Advice on Recent Blood Tests: Hi everyone. You've... - Thyroid UK

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Advice on Recent Blood Tests

Fluffysheep profile image
9 Replies

Hi everyone. You've all been so helpful before, so thought I would ask for some advice yet again. It's that time again, where I've just had my blood tests done after being on 100mg thyroxine for the last couple of months. Still very symptomatic (tiredness, weight gain, memory issues, joint pain etc).

Amazingly they actually did a T3 test this time (last time the Dr did request it but the lab refused, so am staggered they did it this time).

I did the test under the usual conditions (hadn't taken my thyroxine since the previous morning, test first thing, nothing to eat or drink except water etc).

I have a Drs appointment on Friday. She tells me she is happy to up my thyroxine as long as I am still in range with everything, which the blood tests show that I am. However, my T4 and T3 show I'm not that far through the range, so I don't know whether an increase would do me good, or whether I should consider starting on T3 medication as well as T4? For info, I have T3 medication that I bought in Greece on a recent holiday (14 boxes of the 25mg tablets), so I would have no problems in that respect. I know you guys are far more knowledgeable on here than most Drs, so would really appreciate peoples views on what to do? I guess the 2 options are, stick at 100mg thyroxine and try adding in some T3, or take an increase of thyroxine up to 125mg, re-test blood tests in 8 weeks, then ask the same question based on results.

Anyway, here are results:

TSH 0.78 (range of 0.27 - 4.2)

T4 17.2 (range of 12 - 22)

T3 4.7 (range of 3.1 - 6.8)

Other results:

Serum vitamin B12 level 657 (range of 180 - 914). This has almost doubled from when it was last tested in April, I've been supplementing

Serum folate level 11.1 (range of 3 - 20)

Vitamin D 98.5 nmol/L (no range, but it says that anything over 50nmol/L is considered adequate, last time it was tested it was around 28 I think and I was given the 6 weekly tablets, I now use the spray with added K2

I also take magnesium and selenium supplements.

Thanks in advance for an advice/thoughts, it is always very much appreciated, and helps me go in to the Dr with a plan!

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Fluffysheep
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9 Replies
Fluffysheep profile image
Fluffysheep

Just realised I forgot to put that I am diagnosed with Hashimotos in case that makes a difference to the advice given.

Lalatoot profile image
Lalatoot

I agree with Scrumbler. Increase the levo and then retest. Adding T3 is not an easy option. It is easier and cheaper if you can mange on levo.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

TSH 0.78 (range of 0.27 - 4.2)

T4 17.2 (range of 12 - 22)

T3 4.7 (range of 3.1 - 6.8)

As you probably know, the aim of a treated hypo patient, on Levo only, generally is for TSH to be 1 or below with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their reference ranges, if that is where you feel well.

Your FT4 is 52% through range and your FT3 is 43.24% through range.

(Calculator here: chorobytarczycy.eu/kalkulator )

At the moment, your FT4 is still too low. I would aim to get this to about 70% + through range - so that would be 19+ - and then see where your FT3 lies. The way to do this is to increase your Levo. 25mcg now, retest in 6-8 weeks.

What is your ferritin level?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Also, as you have hashimoto’s are you on strictly gluten free diet...or tried it?

Though as you only have high TG antibodies it may not make a difference...always worth trying

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet

(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)

Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Are you supplementing good quality daily vitamin B complex...or just B12

Fluffysheep profile image
Fluffysheep in reply toSlowDragon

I haven't tried gluten free yet. I did have the coeliac test, which came back negative. However, I didn't want to go GF whilst still having thyroxine adjusted, because if I felt better I wouldn't know if it was the diet or the medication if that makes sense?

Plus from a practical point of view we've had a fair few weekends away, plus I've just been to Japan, and I thought that being vegetarian and trying to be GF whilst away could be a nightmare (just being vegetarian in Japan was horrendously difficult to be honest).

My ferritin wasn't tested, I've put down everything that was.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toFluffysheep

Yes I have friend who’s gluten free and went to Japan last year ...very difficult...

As a vegetarian it’s highly likely iron and/or ferritin low.

Yes best to only make one change at a time

Fluffysheep profile image
Fluffysheep in reply toSlowDragon

And sorry, am supplementing with a good quality vitamin b complex, the one that is often recommended on here.

Fluffysheep profile image
Fluffysheep

Just out of interest, lets imagine my T4 and T3 stay roughly the same even with an increase in levo, at what point do you say enough is enough and decide that you might need the T3?

It's not that I'm desperate to start it or anything (if I was, I would have started it back in November when I managed to buy it!), I'm just curious to know at what point I should consider other options. 150mg? 175mg?

It's such a slow process, I think that's that the thing I find frustrating, as assuming I'm put up to 125mg on Friday, I then need to wait another 6 weeks for a blood test, and then if I'm put up again another 6 weeks etc etc. Not really helped by the fact that I was started on such a low dose by the Dr (25mg), so all this waiting and no really change in my symptoms is driving me crazy!

db16 profile image
db16

What can I say. I am completely stupid and have never understood my results or my problem. I can't help you but there are plenty of well educated people on this forum and you will get the help you need. I have results in a manner I don't understand in a country I am not from by a doctor who is neither. I am Hashi too.

I take Levothyroxin (15 ug) andLiothyronin (no figure on bottle).

You are in safe hands here; good luck.

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