Blood results.

[sueoathall]

I wrote a post a few months ago about my test results , but was told because I hadn't taken my meds for 24 hours prior to the test that the results would be wrong. So have done another test and got my results back today. Would appreciate your advice please.

I'm not taking any levothyroxine, just NDT, 4 a day. I was previously taking 100mcg levothyroxine 4 days a week and 125mcg 3 days a week. I'm not sure if I feel better or not to be honest!

Anyway , here's my results:

Vitamin D 104 range 50 -120nmol/L

Vitamin B12 753 range 197-771ng/L

Serum free T4 10.4 range 12-22pmol/L

Serum free T3 4.7 range 3.10 -6.8pmol/L

Serum TSH 0.03 range 0.27-4.2 mu/L

Had a load of other stuff done but dont know what they mean,

Eg. Serum calcium, serum adjusted calcium conc etc

Any insights would be very welcome, thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

sueoathall

When did you take your last dose of NDT this time?

Serum free T4 10.4 range 12-22pmol/L

Serum free T3 4.7 range 3.10 -6.8pmol/L

Serum TSH 0.03 range 0.27-4.2 mu/L

When taking NDT, TSH and FT4 tend to be lower in range - this is as a result of the T3 in NDT. However your FT4 is below range and that may be too low for you. Your FT3 is low in range for someone on NDT, most people would feel best when it's in the upper part of the range. All in all, your results suggest an increase in NDT might be beneficial. Maybe add 1/4 of a grain then see how you feel in a few weeks' time.

Vitamin D 104 range 50 -120nmol/L

This is OK. The Vit D Council recommends a level of 125nmol/L and the Vit D Society recommends a level of 100-150nmol/L. Do you supplement?

Vitamin B12 753 range 197-771ng/L [ng/L is the same as pg/ml]

This is good. According to an extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok:

"We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 pg/ml to at least 450 pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550".

"For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml."

Do you supplement?

What about folate and ferritin - were they tested?

Eg. Serum calcium, serum adjusted calcium conc etc

If they are within range they they should be OK. But if you do have folate and ferritin results, please post them with their reference ranges.

[sueoathall in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks Seaside Susie. I had blood test at 11.40 and took last tablets about 9pm the day before.

I take various supplements, D3 3x 1000iu, Vit B complex, which contains b12 100ug, folic acid 400ug. Also k2, 90ug. And Vit c 1000mg . All doses are daily.

Folate was 13.1 range 1.90 - 25.00 ug/L

Ferritin wasnt tested this time.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to sueoathall]

Seems like everything is OK then. I would try an increase in your NDT, see if you can get your FT4 into range and FT3 a bit higher. You'll know if you're not taking enough and your FT3 wont go too high with just 1/4 grain increase.

Did you remember to leave B Complex off for 7 days before the test, this is because the Biotin it contains will give false results for any blood test if biotin is used in the assay.

[sueoathall in reply to SeasideSusie]

Is 1/4 grain one tablet ?

No I didnt stop the B complex, I didnt know about that! Oh bugger!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to sueoathall]

Are your NDT tablets 60mg? That is 1 grain. If so then you'd add 1/4 of a tablet.

Depends on your tablet though, they come in 15mg, 30mg and 60mg, depending on what you have.

[sueoathall in reply to SeasideSusie]

They're 60mg. They're quite small, will be hard to cut but I'll try. How would you spread out the days dosage?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to sueoathall]

I'd just add the extra 1/4 to one of the other doses. I don't take NDT, I take Levo and T3 all together in one dose early morning.

[sueoathall in reply to SeasideSusie]

Oh right. I thought you were meant to take it spread over the day? Due to it only lasting so long?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to sueoathall]

You take it how it's best for you. If split doses is best that's what you need. It suits me to take Levo plus T3 all in one go, I've tried splitting T3 and it didn't make any difference for me.

I presume because you take 4 tablets of NDT you are splitting your dose and it's fine for you.

[sueoathall in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ok thanks very much for your help. X

[JOLLYDOLLY]

Hi, I agree with SeasideSusie, regarding the T3 and T4 but do not understand the NDT meds.

I would definitely say you needed a higher dose on the T4 at the very least as your current reading/result is well below range

Have you checked your iron levels too. People can get confused by iron anaemia and Pernicious anaemia (you can have both, but Pernicious anaemia is normally linked with B12 deficiency, so if the B12 is ok, it is unlikely you will have PA) . It might be that you need iron in your system, have you had your folate and ferritin levels checked?

Hope it can be sorted for you.

Take care

[sueoathall in reply to JOLLYDOLLY]

Hi Jollydolly, my folate is 13.1 , ferriten not checked. Thanks for the reply x