Hi, I have just had my latest blood test results from endocrinologist which are
TSH 0.02 (0.27-4.27)
T4 24.2 (12-22)
T3 5 (3.1-6.8)
I feel well enough but not as great as I did before he reduced my dose but after these results he wants to reduce even more. He has never heard of anyone having conversion problems and has never prescribed T3. But I feel on these results and others that I have had in the past that maybe I have a case for having T3. Or a higher dose of t4? What do you think?
When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested
These need to be optimal for good conversion of Ft4 to Ft3
Low vitamin levels also frequently lower a TSH
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?
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)
Is this how you do your tests?
Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine at each prescription?
How much levothyroxine are you currently taking?
How much was dose reduced?
I am currently taking 150mcg x6 and 125 x 1 a week. I was told to reduce down to 150x5 and 125x2 but started to feel dizzy which I have learnt is the beginnings of me feeling unwell so increased. I am seeing the doctor on Thursday and asking if i can go back to 150mcg every day as that's where I felt most well and also saying I don't want to see my endo anymore because he just goes on TSH. Doctor may not be happy but I'm adamant I don't want to decrease anymore. If necessary I will see a private endocrinologist. I had vitamins tested last August and vit d was 72.7 . I now supplement with vitamin d and K2 liquid 4 drops a day. I take magnesium supplement and high strength vit C.
Ferritin level was 74.5 (10-291)
Folate 9.31 (>5.38)
I eat liver once a week as advised on here. Tried to take vitamin b complex but made me very jittery so stopped.
Blood test was taken as advised on here at 8.30 am with fasting and no levothyroxine for 24 hrs.
I had a thyroidectomy 35 years ago.
Although everyone says it's ok to have a suppressed TSH I'm more concerned with the over range t4 as well and if I increase my levothyroxine it will go up even further so would I be better having t3?
Thank you for your help.
After thyroidectomy many patients find symptoms improve with addition of small dose of T3 alongside (slightly reduced) levothyroxine
Email Dionne at Thyroid UK for list of recommend thyroid specialist endocrinologists who will prescribe T3
thyroiduk.org/tuk/About_Us/...
Vitamins need to be optimal
When was B12 last tested?
Suggest you retest vitamin D soon
B12 was tested last August and it was ok at 499 (211-911). I suppose I was wondering whether adding t3 would make me feel better or if I can get my t3 level at bit higher than 5 with levo I would get exactly the same benefit?
B12 might be better higher
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/186...
There is a high (approx 40%) prevalence of B12 deficiency in hypothyroid patients. Traditional symptoms are not a good guide to determining presence of B12 deficiency. Screening for vitamin B12 levels should be undertaken in all hypothyroid patients, irrespective of their thyroid antibody status. Replacement of B12 leads to improvement in symptoms, although a placebo effect cannot be excluded, as a number of patients without B12 deficiency also appeared to respond to B12, administration.
Folate might also be better a bit higher
Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial.
chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...
B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast
Igennus Super B complex are nice small tablets. Often only need one tablet per day, not two. Certainly only start with one tablet per day after breakfast. Retesting levels in 6-8 weeks
Or Thorne Basic B or jarrow B-right are other options that contain folate, but both are large capsules
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...
endocrinenews.endocrine.org...
Many thyroid patients have relatively common DiO2 gene variation
You might consider doing this test
thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/D...
If you test positive this is good scientific reason for needing T3
But you may simply need to reduce levothyroxine a bit and add in small doses of T3 alongside levothyroxine
reduced to 30mg T3 only ???????
Trial of T3
Do I need T3?
