New test results

[Coachgeorge]

I'm still not feeling well. I have a great deal of weakness, cold spells, and actually now some hot spells. I'm shaky, constipated and have constant gas and bloating. My heart rate spikes over 200, for less than a minute, about once a week. I was on 50 mcg of levo and 5 mcg of T3. We tried to move up to 7.5 but the shakes were even worse. She moved me to 75mcg of Levo and stayed at 5mcg of T3. Here are my results.

8/19 on 50/5

FT3 2.9 (2.3-4.2), FT4 1.19 (.8-1.8),TSH 4.84 (.4-4.5), Vit D 53 (20-100), B12 578 (200-1100), Folate 15.2 (>5.4), Ferritin 81 (18-204)

9/19 on 75/5

FT3 3.1 (2.3-4.2), FT4 1.7 (.8-1.8), TSH 1.29 (.4-4.5), Vit D 78 (20-100), B12 877 (200-1100), Ferritin 83 (18-204) She did not rechecked Folate.

My problems started in November of 2018 when my FT 4 went to 1.98. My TSH was 2.02 but she didn't check FT3. I don't do well at the top of the FT4range. I'm concerned that I'm approaching that again while at 1.7. I've only been on the 75/5 for three weeks. She checked me early because of my symptoms.

Another interesting thing I noticed in my results, prior to November my FT3 was always around where it is now without any meds. Any advice you can give me would be appreciated. I'm concerned she is going to tell me it's all in my head. She actually suggested that in the office before the blood draw. Thank you!!!

[greygoose]

They always suggest that! It's their way of saying 'I have no idea what's wrong with you, so it must be your fault'.

But, I'm wondering, has she ever checked your adrenals? It's beginning to sound more and more like low cortisol.

[Coachgeorge in reply to greygoose]

She has not checked adrenals. If that is the problem, what is the remedy?

[greygoose in reply to Coachgeorge]

Depends what the problem with the adrenals is - if there is a problem. They might just need a bit of TLC.

[Coachgeorge in reply to greygoose]

As you know, I've been ill since January and mostly in bed. It was only recently that we noticed that my thyroid was starting to be an issue as far back as November. Could I just be exhausted and weak because it's been a long time?

[greygoose in reply to Coachgeorge]

I'm not sure anyone can answer that question without doing a lot more tests and knowing more detail.

9/19 on 75/5

FT3 3.1 (2.3-4.2), FT4 1.7 (.8-1.8), TSH 1.29 (.4-4.5), Vit D 78 (20-100), B12 877 (200-1100), Ferritin 83 (18-204) She did not rechecked Folate.

My problems started in November of 2018 when my FT 4 went to 1.98. My TSH was 2.02 but she didn't check FT3. I don't do well at the top of the FT4range. I'm concerned that I'm approaching that again while at 1.7. I've only been on the 75/5 for three weeks. She checked me early because of my symptoms.

Your labs look good-ish in September. How did you feel at that time?

Your ferritin is a bit low - do you eat liver? B12 is good.

Such a pity she didn't check FT3 last November. Your FT4 was high, but so was your TSH. I would have thought that that was a signal to test the FT3, but they never learn, do they.

Probably the reason that you didn't feel so good with an FT4 of 1.98 was that it negatively affected your conversion, so your FT3 dropped a bit. How much levo where you taking at the time?

I would think that the next step, before you try to increase anything, would be to get your cortisol tested. You're not going to be able to increase your T3 is your cortisol is low. And, your symptoms fit pretty well with low cortisol.

[Coachgeorge in reply to greygoose]

I was on 100 mcg of levo with no problems that I knew of. She will probably call Thursday as she is in another office today. I’ll broach the subject. My skin looks like a prune and my nails are breaking off low in the nail bed. Good times!

[greygoose in reply to Coachgeorge]

Sorry, you've confused me now. When were you on 100 mcg levo with no problems?

[Coachgeorge in reply to greygoose]

Exactly! I was on that dosage for years. Then, suddenly my ft4 started to rise to the point where I had hyper symptoms

[greygoose in reply to Coachgeorge]

You've probably given all these details before but it's difficult to remember it all, and no time to check through old posts. But, give me numbers: what was it normally, and what did it go up to? What were the FT3 numbers? What were the symptoms? Was that when your doctor reduced the levo and added in the 5 mcg T3?

It really would be helpful if you could get it all down in chronological order:

Date/dose/results/ranges/symptoms/change in dose. Right from the time you started to go downhill - November 2018, would that be? Or before? Get all the details down in one place for reference. You could put it all on your profile and keep it updated. That would make it so much easier for people to help you.

[Coachgeorge in reply to greygoose]

I’ll try to figure out how to upload the screenshots. I have all of it

[greygoose in reply to Coachgeorge]

The problem is, you'd have to do it in several different posts, and you can only up-load one per post. I was think it would be good to have it all in one place for handy reference. So, maybe your profile page would be the best place for it.

You could summarise it all in a Word document, then copy and paste onto your profile.

[Coachgeorge in reply to greygoose]

I’ll work on it today. Not feeling great. Thank you

[greygoose in reply to Coachgeorge]

Well, take your time. Not much you can do until you've got your cortisol tested, anyway.

[Coachgeorge in reply to greygoose]

Was just reading the treatment is steroids. Not good, I can’t handle steroids. They make me crazy! I shake everywhere and my anxiety goes through the roof.

[greygoose in reply to Coachgeorge]

Don't get ahead of yourself. I'm not talking about Addison's. Just adrenals that are struggling a bit and having a hard time making morning cortisol. It happens when you're hypo. As I said, they might just want a bit of TLC. So, stop consulting Dr Google before you scare yourself to death! lol

[Coachgeorge in reply to greygoose]

What do you mean by TLC?

[greygoose in reply to Coachgeorge]

Adrenals need lots of rest - going to bed and getting up at the same time every day. They need lots and lots of vit C, and B vits and salt, and protein. They need a high protein breakfast as soon as you get out of bed in the morning (adjust taking thyroid hormone accordingly). They might need an adrenal glandular supplement - but one has to be careful in choosing - we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

[Coachgeorge in reply to greygoose]

Okay thank you

[greygoose in reply to Coachgeorge]

But, get tested first, to get a base-line.

[Coachgeorge in reply to greygoose]

I updated my profile as best I could. The dates are merging with the results and I can figure out how to change it. I hope you can read it. If not, I'll try again. Thank you

[greygoose in reply to Coachgeorge]

Oh, sorry, that's really not the way to do it. We need to see the three readings together at any given date, because they need to be considered together. So, example:

05/10/16 - dose: 100 mcg levo

TSH: 1.2 (0.2-5.0)

FT4: 10.1 (12.1-22.)

FT3: 4.5 (3.2-6.8)

Symptoms: blah blah blah

Dose changed to: blah blah

That way, we have all the information for any given date, all to hand, easy to read and understand. We don't have to scroll up and down and search around.

Sorry to tell you that after all your hard work, but the way you've done it is really not easy to understand.

[Coachgeorge in reply to greygoose]

Okay, it may take some time. I’m not doing well. Thank you

[greygoose in reply to Coachgeorge]

That's OK. Once it's done it's for life! And you can just add to it as your story advances.

[jgelliss]

I agree with Greygoose that it seems to point to adrenal /cortisol issue . You might try to supplement with some vitamin "C", B-Complex ,B-5 , vitamin "D"/k2, B-12/folate, magnesium, Iron if you test low , Celtic Sea Salt for electrolytes/adrenal/cortisol.

[Coachgeorge in reply to jgelliss]

I’m still not sure I understand what causes adrenal/cortisol problems.

[jgelliss in reply to Coachgeorge]

You might want to read up about adrenal fatigue in this great book by Dr James Wilson.

amazon.com/Adrenal-Fatigue-...

[Coachgeorge in reply to jgelliss]

Thank you.

[Coachgeorge in reply to jgelliss]

I ordered the book

[jgelliss in reply to Coachgeorge]

Great . Wishing you better days ahead.

[McPammy]

I also agree with Greygoose. You should get your cortisol checked. This is normally done at 9am as this is when your cortisol should be at its highest.

I had low cortisol and very poor conversion T4 to T3. For me as soon as I introduced T3 medication my adrenals bounced back within 4 weeks and so did I.

[Coachgeorge in reply to McPammy]

I take t3. I’m pretty hopeless

[McPammy]

Yes I read that. Just thought I’d let you know that T3 really helped me not only with my thyroid levels but also my cortisol. I realise you haven’t had your cortisol checked yet also but would urge you to request this is checked.

Maybe you could do with an increase of T3 as it’s only half way through your range.

[Coachgeorge in reply to McPammy]

Thank you