Really sorry but need help...

[Piggyoink]

Hello again lovely people. I hope you are all on the good side of well and getting the support you need 🙏🏾🙏🏾

Just attaching my latest results plus some more below. Won’t bore you with the lab/ surgery/ pharmacy dramas suffice to say it’s an ongoing fight for T3.

Bloods were taken on the 3rd Sept on 75mcg Levo and 25mcg T3 which I now take all at once in the morning as works better for me than a split dose. After farcical delays I just got my results today ( 3weeks later!) although after the draw I upped T3 by 5mcg as I had previously upped the Levo as recommended here and wasn’t feeling much better.

B12 is 590 ( 190-800)

Serum Folate 14.9 (3-17)

Serum Ferritin 74 (12-300)

Antibodies were not tested as ‘sample was not handled correctly in the lab.’

Blood counts continue to be on the low side, I’m feeling tired, sore joints/ body and generally worse after making a good start. Hair falling out and constipation are pretty regular as is tinnitus. T4 &T3 are slightly lower than the last time I had bloods in spite of the 25mcg increase in Levo.

I just don’t know what I’m doing wrong and all my GP can say to me is that everything is ‘normal.’ He didn’t even ask me how I was feeling and there was no point in telling him.

I feel I can’t talk to anyone or push for anything else because I know I’m privileged to get T3 so I’m afraid they may take it away if I moan.

I’m so disheartened and really grateful in advance for any light and hope you can shine on me.

THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU

[T3sortedme]

You are middle in the range on T3 and right at the bottom on T4 which is strange on that amount of Levo and very low TSH. Makes me wonder about the quality of tests especially if they admit they messed up one! Maybe you are not converting properly and T4 is being converted to reverse T3 (rT3). I’m T3 only (I had T4 to T3 conversion problem) so I’ll leave it to others to comment but very low T4 is an issue. There is a lot of good advice and experience on the site.

[Piggyoink in reply to T3sortedme]

Thank you so much for your advice- really appreciated. SlowDragon greygoose sorry for tagging you however I’m really desperate for some guidance. How do you think I should proceed? I do have conversion issues hence why I was finally given T3 so should I just reduce t4 and add t3 over time slowly? Should I ask for a rT3 test? Do they even do it? I’m trying to not go down the dark hole again but I’m feeling back on the ropes :’(

[greygoose in reply to Piggyoink]

So, now you're on 100 mcg levo and 30 mcg T3, right? I should think that the best thing to do is wait the six weeks and then get retested. And, see how you feel at that point, before changing anything else.

I very much doubt you'd get an rT3 test. And, there's not much point, anyway. It will only tell you if your have excess rT3, but not why. And there are so many possible reasons - have a look at Susie and Maisie's replies in this thread:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

They sum it up nicely.

[Piggyoink in reply to greygoose]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply again. I’m now on 75mcg levo and 30 t3 but feeling rough. I guess I just need to wait 3 weeks more and retest so I suppose I’ll just suck it up in the mean time... thanks for the link I’ll devour it today x

[greygoose in reply to Piggyoink]

You're welcome.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Piggyoink]

Wait and get blood tests....but you may need further 25mcg dose increase in Levothyroxine

Some people (including myself) need good FT4 and FT3

Others on Levothyroxine plus T3 seem to manage ok with low FT4

Everyone is individual. You have to see what works best for you

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water . 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).

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

[T3sortedme in reply to Piggyoink]

It’s frustrating and slow but it’s the only way to get to the right/best solution for you. It takes 6 weeks for each change to settle down. Also stress, colds/virus illnesses, late nights etc impact it. I would make daily notes and record how you felt out of 10 and you activity level. It is helpful when looking back and trying to make sense of it all. These guys are experienced and can guide you. Try not to do more than you can manage (I know that can be impossible in some people’s circumstances) and don’t set your expectations too high too soon. As you get to the right solution for you, you will improve. It took me 3 years to get right and I’d nearly given up hope of ever feeling better.