Latest blood test results confusing me. Help pl... - Thyroid UK

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Latest blood test results confusing me. Help please

sklitch profile image
21 Replies

Just got my latest results back.

TSH - 0.009 (0.27-4.2)

T4 - 18.2 (9-19)

T3 - 5.5 (2.9-4.9)

I'm very confused by these results. In theory I should feel fine, even a little hyper but, no, I still feel like c**p

I stopped my B Complex (biotin) a week prior to the test, maybe this wasn't long enough.

Vit D is now 80 (50-75) (up from 36). On 3000iu daily.

B12 - was 213 (187-883). Not sure what it is now but supplementing 2000mcg daily.

Ferritin - 350 (10-200) Probably high due to inflammation from PA

I do have a referrel to an ENT for suspected Menieres Disease as I have had constant vertigo, tinnitus, and ear pain for months. I also have Psoriatic Arthritis. Been on methotrexate for two months but had to recently stop due to high liver blood test.

I'm fairly certain my Dr is going to suggest a decrease in levo (on 125mcg currently and a past drop to 112.5mcg was a disaster).

Can anyone shed any light please?

TIA, Sarah

EDIT - I did a sleep study. My AHI came back as 5.7. Very mild Sleep Apnoea.

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sklitch
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21 Replies
silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7

To be honest I’m confused as well but by replying I shall be kept in the loop. The only thing I can think of is that my improving your vits that has sent you over range so may be you are now in a more stable position to try 125/112 or even 125/100. I do know from my own experience that being over and under can feel very similar so may be that is adding to the confusion and I don’t have antibodies so no first hand experience on effects. So I can appreciate your confusion. So now hoping that my reply may encourage more and hopeful something more fruitful. During this period, I’ve read all your posts, have you changed anything else, a difference brand of medication for instance or a different diet? I would have expected levels to go up with correcting vits etc and so may be the rubbish feeling is now down to being over medicated rather than under so may be something to think about in a absence of anything else.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Suspect that might high FT3 be Hashimoto's flare

Ferritin is very high. Are you post menopause? Been tested for hemochromatosis?

Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

sklitch profile image
sklitch in reply toSlowDragon

Thanks for the reply

Not been tested for hemochromatosis but saturation was 31% and serum iron always mid-range. Will suggest this when I talk to my Dr on Monday.

Not (post)menopausal, been on the Depo Provera for 6 yrs.

And, no, not gluten-free. I know I probably should be but....

S

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply tosklitch

So iron looks likely ok ....though it's complicated and you might need full iron panel

Trying strictly gluten free diet is likely next step. You won't know if you don't try it - 3-6 months is probably enough to see if it helps. If no obvious benefit, retest thyroid antibodies, before reintroducing gluten

Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity and autoimmune disease

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/296...

The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/300...

The obtained results suggest that the gluten-free diet may bring clinical benefits to women with autoimmune thyroid disease

nuclmed.gr/wp/wp-content/up...

In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.

88% benefit from strictly gluten free diet

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Going gluten free is a strategy that everyone with Hashimoto’s should try. In some cases, we see a complete remission of the condition; in other cases (88% of the time), the person feels significantly better in terms of bloating, diarrhea, energy, weight, constipation, stomach pain, reflux, hair regrowth, and anxiety.

sklitch profile image
sklitch in reply toSlowDragon

Wow, thanks for the info. I guess it will have to be the next step.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply tosklitch

To be realistic, a complete remission of Hashi's is highly unlikely. If you're on 125 mcg levo, significant damage has already been done to the thyroid, and it cannot regenerate. So, even in the unlikely event that you stop the Hashi's in its tracks, you'll still need thyroid hormone replacement for life.

And, don't be fooled by a lower level of antibodies, it is not an indication of the severity of the disease.

hashimotoshealing.com/under...

I think SlowDragon is probably right, it looks like you're coming out of Hashi's 'hyper' swing.

sklitch profile image
sklitch in reply togreygoose

So with the hashis, it's a bit of a stable door/bolted horse situation?

But there are other benefits of gluten-free re: inflammation.

I'm quite concerned with the vertigo and was hoping it was a symptom of being under-medicated, but if that is not the case, it must be a separate non-thyroid related problem.

Thank you for your insight.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply tosklitch

I think it's more a situation where the horse knows how to open the door himself. I'm not convinced it's ever possible to 'cure' it.

Yes, there certainly are benefits for some people with gluten-free. It didn't do anything for me, but lots of people find it helps.

Virtigo could be due to low B12. Have you had that tested?

sklitch profile image
sklitch in reply togreygoose

Yes, I've always felt with auto-immune disorders that 'cures' are more probably coincidental to the disease putting itself into remission spontaneously, my psoriasis did just this years ago.

My B12 was very low in range when tested so I supplement 2000mcg daily but have not been tested recently to see if that has improved things. It certainly hasn't helped the spins.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply tosklitch

Perhaps you need a higher dose.

sklitch profile image
sklitch in reply togreygoose

How high would be safe to go though? I thought 2000mcg was about the upper limit. I know it is water soluble and any excess is peed away but there must be a point where it is too much.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply tosklitch

I was taking 5000 mcg at one point. It cleared up my problems and then I reduced to 1000 mcg as a maintenance dose.

sklitch profile image
sklitch in reply togreygoose

Ah ok. That might be worth a try. Thank you

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply tosklitch

You're welcome. :)

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply tosklitch

Were you tested for PA before starting on B12 supplements?

If you have PA you more likely would need B12 injections

sklitch profile image
sklitch in reply toSlowDragon

PA diagnosis over 15 years ago, Thyroid last year. Why would injections be necessary over tablets?

I think I need to get my B12 tested again.

So it looks biochemically like you are slightly over-treated, but as you felt worse on a lower dose of T₄ you could just carry on as you are. Everybody is different so your body may need a slightly higher thyroxine level than average to function properly, even though this suppresses your TSH level.

Heloise profile image
Heloise

Hi sklitch, it really makes you wonder how you have such good blood results and yet don't have the end results you should be feeling. Your ferritin level is troubling. As you know inflammation is usually the cause and you already know you have gut inflammation because of your low B12. I would consider trying to go gluten and dairy free for a while.

Another question is why your free T3 isn't working for you and isn't getting into the cells. High cortisol and estrogen dominance can both interfere. This is where functional doctors would begin investigation and look into adrenal function.

This is very complex and explains why ordinary doctors are not so useful.

sklitch profile image
sklitch in reply toHeloise

When I get my next Endo appt I'll bring it up,. They only did am cortisol last time, which was ok.

My GP wasn't too concerned about the ferratin. As I have active PA at the moment. Stopping the MTX has cause a bit of a flare. Hopefully my liver will behave and i can get back on the MTX and my inflammation/ferratin will reduce.

Definitly going to look at my diet though.

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply tosklitch

They are realizing so much more about the microbes in your gut. Sometimes you have to kill some bad bacteria to allow your good flora to survive. These microbes have a huge affect on your health. I like Berberine for this but there are some good herbs that act almost like antibiotics. Oregano oil, neem, olive leaf, etc. You could check reviews on these to see what they help.

sukee profile image
sukee

Hi Sklitch

Like you I have psoriatic arthritis. Have been on Methotrexate for several years but did have a blip in the 1st year as my liver function test was affected. Came off for 6 months and then back on, my specialist reduced me from 6 tabs a week to 4. I have a blood test every three months and a review with my specialist. every 6 months. Over the past few years no problem. I also have underactive Thyroid and on Levothyroxin, blood test every 6 months. I live in France where support is second to none.

Hope helpful.

Sukee

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