Back to t4

[Soundwell1]

I was on armour t4 with t3.

Now I've finished the bottle that I bought myself there is no one to help even though endo said he's put me down for chronic fatigue class at Salford hospital and can offer me t3. For the moment I'm taking t4 (activas).

I'm so annoyed.

Also my tsh is right down to zero again and I'm not being tested for adrenal deficiency. What us going on???

[SlowDragon Administrator]

TSH will nearly always drop to near zero on any NDT or T3. That's what happens when taking any T3

Most important results are FT3 and FT4.

Do you have results from when on Armour. How much were you taking?

You will need bloods retested 6-8 weeks after any change in dose. Eg since stopping Armour

As you are type one diabetic, which is autoimmune, presumably your hypothyroidism is also autoimmune (Hashimoto's)

Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

Important to regularly test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

What vitamin supplements do you currently take ?

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

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 .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

If/when also on T3, or Armour 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

[Soundwell1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for your comments. I understand now why results of tsh tests are low.

I have to see gp on Wed.

So I'll ask. Thanks again.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Soundwell1]

Request full Thyroid and vitamin test form to get levels tested 6-8 weeks after stopping Armour

plus coeliac blood test (if not already on strictly gluten free diet)

What vitamin supplements do you currently take?

If taking any supplements that contain biotin (eg vitamin B complex) remember to stop these a week before any blood tests as biotin can falsely affect test results

[Soundwell1 in reply to SlowDragon]

I'm allergic to cobalt but past blood test is 333, so not deficient as such.

I don't take any other vits and I am already gluten free.

I was wondering, because of my chronic fatigue whether low tsh would indicate insufficient adrenal steroid production.

Thanks very much for replying.

[Soundwell1 in reply to Soundwell1]

Hi, here are some results:

October 2019

Serum ferritin - 48ug/l

B12 247 ug/l

Folate - 8.6

NO vit D test.

Calcium 2.24 - mmol/l - 2.20 - 260

Sodium 132, so a reason for brain fog.

Also my mother had pernicious aenimia.

I've sent blood to get free b12 test before intrinsic factor test but I don't really understand it all.

I already know I have osteoporosis.

Any info would be appreciated.