Help Needed Please- Full Bloodwork with T3

[thyroidmom84]

These were taken 12/3:

TSH 6.1 uIU/mL (range .450-4.50)

Free T4 Direct 1.75 ng/dL (range .82-1.77)*

Free T3 3.0 mg/gL (range 2.0 - 4.4)

Ferritin 6 ng/mL (15 - 150)

Folate 18.6 ng/mL (>3)

*This might be a bit high because I was tested shortly after taking a dose, last dose with 24 hour gap was 1.46

They wouldn’t test these vitamins again so soon

So these are from 9/16 (I have been supplementing both since March)

Vitamin D 34.6 ng/mL (30-100)

Vitamin B12 575 pg/mL (232 - 1,245)

My endo said I am not anemic based on other bloodwork but I am iron deficient so to start supplementing. She also said my T3 is “fine.” From what I have learned on this site, this seems to indicate a T3 conversion disorder. Since my endo is happy while this is in range- should I purse this further and if so how might I explain it to her with backup information?

I should also add, she is now recommending I take a pill and a half of my meds on Sundays to help get my TSH down.

Thank you so much for any insight.

[thyroidmom84]

Does anyone know how to tag people in posts from your phone? I was hoping Greygoose, Lora7again and SlowDragon would weigh in.

[Nanaedake in reply to thyroidmom84]

To tag someone, you need to add the @ symbol and then scroll down to find the person's name and tap. I find it difficult to use on an Android but it is feasible.

[thyroidmom84 in reply to Nanaedake]

Thank you- I tired this and I get no lost to scroll down 😞 I’m on an iPhone

[Nanaedake in reply to thyroidmom84]

Start typing @ and the person's name all joined up then scroll down on your screen to find the options which will have popped up and select.

[Nanaedake in reply to Nanaedake]

How much levo are you taking now? I don't think increasing levo on one day only is going to get your TSH nearer to 1 where most people feel better but as I don't know how much you are taking its hard to say.

[thyroidmom84 in reply to Nanaedake]

I just had an increase from 120mcg to 137mcg. Now I will be increasing to start 147 mcg (taking an extra half a 137 on Sundays)

[Nanaedake in reply to thyroidmom84]

Was the increase to 137mcg, 6 weeks ago?

[thyroidmom84 in reply to Nanaedake]

About 3-4 weeks ago- I was feeling strange so she retested next early

[Nanaedake in reply to thyroidmom84]

I think you'll need to retest in 6 weeks to find out if your TSH decreases enough at 147mcg levo. Ferritin is awfully low and below range so until that is up around 70 you won't really know what is making you feel so unwell.

You do need to get B12 and vitamin D retested if you've been supplementing but in particular Vit D because you need to know how you're responding to supplements. I would ask GP to retest vit D. Endo should really have done it. If GP won't, then get your own test done via City Assays if living in the UK.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

TSH too high

FT4 shows false high due to taking Levothyroxine too near blood test

Your FT3 is low

Ferritin is extremely low. Likely causing a big problem

Eating liver or liver pate once a week, plus other iron rich foods like black pudding, prawns, spinach, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption

Links about iron and ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...

Post about iron supplements

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[thyroidmom84 in reply to SlowDragon]

What should I do about the T3? Is additional levo likely to help?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to thyroidmom84]

Slight increase in Levothyroxine will help

But more important probably to improve conversion is getting all four vitamins optimal

Selenium supplements can help improve conversion of FT4 to FT3 too

[thyroidmom84 in reply to SlowDragon]

Great thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to thyroidmom84]

Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

If not, that's likely next step

[thyroidmom84 in reply to SlowDragon]

I am not but I have ordered a bunch of GF cookbooks to get me started

[thyroidmom84 in reply to SlowDragon]

Also the Dr Hedburg article is wonderful thank you

[Heloise]

Your ferritin should be around 70-80 to allow the T4 to convert. I think you have a digestive problem. You need stomach acid to break down minerals like iron and amino acids. Your anxiety is also a symptom since serotonin and dopamine are neurotransmitters made in the gut. You could take Betaine HCL with pepsin to help metabolize them, take with meals.

I'm surprised your Tsh has stayed so high on that dose of levo. Your pituitary usually notices the T4 in your blood.

I wouldn't recommend any more scans. Blood tests, urine tests and saliva tests are much more indicative of what is going on in my opinion.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/r...

[Heloise]

One more thing I think I noticed in your other post. Do not keep checking those lymph nodes because that keeps activating them.

[thyroidmom84 in reply to Heloise]

I know it, I am trying so hard. Unfortunately I have a combination of OCD and health anxiety 😞

[Heloise in reply to thyroidmom84]

I do feel for you; you are probably taking care of a family, maybe having outside work and your body is fighting all of it. I've been here for about six years and have learned so much. We've had wonderful docu-series from over one hundred functional doctors advising us. One thing for certain is that your own gut or microbiome has power over your brain. In fact there was a book called The Second Brain from years ago. Your gut microbes send messages to the brain eight ways, the brain "talks" to the gut only two ways. I think this explains why Alzheimers is on the rise. Our guts are unhealthy.

You get your microbiome balanced through good nutrition, diversity and treatment of the pathogens. Ha ha, that's all it takes. If you can do it without harm, fasting can help in part. If only our regular doctors knew about any of these theories. Just listen to one of John Bergman's videos and see what chiropractors know and since they work with the nervous system, they know a lot.

[vocalEK]

Strange that your endo says you are not anemic. "Iron deficiency" is a type of anemia. healthline.com/nutrition/ir...