Advice please

[Sweetpea1157]

Hi everyone , sorry not been here a while again , but been feeling absolutely dreadful with symptoms still .

Have got results from last blood test from medichecks.

CRP HS 3.22mg/L range <5

FERRITIN 117 ug/L range 13 - 150

FOLATE 9.86 ug /L range > 3.89

VIT B12 164 pmol/L range 37.5- 188

TSH 0.005 mlu/L range 0.27 - 4.2

FT3 4.88 pmol/L range 3.1 - 6.8

FT4 21 pmol/L range 12 - 22

TGA 12.8 ku/L range < 115

TPA < 9 klu/L range < 34

At time of taking the test is was taking 75mcg levothyroxine and 10mcg liothyronine.

Am now taking 50mcg levothyroxine but still only the 10mcg liothyronine.

The testosterone test came back within normal parameters.

Have still got all the symptoms, including my feet and hands getting sore and hot especially at night when in bed , that had stopped, but returned a couple of weeks ago, still finding it very difficult to sleep at night , am taking magnesium glycinate 250mg to try and help with this and pain im at a loss as to what is going on with my body. Some advice would be appreciated please. Thankyou in advance for taking the time to read this post. 😕

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Sweetpea1157

At time of taking the test is was taking 75mcg levothyroxine and 10mcg liothyronine.

Am now taking 50mcg levothyroxine but still only the 10mcg liothyronine

Presumably T3 is prescribed?

Why was Levo reduced but T3 not increased?

Was the reduction based on these results or some other results?

When did you take your last dose of Levo and T3 before this test?

Last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, last dose of T3 should be 8-12 hours before blood draw.

If you followed the timing for last doses as mentioned, then your FT4 was at the top of the range which might not be the best place but your FT3 was only 48% through it's range which is very low when taking a combination of Levo and T3. When taking T3 it tends to lower, even suppress TSH, it also tends to lower FT4. FT3 would normally be in the upper part of the range if optimally medicated.

You may be better with a lower FT4 and higher FT3, which is the norm when taking combination therapy.

If I were you I'd retest 6-8 weeks after the dose reduction, following the timing for last doses of Levo and T3, then base any further change of dose on the new results. You may need an increase in T3.

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou for getting back to me SeasideSusie , was told by gp to reduce T4 to 25mcg, but felt that was too much of a decrease , so just reduced from 75mcg to 50mcg . I take both the T4 and T3 first thing in morning . ( yes the T3 is prescribed ) , was thinking of upping T3 to 15mcg , should I take the 15 all at once or split it ?? Tried to split T3 before , but was having trouble remembering to take it at the set times , if i do need to split T3, would I be ok taking it last thing at night ?? So 10mcg in morning 5mcg at night , also , I always do blood tests fasting , no T3 or T4 for 24 hrs before test . ☺

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Sweetpea1157]

Reducing from 75mcg to 25mcg would have been too much. Dose changes of Levo should only ever be 25mcg at a time, retesting 6-8 weeks later.

When did you take your last doses of Levo and T3 before the test?

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi SeasideSusie, as said , don't take T3 or T4 24 hrs before test take after test completed ☺

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Sweetpea1157]

In that case you have a false low FT3. As mentioned the time gaps should be 24 hours for Levo and 8-12 hours for T3. Too close and you get false highs, too long a gap and you get false lows.

So you took your last dose of T3 24 hours before the test then your normal circulating level of FT3 will be higher than that test shows.

I would test again as suggested - 6-8 weeks after you reduced the Levo - and do the proper timings for last doses, then post new results for further comment.

On the day before the test, I would split your T3 into 2 doses, take the first dose with your Levo 24 hours before you are going to do your test, then the second dose 8-12 hours before.

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi SeasideSusie, sorry just getting back to you , had to go out for an appointment. OK will do that , didn't realise that time gap would have that effect , but that's good to know for the future. Sorry to be pain , is the magnesium I'm taking the right one to take to aid sleep and pain , think i read one of your posts before and followed the link you gave , but was unable to comprehend it all , so am still at a bit of a loss as far as magnesium is concerned , as there are so many different types of magnesium to choose from . Thanks again for your good advice . ☺

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Sweetpea1157]

Sorry to be pain , is the magnesium I'm taking the right one to take to aid sleep and pain

I don't know if there's one specifically for sleep and pain. Magnesium is said to be calming and may, therefore aid sleep, but just check the following links and if there is a specific form for what you require it will be mentioned in their descriptions:

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

drjockers.com/best-magnesiu...

afibbers.org/magnesium.html

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi SeasideSusie, ok , will look into the links , hopefully will get a good idea as to what is best to take . Thanks once again , take care ☺

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Many people find 5mcg T3 before bed helps improve sleep

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi Slowdragon, thanks for getting back to me , hope you are keeping well, so should I go back to taking 5mcg t3 in morning and 5mcg just before bed time ?? ☺

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sweetpea1157]

See how you find changing to split dose on day before blood test

Ideally on 2 doses......roughly 12 hours apart

Personally I find 3 small doses eight hours apart gives most even levels

But others prefer single dose. Either for convienience or working best

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi Slowdragon, thankyou for the good advice again , will try that , will post new blood results when get them . Thanks again , take care ☺