Help understanding updated results and trends please!

[Birdy123]

Hi all

Thank you so much for your help a few weeks back. So I managed to get my specialist to agree to up my dose on alternate days (so I’m now on alternating 75/100 thyroxine) which I think has helped a bit. I’ve also been following the advice re vitamins and I’m taking the better you vit d spray (3000iu), alternating between 1 spray and then 2 sprays every other day as well as Thorne basic b supplements and I’ve tried to up my iron intake with diet.

I’ve just got my updated results back and I’ve attached them. I still feel tired and I’m struggling to shift any weight although the increase has helped with the other symptoms. Looking at the tracker my t3, whilst slightly higher than the last test, hasn’t actually changed since beginning treatment - if anything it’s actually lower now than it was when I started treatment. I’m also really confused that considering how much I’ve been supplementing my vit b12 and vit d are both reading lower than in my last test... I’m a bit lost for ideas! Can anyone suggest anything for me? I’m seeing the specialist again next week. Do I try t3 or do I start with asking for a b12 injection? Help!

Thank you!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Birdy123

Comparing your two Medichecks tests, we can see that your FT4 and FT3 are now slightly higher than before which would seem to reflect the slight increase in your Levo. They are still quite low in range, FT4 being 47% through range and FT3 being 37% through range, when ideally they'd both be in the upper part of their ranges, which is where most people feel well. So you are still undermedicated if you are symptomatic.

I’m also really confused that considering how much I’ve been supplementing my vit b12 and vit d are both reading lower than in my last test

As for your B12, it was pointed out to you in your previous thread that an Active B12 result below 70 should be tested for B12 deficiency. I linked to information from Viapath at St Thomas' Hospital about this.

Both myself and another member suggested you stop your B12 supplement. I suggested you check for signs of B12 deficiency and list any that you were experiencing and discuss with your GP about testing for B12 deficiency/Pernicious Anaemia. It would seem that you may not have done this. I would reiterate the previous suggestion, stop supplementing B12, get tested for B12 deficiency/PA, and if you're taking B Complex then stop that also until further investigations have been carried out.

As for your Vit D, are you also taking the cofactors, particularly magnesium as this is needed for D3 to work.

Is your BetterYou spray the one where 1 x spray gives 3,000iu D3 - DLux 3000 with the green label, or is it the one with D3 + K2 where 3 x sprays gives 3,000iu - DLux+ Vitamin D+K2 with the red label?

Have you been taking a B Complex? If so did you leave it off for a week before the test?

I've just had a quick look at your previous post and saw that one member suggested looking into iodine. Regardless of what the recommended book says, iodine must be tested and only supplemented if found to be deficiency and then only under the guidance of an experienced practioner. Also, iodine is not a good idea for us Hypos, it used to be used to treat overactive thyroid, and it's definitely not recommended where Hashi's is concerned.

[Birdy123 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi Seaside Susie, thanks for your reply again. Re t3 and t4, they’ve gone up since my last test but if I look back to my tests at the beginning of the year they’ve actually dropped overall despite my dose having increased since then. Is this normal?

I did ask my GP to test me for b12 deficiency but they won’t do it - I don’t think I really show many of the symptoms that are listed outside of those that are also hypo symptoms but I will stop taking this now and see if my specialist will agree to arranging a test when I see him next week. I did follow the advice of not taking it for a week prior to my latest test.

I have been supplementing magnesium as suggested. I also have both sprays (the green spray which is vit d only and the red spray which also has the k2 in it - I’ve been alternating the 2 as I want to use up the green one that I already had!). I’ve also been making sure to take it with the fattiest meal of the day as was advised. I guess I could have been a little more strict with taking the k2 with every dose - just wasn’t expecting it to have dropped considering how much I’m taking!

[Birdy123 in reply to Birdy123]

Now I feel silly because I didn’t realise the red bottle was 3 sprays to match the 3000iu dose. I had been taking one red spray every day then adding a green every other day - I’ll alter this now! That explains the drop possibly as I went from 3000iu a day to alternating 1000iu and 4000iu!!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Birdy123]

if I look back to my tests at the beginning of the year they’ve actually dropped overall despite my dose having increased since then. Is this normal?

You have Hashi's, there's going to be random fluctuations due to the Hashi's activity.

I will stop taking this now and see if my specialist will agree to arranging a test when I see him next week. I did follow the advice of not taking it for a week prior to my latest test.

When stopping B12 for one week the result will show the effect of the amount of supplement you are taking. If you want a baseline you have to be off B12 for 4-5 months.

Leaving off Biotin (or B Complex containing it) is important leave off for one week due to it interfering with the assay.

I also have both sprays (the green spray which is vit d only and the red spray which also has the k2 in it - I’ve been alternating the 2 as I want to use up the green one that I already had!). I’ve also been making sure to take it with the fattiest meal of the day as was advised. I guess I could have been a little more strict with taking the k2 with every dose

The K2 isn't going to affect how the D3 is absorbed, it's the magnesium that does that. The K2 directs the extra uptake of calcium to bones and teeth.

As long as you are taking the correct amount of sprays of each to give the 3,000iu then either the Hashi's is affecting your gut/absorption of nutrients or you might want to try an oil based D3 softgel (eg Doctor's Best) as some Hashi's patients get on well with that.

Sprays don't need to be taken with the fattiest meal of the day because they are absorbed through the mucous membranes in the oral cavity rather than the stomach. It's supplements that are swallowed that need fat to be absorbed.

[Birdy123 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you again Seaside Susie. So I’ve seen the specialist and I’m going to maintain my current dose of Levo and monitor it. I’ve corrected my vitamin D dose which actually seems to be helping with the energy levels a bit already and I’m going to organise a b12 test at some point so I’ve stopped supplementing that for now. Really appreciate the help you’ve given me!