I finally managed to get a print out of my last 2 blood results. The image attached is results from 5 weeks ago after which I was started on 50mg of Levo. I had my next set of bloods done last week the results of which are below. I have multiple pages from the latest bloods but just listed the ones that I think are relevant if I’m missing any let me know and I’ll check if they’re listed.
After getting the results of latest bloods (over phone initially) the dr told me to maintain the 50mg dose and take a vit D suplement( Altamira D3 25000 units capsules - 2xweekly for8 weeks) I questioned them on maintaining Levo as TSH is still out of range but refused to increase dose. I’m changing my GP and will visit surgery next week to discuss. I really appreciate everyone’s help so far and would be grateful for any more advice on my results.
Latest blood results:
Anti-thyroid peroxidase: 43 (0-34)
TSH: 9.03 (0.27-4.2)
Free T4: 13.3 (12-22)
Free T3: 4.3 (3.1-6.8)
CRP: 36 (0-5.0)
ESR T1: 35 (0-30) * had a cold and suffer with UC so this prob accounts for elevated crp and esr.
Vit B12: 307 (197-771)
Folate: 6.9 (<3 suggestive of deficiency)
Ferritin: 161 (13-150)
25(OH) Vitamin D: 28.6 (30-125)
Magnesium: 0.84 (0.7-1.0)
Serum Iron: 8.5 (5.8-34.5)
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Nini79
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The doc is a clot. 50mcg is a starter dose. TSH should be about 1 or below .
You need more levo. Your FT4 is below the range .It has to convert to FT3 which is the active hormone all cells need but that test has not been done which is why so many use private tests.Your B12 is too low .See Seaside Susies posts on vits.
Thanks Treepie. The FT3 wasn’t done in the first test but it was checked in the latest one. It was 4.3. Within range but probably not optimal. I need to brush up on suplements - I haven’t a clue.
I agree with Treepie that you are still very much under-medicated and need to increase your dose. Your TSH should be around or below 1, the free T4 should be at least 2/3rds through the range (some people need even more) and the free T3 should also be at least 2/3rd through the range.
Your ferritin is high, but this is a result of your high CRP, which gives false ferritin values. Your iron is actually on the low side and should be increased.
Its good to get the Vitamin D increased - I would also suggest an increase in folate, might be worth investing in a good Vit B complex containing methylfolate. Having optimal Vitamin levels will also help your body to make the most of your thyroxine.
You also have high TPO antibodies, which suggests Hashimoto's (most common form of underactive thyroid disease).
Your GP refusing to increase the dose sounds ridiculous - all these results suggest that you are still very much under-medicated and I suspect that you are still having symptoms. Therefore you should be able to continue to increase your dose until the TSH is below 1 and T4 and T3 in the top range and you are symptom free. If your GP won't listen, then yes change GP if you can and don't give up! Good luck!
Thanks Tina, I was wondering about the ferritin being high... but that eases my mind. Should I just get Vit b complex from pharmacy - is there a specific brand you’d recommend?
If you want a good quality supplement, I can recommend Igennus Vit Super B complex with folate available on Amazon - not cheap but effective (one month supply £9.89). However, once my folate was up, I just take one tablet per day to maintain my levels (so lasts longer!).
Yes to increasing the dose a bit. You will have to find a doctor truly educated in testing and dosing T4 and T3 hormone, (synthetic and DTE/NDT). I would want a higher FT3. Many of us do not convert the T4 into T3. Therefore no amount of T4 will help increase the FT3. We have to use synthetic T3 or switch to DTE/NDT (porcine or bovine derived pharmaceutical grade).
Just to confirm what you already know, you're very undermedicated. The TSH is well above the range, and that range is far too high, anyway. Most people will need their TSH low in range or below. When taking Levothyroxine your freeT4 needs to be right at the top of the range, and at the moment it's low.
For thyroid hormones its important to note that just being inside the range isn't enough, its where you are in the range that's important.
These results don't show any reason at all not to give you a raise, and its likely you'll need a few raises to get yourself into a good state. This doctor just has no idea at all what they're doing. Good to hear you're changing doctors!
If you'd like to give yourself an increase, 25mcg is the increment to go in.
I'm glad others have stepped in to give vitamin advice, as it there is something a bit strange with the ferritin (stored iron) being high but other iron measures being low!
High ferritin is a mark of inflammation. If you have an infection anywhere in the body, ferritin can be high. Mine was 185.5 (10.0 - 150 ng/mL) but my iron was mid-range and Iron/TIBC at 25% (13 - 50%). At the time I had a root canal that needed to be redone.
I was still getting over a chest infection so that probably accounts for the high CRP and ESR results. My inflammatory markers would normally be elevated - CRP usually around 10-15 as I have Ulcerative Colitis.
A good place to start sorting your iron problem is to address your systemic inflammation. Krill oil is particularly good. Do you have any infections? What is your haemoglobin level like?
How do you feel? I had similar biochemistry to you in vits/minerals/thyroid and felt like death.
Just to add you should try and reduce inflammation rather than add iron. You have plenty in store but it's shunted away into storage and unavailable. Taking iron will likely result in higher ferritin if the inflammation isn't resolved.
HypoPaul, thats an interesting link, I couldn't absorb all of it.
If you've got time, could you please have a look at an old post of mine with some FBC results, and see if you see anything? I've had long term inflammation. I will chase up some iron results and add them as a comment.
I definitely felt like I was about to keel over 6 weeks ago - I felt so bad. I have improved since taking the Levo but still no where near how I should feel. I was getting over a chest infection when I got the last weeks bloods but my inflammatory markers would normally be elevated (though not that much) as I have UC.
Haemoglobin: 13.3 (11.5-15)
Mean cell haemoglobin: 32 (27-32)
Thanks for the tip on the krill oil - I will definitely look that up. I’m noticing at the moment an increase in psoriasis and painful joints so hopefully that will help.
At least they tested Ft3/4. I had an appt with my GP on Friday and said my results were not helpful, because only TSH had been tested. He argued that it was all that was needed. I pointed out it did not tell him if I was converting T4 to T3, and he said they would not do further than TSH. However I remembered to take an older letter from 2014 which endocrinologist said I had high antibodies, was suffering with hypothyroidism and hypoparathyroidism,result he is having full tests done + cholesterol + vitamin +liver + kidney . I’m so glad I keep all documents , because none of these Drs seem to read notes. So the war continues.
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