night sweats

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw). This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

If/when also on T3, or NDT make sure to take last dose is 8-12 hours prior to test

Is this how you do your tests?

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, I didn't medicate the morning I took the test, and I had my last tablet just before lunch the previous day. I do take B12 supplements. The sweats are probably menopausal then as I have been on this dose 2.5 grains for several months (6+) now and only started having these regular sweats two weeks ago. I have also up'd my zinc dose to around 30mg (I've read that levels no higher than 40mg are safe).

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Be a good idea to test vitamin D, folate and ferritin

Folate works with B12

Or just try supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial.

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 5-7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

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

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks! Good advice, I didn't know that about your last paragraph