Thyroid panel testing revealed low Bicarbonate

[fedup]

Had my bloods taken in August, GP has just asked to see me to review my T3/T4 meds. Can anyone advise why my serum bicarbonate was out of the bottom of the range? Is it linked with being hypothyroid, or possibly being on liothyronine?

Also, can anyone tell me if these levels seem ok?

Serum tsh - 0.08 (0.35 - 4.7)

FT3 - 4.8 (3.8 - 6.0)

FT4 - 10 (7.8 - 21)

Thank you!

[HashiFedUp]

I thought they test bicarbonate to see how your electrolytes are? I’m not expert so ask your doctor. It might highlight low minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus etc. Thyroid patients often have disturbances in these minerals. As I said not an expert ask your doc : )

[fedup in reply to HashiFedUp]

Thanks HashiFedUp, I shall take a closer look at the other mineral levels.

[Treepie]

Your FT4 is rather low , the results as a whole may suggest a pituitary problem .

[fedup in reply to Treepie]

Thanks for your response Treepie - I wonder if I should try to raise the ft4 or ft3 levels...

[Treepie in reply to fedup]

Sorry,I have no idea but maybe you could adjust the dose slightly of one or the other ,not both at the same time . Main thing is how you feel.

[fedup in reply to Treepie]

Thanks Treepie, I guess I'll have to see if the GP invites me to raise any of the doses.

To be honest, I don't know how I feel most of the time - I do feel, and have been made to feel, like a hypochondriac over the years, so now I try to ignore all my daily aches and pains, low mood etc. Somedays I pick up the energy to realise that it's not normal, and try to do something about it. Feeling disheartened that after nearly 10 months of being on T3/T4, (after 16 years of T4 only), that I can't say I feel huge differences, and better wellbeing. Don't want to tell the GP how I really feel, in case he decides to take away T3!

[gabkad]

You were hyperventilating. You were breathing off the carbon dioxide.

[fedup in reply to gabkad]

Hi Gabkad, I'm intrigued by your response ... can you explain more?

[gabkad in reply to fedup]

The body makes a waste that is breathed out from the lungs: carbon dioxide.

If a person breathes too fast, then the amount of bicarbonate in the blood is

reduced to below average levels.

If a person is breath holding due to pain, for example, the amount of bicarb

in the blood rises. This actually makes pain worse and the reason for encouraging

breathing techniques during labour.

The kidneys will take over to get the acid out of the body in urine if the person

is not breathing adequately. This happens because of sleep apnea.

If it's your kidneys that are causing problems then your chloride level

will also be below range. If it's not then you were over ventilating.

Not to mention if it's your kidneys then blood urea nitrogen test will

be high and creatinine will also be high.

[fedup in reply to gabkad]

Thank you, gabkad - this is interesting to know! I wouldn't be surprised if I was told I have sleep apnoea. I suffer frequently with odd pains, and wonder if low bicarb is what makes things feel worse!

Had a look back at results - chloride, urea, and creatinine all sit within range. Though I have days where I frequently need the loo, so maybe thats a sign!

Thank you!

[gabkad in reply to fedup]

Maybe you get nervous when they are taking your blood.

It's like my blood pressure. Totally normal except after I've

waited 45 minutes past appointment time for the endo.

[Angel_of_the_North]

I think it can be an indicator of poor kidney function or diabetes - basically you are too acidic. Did you get glucose, insulin and Hba1c tested? Did they do other kidney function tests?

[fedup in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thanks Angel of the North, I'd read that kidney function and too much acidity were linked with low bicarbonate. Made me wonder if anyone on the forum may have had similar encounter.

I had glucose, Hba1c tested a few years ago, but didn't want to ask for too much this time round! I have been quite pushy in asking for more tests, as I wanted to really see if my new t3 med improved my low immunoglobin level (discovered at the beginning of the year).

I just asked for full blood count, so wasn't looking for kidney function specifically.

I think this time I will ask for iron and vit d & B levels. (As well as repeat of glucose etc.) I just don't know if I should be daring to ask for a raise in liothyronine dose, or whether I should let him fob me off with more levothyroxine. I currently take 20mcg of T3 and 75mcg of t4..... sorry to ramble - do you have any ideas or experience like this?

TIA

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to fedup]

Sorry, no personal experience.

[bantam12 in reply to fedup]

I've had an undetectable bicarbonate level before but nothing came of it, definitely wasnt " hyperventilating" at the test !

[fedup in reply to bantam12]

I don't recall hyperventilating, usually pretty calm and had time to sit down before the nurse calls me in.

[bantam12 in reply to fedup]

Mine was a Medichecks test so done at home and no stress involved at all, I think we can both safely rule out hyperventilating as the cause 😁

[vocalEK]

Found this online: urmc.rochester.edu/encyclop...

[fedup in reply to vocalEK]

Thank you vocalEK, it was an interesting read - similar to what I found last night. It leaves me wondering if it's linked with thyroid or being on liothyronine, or just another weird thing separate from the hypothyroidism!

[fedup]

Saw GP yesterday, I thought we were going to review my levels, but he just wanted to let me know the prescribing company are wanting to check that we actually need the expensive liothyronine. So patients are being asked to see an endocrinologist!

Of course, my GP was not in a position to accept my request for a slight raise in T3 - and wasn't concerned that my bicarbonate levels were out of the bottom range...

So now it's a waiting game!