Latest blood tests - help with results please

[ShonaGreen]

Hi,

I've been feeling very unwell recently with bad fatigue, headaches, swollen and sore feet. I've had thrush 3 times in the last month too. I've been on NDT (Erfa) for 8 weeks now (starting on 30mg and increased recently to 45mg) along with 25mg Levothyroxine. Before this, I was on 50mg Levothyroxine from April this year.

I'm wondering if maybe I'm not getting on well with Erfa or perhaps undermedicated, so thought it would be worthwhile having some tests done to check my thyroid and other levels (done at 10am).

I'd welcome your thoughts please as I'm not sure about the oestradiol and iron results and whether these or something else could explain what's going on?

Thyroid:

TSH - 0.353 (0.27 - 4.2)

Free T3 - 3.77 (3.1 - 6.8) Should this be higher after 8 weeks on NDT?

Free T4 - 12.2 (12 - 22) Is it correct that NDT lowers FT4 results so this is fine?

TgAb - 272 (<115)

TPO - 15.8 (>34)

Hormones: I don't know where I am in cycle as don't have periods anymore since being on the coil, so Medichecks can't provide reference ranges for some.

FSH - 4.44 IU/L

LH - 4.09 IU/L

Oestradiol - 2,135 pmo/L - last test on 20 Sept was 124 so this seems high?

Testosterone - 0.822 (0.29 - 1.67)

Prolactin - 276 (102 - 496)

DHEA Sulphate - 1.7 (1.65 - 9.15) around same level for past few months

Cortisol - 221 (166 - 507)

Iron: I've had similar results for past few months. Medichecks mention iron overload and to stop taking supplements, but I don't take any iron.

Iron - 29.39 (5.8 - 34.5)

TIBC - 52.89 (45 - 72)

UIBC - 23.5 (24.2 - 70.1)

Transferrin Saturation - 55.57 (20 - 50)

Ferritin - 194 (13 - 150) Are these levels high enough to be concerned about? Iron overload search on internet mentions heamochromatosis which my father in law has but his levels were in the thousands?

Vitamins: I've been taking suggested supplements for Vitamin B and D and levels are slowly increasing.

Folate Serum - 7.74 (>3.89)

Vitamin B12 Active - 85.9 (>37.5)

Vitamin D - 70.1 (50 - 175)

Thanks for your help, it's much appreciated!

[HLAB35]

Hello, I can see your dilemma about iron and will make some suggestions.

I don't take NDT and cannot comment on how much time it takes to improve on it, but your T3 is low and others will be able to recommend how you'd go about increasing this dose....

My view is that since your serum iron level is in range that you are not yet in the danger zone with iron overload. However, your body is pushing iron away from serum into Ferritin, most likely due to chronic yeast infection - you mention thrush (iron feeds Candida).

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

This will be in your intestines and can have a detrimental effect on your ability to get better on NDT. An anti-candida (zero sugar) diet with some choice supplements such as Goldenseal (anti fungal) and turmeric* or quercetin* (binds to iron so blocks Candida from using it) could help you. Your doctor can prescribe anti fungal tablets if it's really bad.

Taking Magnesium in an absorbable form will help you to improve vitamin D levels and help to detox as candida die off symptoms can feel like a hangover. These are due to a chemical (acetaldehyde) that you get from fermentation and magnesium apparently reacts with this chemical to form a harmless compound to prevent those nasty headaches (read Dr Carolyn Dean's blogs on Magnesium).

thecandidadiet.com/candida-...

One last point is that few women are diagnosed with haemachromatosis pre menopause as they have regular bleeds. If you are not having periods due to the coil (was it fitted recently?) then you are not losing excess iron... definitely keep an eye on those iron levels.

* These are also recommended for haemachromatosis.

[ShonaGreen]

Hi HLAB35 thank you so much for taking the time to respond to me. The info you provided is very useful, I hadn't realised there was a link between iron and Candida but it explains a lot!

I had the Mirena coil fitted 4 years ago (due to be removed in March 2020) and haven't had a period since. I used to have very heavy periods before this. My endocrinologist suggested that I have the coil removed now as it could be making my hormones more unbalanced than they need to be.

I'm starting an anti-Candida diet tomorrow and have ordered some more supplements. My last episode of thrush was a few weeks ago and I've been feeling a lot better in the last few days so I'm hopeful that things are starting to improve for me, fingers crossed!