Blood results

[Pearlsthesinger]

Hi

Could someone have wee look at my bloods please. I am taking 2 grains of NDT.

THANK YOU.

Should I do an increase? Been in 2 grains since 2015. Feel very fatigued.

Tish 0.01 (0.27-4.2)low

T4 11.4 (12-22)low

T3 5.3 (3.1-6.6)

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

When taking NDT it tends to lower, even suppress TSH and can also lower FT4 and you'd expect to see FT3 in the upper part of it's range when optimally medicated. There is room to increase your FT3 and the fact that your FT4 is below range may not suit you, even on NDT or Levo plus T3 combo, some of us need a decent level of FT4.

Has anything changed -

* Different brand of NDT?

* Reformulation of usual brand of NDT?

Do you have Hashi's?

What are your current nutrient levels?

Maybe you need a different ratio of T4:T3 than NDT gives you and synthetic Levo plus T3 could be better so that you can tweak doses to suit.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels or test privately

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)

When on NDT 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

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

[pennyannie]

Hello Pearlsthesinger

When taking NDT it's not really about the blood tests, but more about how you feel.

The blood tests, and the ranges were established to be used alongside the introduction of the synthetic thyroid medication, T4 and T3 - in around the 1950's.

Prior to this time, patients were treated with NDT for over 100 years and the idea was to treat to the relief of symptoms, and patients would chew on a piece of pig's thyroid. Basic maybe, by today's standards, but it worked very well, and still does for many people.

Since NDT contains T3 your TSH will be considered low by " conventional " standards.

Your T4 reflects the same issue, but this is not relevant as T4 is a pro hormone and your body needs to convert this T4 into the all important result which is the T3.

T3 is the active hormone that your body runs on, and is needed throughout your body.

Your T3 is " in range " if that makes you feel confident in what you are doing.

5.3 represents 22 points through a range of 35 making roughly a 62% through range read.

Thyroid hormone conversion, either your own or that supplemented, can be compromised if your vitamins and minerals are not optimal, so it's worth keeping ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D at optimal levels to maintain your core strength and stability.

As you say you feel fatigued, I'd suggest checking out your vitamins and minerals and maybe try an extra 1/4 grain of NDT to see if it helps with your symptoms. I can't see anything on your profile page so I don't know what other health issues maybe need to be factored into this reply.