Latest blood results

[lorrainewilson64]

Good news from my lasted blood results is that my diabetes reading is now 43 ... getting better ...but my cholesterol is higher 😩 got to learn to balance them both .... thyroid says normal but I don't really understand the readings . So now to reduce my cholesterol starts now .

[Jazzw]

I see from older posts that you used to be on 100mcg of levothyroxine and 25mcg of liothyronine (but reading between the lines your doctor threw a fit about your self-sourced T3 and the suppressed TSH it resulted in and scared you into stopping it, even though you felt better than you had in ages).

So... I would hazard a guess that your FT3 levels are actually rather low in range. Hard to say for sure because no one’s testing that. But... raised cholesterol is a sign of hypothyroidism. So I think you’re probably, nay, almost certainly a little undermedicated.

[lorrainewilson64 in reply to Jazzw]

Thank you for your advice . Doctors only interested that your in their guidelines .

[greygoose]

How are you going to work on your cholesterol level? It has nothing to do with diet or balancing diabetes.

Your FT4 is very low, only 28.24% through the range. So, the odds are that your FT3 is also very low. It's low T3 that causes high cholesterol, so the only way to lower cholesterol is to raise your FT3.

'Normal' just means 'in-range'. But, the ranges are totally unrealistic, and there is nothing 'normal' about your FT4. Have you been diagnosed with hypothyroidism? Are you taking levo? Have you had your antibodies tested?

[lorrainewilson64]

I'm on 75 levothroxine , I've asked over and over about having T3 but our doctors are reluctant to give it you and because my levels are in the guide lines as they call it then they won't look into anything else .Spoke to a few dr's all say the same.Not been diagnosed with hypothyroidism or had anti bodies taken .

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to lorrainewilson64]

As you have stopped T3 it’s highly likely vitamin levels are low

You need vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

Plus essential to test Ft3

On just levothyroxine we need Ft4 at least 70% through range

The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 is in top third of range and FT3 at least half way through range

NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Also what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)

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

Insist GP test vitamin levels

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

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, 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

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

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

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

High cholesterol is a symptom of being under treated

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.

[lorrainewilson64]

Hi thank you for your advice , I have cut down in sugar , carbs ect due to diabetes got another blood test in April .