Hi, can anyone advise whether these results are in range? I’ve just met with the GP who advised to stay on 100mg of thyroxine. Thanks

[Portiapuss]

Total Thyroidectomy after thyroid cancer (and parathyroidectomy) still feel off!

[Portiapuss]

I also have

vit B12 at 236. Range 187-883

Vit D at 32.4. Range 30-100 sufficiency.

Not sure how to add second pic! Thanks again.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Portiapuss]

Portiapuss

Vit D at 32.4. Range 30-100 sufficiency.

Is the unit of measurement nmol/L or ng/ml, it makes a big difference.

vit B12 at 236. Range 187-883

This is low. Many people with B12 level in the 300s have needed B12 injections. Check for signs of B12 deficiency here

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

and if you have any then list them to discuss with your doctor and ask for further testing for B12 deficiency/pernicious anaemia.

If you don't have any then you could supplement. Because your level is so low then I'd start with 1000mcg sublingual methylcobalamin, along with a good B Complex such as Thorne Basic B or Igennus Super B. When the sublingual methylcobalamin is finished then just continue with the B Complex.

Ferritin: 39.11 (13-150)

It's said that for thyroid hormone to work properly (that's our own as well as replacement hormone) ferritin needs to be at least 70, preferably half way through range.

I've seen it said that a good level for females is 100-130 and for males 150. You can help raise your level by eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week due to it's high Vit A content, also liver pate, black pudding, and including lots of iron rich foods in your diet

apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...

[MaisieGray]

"can anyone advise whether these results are in range"

Portiapuss You have the reference ranges provided there with your results, for you to judge for yourself. For instance, your TSH result is 0.41 within the reference range 0.35 - 4.94 ie your result is within range; then your T4 result is 11.03 within the reference range 4.87 - 11.82, so again within range. The CRP result is slightly different as the reference is presented as an upper parameter of 0.5, but as your result is 0.09 it is within that. However, a result being within range does not necessarily mean it is optimal for you. Your TSH for instance, at less than 1.0, might be generally considered "good", although for some people post-TT for cancer, a suppressed TSH is required/advised, although thinking is changing slightly on that, depending on individual circumstances. You would need to know from your Endo Surgeon or Endo, what advice is relevant to you. But into the future, the important results are FreeT4 and especially FreeT3, as the TSH is a pituitary hormone. Unfortunately it seems from their ranges that you may have been tested for TotalT4 and TotalT3 which isn't helpful - you would need to clarify this with the Lab, because Total levels include both bound and unbound hormones, and it is only the unbound ie "free" thyroid hormones that are available to the body and will therefore affect how you feel/symptoms. Your serum albumen and protein are both within range but hopefully others will advise if optimal for each is lower rather than upper end. I suspect it is, but may be misleading you on that. Your CRP level, a non-specific marker for inflammation is good.

Hopefully SeasideSusie will advise re. vitamins, but your vit d is obviously insufficient although not deficient and if you are in the UK, that will impact how your GP responds to your result.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

TSH is fairly low, FT4 near top of range but FT3 is not very high

You are poor converter. Low vitamin levels won't be helping. So first step is to improve all low vitamin levels to optimal levels

What supplements do you currently take?

Looking to improve vitamin D to around 40ng/ml

B12 is low and likely folate is too

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. Certainly only start with one tablet per day after breakfast. Retesting levels in 6-8 weeks ).

Or Jarrow B-right is popular choice, but is large capsule

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

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

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Ferritin low as well - aiming for at least half way in range

Look at improving your intake of iron rich foods and vitamin C can help improve iron absorption

[pennyannie]

Hello Portiapuss

I'm with Graves Disease and following thyroid ablation in 2005 became very ill some six years back. Thanks to this amazing site I have been able to turn some things around for myself, and am now self medicating with Natural Desiccated Thyroid .

A fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you daily with approximately 100T4 + 10 T3.

Personally speaking I think if there has been a medical intervention and the thyroid either surgically removed or ablated with RAI both these vital hormones need to be on the patient's prescription for if, and when required.

Some people can get by on T4-Levothyroxine alone, some people simply stop converting T4 into T3 at some point in time, and some people simple need both these essential hormones dosed and monitored independently, to bring them into balance and to a level of well being acceptable to the patient. This usually results in both T3 and T4 being in the upper quadrants of the ranges. Your T3 is very low, some 24 points into a range of 101 so around 23% through its range whilst your T4 is some 90% through the range. This would suggest that your ability to convert the T4 into T3 is compromised. There are many reasons that might contribute to this, and if vitamins and minerals are not optimal, which they aren't, this is one area you can work on yourself.

Once my vitamins and minerals were optimal I then proceeded to try and obtain a prescription for T3 from the NHS endocrinologist, my first appointment with an endo in 10 years, but I was refused a trial of T3 as my TSH was suppressed, and received no help or advice with my ongoing health issues.

I then purchased both T3 and NDT for myself and trialled both thyroid treatment options. They both worked and I have settled on Natural Desiccated Thyroid as it contains all the known contents of a thyroid hormone, viz: T1, T2, T3, T4 and calcitonin.

It is a massive learning curve, and there is one book that I think you might like to look at :- Your Thyroid and How To Keep It Healthy by Dr Barry Durrant - Peatfield. I know it seems strange, as we now don't have this major gland to keep healthy, but we do need to know what happens and the implications of when this major gland malfunctions or is removed and we need to compensate for this loss as best as we can.

P.S. I should have looked back, as your name rang a bell !!!

Sorry for the repeat of information - but good news, as now with the blood tests we can see the vitamins and minerals need working on - whilst you read up and look at the next steps to take.

[Portiapuss]

Thanks for all your input. I’ll get the vitamins etc as advised since I’m back in the UK next week. (Unfortunately liver is my most detested food, along with grapefruit! Pomegranates are on the menu however). Shukran as they say over here - thanks again.

[Angel_of_the_North]

That seems sensible advice. However, your ferritin is much too low for good conversion from T4 to T3 - need sot be at least 70, so you need to supplement iron