T3 therapy

[Pink-Flamingo1]

Hi I recently had a blood test done for my thyroid. My TSH is 0.35 to 3.5 and my result is 0.48. My T4 range is 7 to 25, and my level is 16.3, and the Ft3 range is 2.5 to 6.5 and my Ft3 is 4.5. I am on 150mcg now. I am going to speak to the specialist next week. Should I ask him about taking T3? Does anyone know if I need it from my results? Last time we met, the specialist said I could ask the doctor for an adrenal test too, but for some reason my doctor is reluctant to send me to an adrenal specialist. He doesn't want to refer me or give me the address of anyone. Should I go back and tell him the specialist advised it and insist he gives me the address of an adrenal person. I'm still not feeling great and thought I would have loads of energy now my doctor has upped my dosage. I have also been advised to get my vitamins tested so will ask for another blood test this week in time for the specialist. I hope that my doctor will give me another test though as the last one was quite recent. I am also nervous and frustrated because my doctor is blocking my requests but the specialist is really helpful, so have to keep making appointments to see the specialist to get any real information. Unfortunately though because my specialist has so many patients, he only ever has time for a few questions. His assistant stopped me from asking him anything more last time and I had to email him privately to get a response back. I have been struggling now for 10 years with this and just hope I'm getting closer to feeling better. Thanks! 🙂

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Pink-Flamingo1

TSH: 0.48 (0.35 to 3.5)

FT4: 16.3 (7 to 25)

Ft3: 4.5 (2.5-6.5)

As greygoose mentioned in reply to your post here: healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Your FT4 is 51.67% through range and your FT3 is 50% through range. Your conversion of T4 to T3 is good and balanced and shows no need for T3. They are, however, low in range and you could probably benefit from an increase in dose of Levo. The aim of a treated hypo patient, generally, is for TSH to be 1 or below with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their reference ranges.

It would be a good idea to test:

Vit D (recommended level is 100-150nmol/L or 40-60ng/ml)

B12 (recommended level is a minimum of 550pg/ml or ng/L for Total B12, Active B12 below 70 can suggest testing for B12 deficiency)

Folate (recommended to be at least half way through range)

Ferritin (recommended to be half way through range)

These need to be optimal for thyroid hormone to work properly and low levels or deficiencies bring their own symptoms.

[Pink-Flamingo1 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi, ok so I will see this week if I can have a new blood test and test for the suggested vitamins. I will see the specialist next week so perhaps he will go through my results and can suggest if I need to increase my Levothyroxine. I only had the first blood test 7 weeks after I increased my dosage, so I wonder if I have it done again this week the results might be different. Ok I think I will focus on the vitamins for now and see if I feel better with the correct vitamins. Thank you! 🙂

[shaws Administrator]

If you've been struggling for ten years it is about time that you started to feel well again.

Do you follow this method before a new blood test:-

The earliest possible appointment, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours from your last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards? If not, follow this procedure from now on.

The aim is a TSH of 1 or lower - some doctors don't increase dose if TSH is 'somewhere' in the range' but we need 1 or lower. They are quite ignorant of how best to help patient be symptom-free.

Always get a print-out of your results for your own records and that blood tests are at the earliest possible.

You also need vitamins/minerals to be tested. Everything has to be optimal.

You can also have a private blood test. It is a home finger pin-prick test and if you do decide, make sure you are well-hydrated a couple of days before blood draw. Just in case I'll give you a link:-

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

[Pink-Flamingo1 in reply to shaws]

Ok, no I haven't ever done that before a blood test but am going on Friday so will be sure to do that. Yes my TSH has always been higher than that. In 2016 it was 4, 2017 it was 2.90, 2018 it was 2.40. My latest one is the lowest it has ever been actually, so perhaps I am going in the right direction now. I will ask my doctor for a vitamin test and if he says no then I can do one at home. Thank you for your advice 🙂

[Hidden]

"the specialist said I could ask the doctor for an adrenal test too"

Did he say why? For example, do you have any adrenal symptoms?

I have some symptoms that could be adrenal, so would like to know too. Sometimes I wake up very hot with the pulse pounding in my ears, which seems like an exaggeration of the usual changes that happen when you wake. It usually stops in a few seconds, especially if I get up and start moving around.

[Pink-Flamingo1]

Hi, I initially asked the question because my friend who recently was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease, had her adrenals tested as part of her initial blood tests before being given medication. Apparently this particular hospital checked her thyroid, vitamins, iron, adrenals and antibodies. I just emailed the specialist to ask him if I should also have a test and he replied back yes. ( He seems to be a bit busy so doesn't have much time to answer questions unfortunately) My main problem is feeling tired, with heavy legs and achey joints. I also suffer with blocked squelchy ears, plus continual colds. I was wondering if I might have adrenal fatigue but have never been tested. Sorry I couldn't be of more help to you. At the moment I am going through a process of elimination, so will start with my Thyroxine medication, then go to vitamins and then adrenals. I guess there isn't any harm asking your doctor for an adrenal test though, or hopefully someone will know on here if your ear problem is adrenal related. Online websites also mention more about symptoms relating to adrenal issues, so perhaps you might relate to those symptoms. Hope you manage to solve the problem. 🙂

[Angel_of_the_North]

No need for T3 as your conversion is fine

[Pink-Flamingo1 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Hi ok thank you! 🙂👍