T3 re-test results

[McMurtagh]

I’ve just had my re-test results which are as follows:

TSH.

<0.02 L mU/l (0.50-5.00)

Free Thyroxine

<0.9 L pmol/l (10.0- 25.0)

Free T3

10.8 H pmol/L (4.3-8.1)

GP happy for me to continue in current dosage (90mcg T3 daily)

[greygoose]

Any special reason your re-posted this? I know you didn't get any responses the first time, but there wasn't anything really to say. You didn't ask a question.

You and your doctor must know that your FT3 is well over-range, and one supposes there is a good reason for that, which your doctor knows about, and is therefore happy about it. So, all one can really say is: well done, you.

However, if you are unhappy about the level, or you feel unwell, then there are several questions one would ask you:

a) do you have Hashi's?

b) how long did you leave between the last dose of T3 - I presume you're taking T3 only - and the blood draw?

c) how much T3 are you taking?

d) do you feel over-medicated or still hypo?

[McMurtagh in reply to greygoose]

Hi GG

In my mind, the post was linked to my last one where there was a view that the results must be the result of an error and so I asked for a retest (it was much higher than this time)

- I do have Hashimoto’s

- I am on T3 only (90mcg a day - split into two doses)

- ‘ been on the same dose for over 20 years

- I feel absolutely fine - no hyper symptoms, in fact I feel knackered most of the time and still overweight.

I took my night time does the day before the test but left out the morning dose until after the blood draw.

[greygoose in reply to McMurtagh]

OK, I'm with you, now. I didn't have time to read back to your past posts earlier.

So, result is lower, but still a massive increase from the one before last. So, is it possible that your absorption has improved? Do you get your nutrients tested regularly? I know doctors don't like doing that, but it does give an indication of how well you're absorbing.

[greygoose in reply to greygoose]

Just a thought… Was the retest done in the same lab as the test before? It would have been a good idea to use a different lab, just to see what happened.

[McMurtagh in reply to greygoose]

I’m in the Channel Islands so expect it’s the same Lab. Prior to moving here my bloods went to a Lab in the UK.

I can’t help but wonder why the readings have changed given the same dose, even the same brand over many years.

I’ve never had my nutrients tested. I can ask for this to be done.

I’d have imagined that if I was over replaced I’d have some symptoms and I don’t have any at all.

Apart from being overweight (not massively), I look very well - skin, hair and nails in very good condition.

I still have joint aches and suffer from stomach issues but that’s nothing new.

I suppose I’m keen to ensure I’m not doing myself any harm.

My GP admits she knows very little about thyroid. She previously suggested an Endo referral over here but the last thing I need is some ‘dinosaur’ putting me back on T4.

I could go back to the consultant I saw before but that will mean an expensive trip back to England.

‘ not sure what to do for the best 🤔

If it wasn’t for that ‘bit of paper’ I’d be happily getting on with my life 😒

[HughH in reply to McMurtagh]

Your remaining symptoms could indicate that you need a higher dose of T3.

When taking larger doses of T3 it is best to use the symptoms, rather than blood tests, to get the optimal dose.

[greygoose in reply to McMurtagh]

I think your next step should be to get your nutrients tested, to get an idea of your absorption. But, that still won't fully answer the question why the levels suddenly jumped like that, because you won't have anything to compare them with. But, good idea to do it, anyway. I still suspect lab error somewhere.

[McMurtagh in reply to greygoose]

Hi again,

What nutrients do they test?

[greygoose in reply to McMurtagh]

The ones you need testing basically are vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin.

[McMurtagh in reply to greygoose]

I have some of that:

B12 724 ng/l (200-680)

Folate 16.7 (2.5-17.0)

Iron 18 (7-30)

Calcium 2.45

[greygoose in reply to McMurtagh]

Are you supplementing any of those? If not, and you got those levels from food only, then your absorption would appear to be very good. When did you get those results?

[McMurtagh in reply to greygoose]

Hi

I don’t take any supplements.

Those are from the earlier test at the end of November.

[greygoose in reply to McMurtagh]

That's when you had the very high FT3? So, your absorption was good then. But, we don't have anything to compare it with from when your FT3 was within range. Can you think of anything you've done, or taken, that might have increased your absorption at gut level?

[McMurtagh in reply to greygoose]

Yes, it was.

I was on a diet around that time / using meal replacement packs. It was for less than a week though.

[greygoose in reply to McMurtagh]

Did those meal replacement packs contain soya?

[McMurtagh in reply to greygoose]

Yes / Soya and Milk

[greygoose in reply to McMurtagh]

That is possibly the answer, then. Soy stops the absorption of thyroid hormone by the cells. So, if it wasn't getting into the cells, given the amount of T3 you were taking, there would have been a lot left in the blood. You stopped the diet and the level starts coming down...

There is no way of proving that that's what happened, but it seems to me that's a very likely explanation. Soy is always a very, very bad idea.

[McMurtagh in reply to greygoose]

I suppose so.

Thank you taking the time to consider this x

[greygoose in reply to McMurtagh]

You're welcome.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to McMurtagh]

You need vitamin D tested too