Medichecks results advice please

[lynnwin]

Hi my medichecks results please can I have any advice on them . I had NHS ones taken a couple of weeks ago the nurse practitioner wanted to cut my thyroxine down but luckily my GP agreed with me see what my FT3 looks like and his happy to go with the way I’m feeling ! Here are my GP results and medichecks any input would be appreciated TIA

My GP results 2 weeks earlier

TSH ... 0.05

T4 ... ..23

No T3 that’s why I do medichecks xxx

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

lynnwin

When did you take your last dose of Levo before the test?

[lynnwin in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hiya no never taken it before the test always 24 hours gap xxx

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to lynnwin]

In that case it would seem that you need a high FT4 to give an FT3 around 50% through range. This would suggest that your T4 to T3 conversion isn't particularly good.

What are your current test results for Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin? These should all be at optimal levels for thyroid hormone to work properly and good conversion. Supplementing with selenium and zinc is supposed to help conversion (some people prefer to test before supplementing).

If all this is in place and conversion is still poor then the addition of T3 to a reduced dose of Levo might be the answer.

[lynnwin in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hiya thank you for the reply .. I thought my T3 was good being 5.04 and top of range 6.8

More higher to top of range ? I don’t know my VitD ( I just started to take it again a few weeks ago ) and not had my folate / ferritin taken .. My B12 is very high over 2000 🤦‍♀️

Thank you xxxxx

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to lynnwin]

The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or lower with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their ranges if that is where you feel well, but we are all different and where we need our levels is individual to each of us. It's where you feel well that matters.

You should get all your nutrient levels tested. Your dose of Vit D should be tailored to your current level. Excess Vit D gets stored and can lead to toxicity, taking too little won't help raise a low level, plus there are important cofactors needed when taking D3.

Is there a reason that your B12 is so high?

[lynnwin in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi I will check my other results as I always keep a copy and write if I feel well or not ?

T4 T3 seem upper limit .. i work as a phlebotomist I will get my Vitamin D Folate / ferritin taken tomorrow.. I know my active B12 is still high as recently had it checked both GP and Biolab thank you xxxxx

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to lynnwin]

4.95 is 50% of the T3 range, so you are only just over half way up the range, even with over range free T4 - your conversion sucks.

[lynnwin in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thanks for your input Angel-of -North

Not sure how that helps me that my conversion sucks ??? 🤦‍♀️ Maybe I should get my RT3 checked ? .. when my T4 was at 17 and my T3 at 4.64 TSH 0.19 I felt well .. maybe the stress I’ve been under is affecting conversion ? Dunno 🤷‍♀️ it’s a minefield xx

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to lynnwin]

It really means that you either need T3 as well as a lower dose of levo, or NDT. Testing rT3 isn't really helpful as it doesn't tell you why it is high, if it is. You can see that you convert badly. If you feel well, you could continue as you are with over range Free t4 giving you just about enough free T3, but sometimes over range free T4 makes conversion get gradually worse.

[lynnwin in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thank you so much for your explanation I feel hypo and the practice nurse wanted to reduce my dose but luckily my GP listens to me and said keep your dose as it is .. his happy to go on how I feel .. I did wonder if doing RT3 would help ?? as there doesn’t seem to be much you can do about it ??? I’m getting my vitamin D tested and my selenium and zinc tested .. I recently upped my propranolol around the time of my blood test and read that can affect conversion 🤷‍♀️ .. started to eat some Brazil nuts maybe they will help a little ? Thank you for your help xxxxx

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to lynnwin]

propranolol is usually contraindicated for people with underactive thyroids. Low T3 causes palpitations, and low iron can cause a racing heart, but don't expect a GP to agree or know that. Probably best just to stick with what you are on unless you can get an endo to agree to T3

[lynnwin in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thank you .. I’ve been taking it for years as I was Hyperthyroid when I started on it when my thyroid was under control before I went hypo I stopped it and my migraines flared up bad so my GP said to take a small dose 10mg 3 times a day I take it twice a day .. but had recently upped it so like you say it’s not great with thyroid problems 🤦‍♀️ Thanks for your help xxxxx

[lynnwin in reply to SeasideSusie]

Sorry didn’t reply about B12 .. I was having injections around 5 years ago I’m a coeliac and it turned out I was deficient hence injections and it hasn’t lowered since then 😔 GP seems unconcerned as does biolab that we’re doing my private bloods .. xxxx