Assist to understand blood test results and advise. I am on thyroid s two grains

[cbraffe]

Hi all I desperately need your support to understand my blood test results:

T3:

Value 4pmol/L

Range 2.5-5.7 pmol/L

Free T4:

Value 10pmol/L

Range 9-23pmol/L

TSH:

Value <0.01milliunit/L

Range 0.3-4.2milliunit/L.

Thanks you so much. At the moment my symptoms are joint pains and difficulty swallowing.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Cbraffe

It looks like you're a bit undermedicated. When on NDT it's usual to see a low or suppressed TSH and lowish FT4 with FT3 higher up in it's range. Your FT3 is only 47% through range.

Maybe increase your dose by 1/4 of a grain, see how that helps, possibly another 1/4 if necessary.

If your joint pains don't improve then that could possibly be low Vit D.

[cbraffe in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi seaside sue,

Hope all is well. Thank you for always being of help.

I am very confused. My GP has review my test results and has advised that I am over medicated. I feel much better since increasing my does few days ago to 2 and a quarter grains. Please advise

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to cbraffe]

cbraffe

Let's put your results in an easier to read format then I'll explain why your GP has said that you are overmedicated.

TSH: <0.01 (0.3-4.2) - This is classed as "suppressed"

FT4: 10 (9-23) - this is 7.14% through it's range

FT3: 4 (2.5-5.7) - this is 46.88% through it's range

Here is a calculator for working out percentage through range: chorobytarczycy.eu/kalkulator

You have told us that you are taking 2 grains NDT.

When on NDT it's usual for TSH to be low even suppressed, which is the case with your results.

When on NDT it's common to see a low in range FT4. NDT tends to lower FT4 due to the fact that NDT contains T3. Your result reflects this.

When on NDT it's FT3 that's the most important result and it usual for the patient to feel best when FT3 is higher in range. Yours is 46.88% through it's range (one would expect to see it higher in range than FT4) and this may be a good level for you but some people may need it higher. It's for you to know where you feel best.

Your GP is saying that you are overmedicated purely because your TSH is suppressed. Most GPs only look at TSH. However, and this is something they seem not to understand, it's not TSH that tells you your thyroid status. TSH is not a thyroid hormone, it's a signal from the pituitary to tell the thyroid to make hormone when there's not enough. FT4 and FT3 are the thyroid hormones and as it's T3 which is the active hormone which every cell in our bodies need then it's FT3 that's the most important result. Your FT3 is less than 50% through range so you are not overmedicated. If you were overmedicated then your FT3 would be over range.

As you are taking Thyroid-S then you presumably are self medicating. Is this with or without your GP's knowledge? If you are self medicating then there's really no need to see your GP about your thyroid because he wont understand how NDT works and how to interpret the results. Do private tests and adjust your medication if you need to. There are many members here that use NDT or can interpret results for you. If you continue to discuss your thyroid with your GP and have tests done at the surgery whilst self medicating then you can expect your GP to react as he has done this time.

[cbraffe in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you so much. I decided to self medicate as Teva gave me so many horrible symptoms. I am not good with needles to use the home kit for blood tests. That is why I go to the hospital.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to cbraffe]

You can do private tests with the option of having blood drawn either at home or hospital/clinic. Both Medichecks and Blue Horizon have this option.

[cbraffe in reply to SeasideSusie]

I will do that thank you so much.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your vitamin D was very low 2 months ago

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[cbraffe in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much. You are always so helpful. I am still taking the vit D and spent 3 weeks in the sun last month. I will increase from tomorrow. I had tried to increase but had severe palpitations I heard to reduce again after just 2 days

[Marz in reply to cbraffe]

So how much are you taking ?

[shaws Administrator]

The following link is by a scientist/researcher/doctor - he died due to an accident but he'd never prescribe levothyroxine, only NDT or T3 for thyroid hormone resistant patients (i.e. inability to convert T4 into T3). He took one blood test for the initial diagnlsis and thereafter it was small increases until patient was symptom-free.

Read 'safely getting well with thyroid hormones' and I hope you find it helpful.

naturalthyroidsolutions.com...

[cbraffe in reply to shaws]

Thank you.

[cbraffe in reply to cbraffe]

This is so informative