I am a new to the forum-help with thyroid results please

[Devonlass]

Hello you lovely people!

Firstly, I would like to express my amazement and gratitude for the wealth of knowledge and kindness displayed on the forum. It is lovely to see the amount of support provided which is sadly often lacking in the NHS for many sufferers. Anyway, I would be most grateful if someone could shed some light on my results please. Like many of us, I have gone down the private route after not getting anywhere with the NHS. Most of the females in my family are hypo/hashi's. I have symptoms of weight gain, tiredness and dry skin. I am supplementing with Vit D/K2, Iron, Folic Acid, Magnesium, and B12 to get these optimal as well. My practitioner is an ex-G.P and wants me to take NDT. Thank you for your help and time in advance!

Thriva results

FT3 4.11 pmol/L 3.1-6.8

TSH 2.15 mU/L 0.27-4.3

TgAb 10 kU/L 0-115

TPOAb 9 kU/L 0-34

T4 105 nmol/L 66-181

FT4 18.2 12-22

[greygoose]

Why does he want you to take NDT? Your FT3 is a little on the low side, but you aren't actually hypo. And, there's no proof there that you have Hashi's. Do you have a lot of symptoms?

You're actually a poor converter, so NDT might contain too much T4 for you, if you did take it, and not enough T3.

[Devonlass in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for the swift reply greygoose-that is great news if I don't have to go on medication. I have weight gain, fatigue, dry skin mainly. My folate levels were really low and iron previously so maybe they are the cause of the symptoms.

[greygoose in reply to Devonlass]

Maybe. But, you need to keep an eye on your thyroid, anyway. There's nothing to say you won't develop a problem in the future. Your TSH is a little high.

If you are taking iron, are you taking it two hours away from your other supplements, and taking vit C with it? And, if your B12 and folate are low, you would probably be better off taking sublingual B12 (if you aren't already) plus a good B complex containing at least 400 mcg methylfolate, rather than folic acid. The Bs all work together and need to be kept balanced.

[Devonlass in reply to greygoose]

Hi greygoose-apologies for the delay in replying. I am taking sublingual B12 and have just bought the Ingennus B to try out as well. Thanks for the tip about iron and vit c and all your help and advice.

[greygoose in reply to Devonlass]

You're welcome.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Devonlass]

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

Is this how you did the test?

Have you tried just increase in Levothyroxine to see if FT3 improves

Your TSH is higher than most people need on Levothyroxine. FT3 is low. But FT4 near top of range

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.

Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor

please email Dionne at

[e-mail]

Getting vitamins optimal does usually help improve conversion of FT4 to FT3

Have you had vitamin levels retested

[Devonlass in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon-apologies for the delay in replying. I did do my bloods in line with your recommendation, but currently on no medication for thyroid as yet. My sister has hashi's so I am trying to be ahead of the game and avoid the health battles she has had and is having. Thank you for your help and advice as well.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Devonlass]

One in five Hashimoto's patients never have raised Thyroid antibodies

An ultrasound scan of thyroid can help diagnose Hashimoto's

Are you on strictly gluten free diet or tried it?

Getting vitamins tested regularly and supplementing to maintain optimal levels can help improve symptoms

[Devonlass in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon-I have cut down on gluten but not 100% GF diet. I think you are right in that I need to get vitamins and minerals optimal first. My TSH has already come down since supplementing with iron. Hopefully I won't develop a full blown thyroid problem then. Thanks again for the great advice!