Got my results! Help please

[legsgran]

Hi, got my thyroid test back. Only a simple one, but wonder if anyone can comment.

TSH - 2.36

THYROXINE - 17.5

FT3 - 4.0

Ferretin came out low. Vit D is high (I take 25,000 iu per week and have done for 10 years). Yet to get my B12. These were all private tests so not detailed, but now have enough to go to my GP and get a full screen of everything. I will also get him to retest my thyroid (took advice and did it first thing, 24 hours after last levothyroxine BTW) and see if he will give me FT3 reading also. He is quite helpful.

Any advice about the thyroid readings please?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Please add the ranges on these results (figures in brackets after each result)

Plus how high is vitamin D

[legsgran in reply to SlowDragon]

Ranges on the Ferritin is just a normal/abnormal range. Haven't got my Vit D to hand, but it really is quite high, according to my doctor (he thinks it's too high) as I take my weekly supplement. Will get exact readings next time I see him.

[legsgran in reply to SlowDragon]

Ranges on test were

TSH - 0.7 - 4.2 mul

Thyroxine - 12 - 22 pmol/L

FT3 - 3.1 - 6.8 pmol/L

[SlowDragon Administrator]

So Ft4 is 55% through range

Ft3 only 25% through range

Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range

chorobytarczycy.eu/kalkulator

TSH is too high for someone on levothyroxine

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)

Vitamin D probably doesn’t want to be over 150nmol

[legsgran in reply to SlowDragon]

I have taken 100 mg Levothyroxine daily for about 15 years. Occasionally going up to 125 or even 150, but hardly ever. Frankly I never felt it really make me feel that much better! So what do you think - am I in range? As my Mum had very bad hypo issues and I have been having terrible symptoms this last year of fatigue, eyebrows falling out, gastro issues and have just been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I have always thought I am lacking in T3, but do my results support this?

[shaws in reply to legsgran]

Fibromyalgia is stated (by an expert) that the patient needs T3 to relieve symptoms. Usually on a higher dose than would be normal..

drlowe.com/thyroidscience/c...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/relate...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/relate...

Re fibromyalgia in the general medical areas I doubt they are aware that fibro can be improved by T3 and now that it is too expensive and/or banned it will be difficult to get it prescribed by the NHS.

[legsgran in reply to shaws]

exactly what I thought, so I have got some desiccated thyroid from reputable source. Was just waiting to get my results before I went for it, so as it is quite on the low side, will now start to take it. I am after some advice on how to take it, with Levo or instead, how much do I take etc.

[shaws in reply to legsgran]

I am not medically qualified but I'd just increase by a 1/4 NDT every two weeks (to your existing dose) and always being aware of your symptoms i.e. are symptoms being resolved and if you think you're on a bit too much drop to the previous dose and stay on that for a while and hopefully you may not need to increase any more.

I must also state I'm not medically qualified but had to diagnose myself when no doctors could.

[legsgran in reply to shaws]

Thanks, that's helpful. My tablets NDT are 135 mg, which is apparently equivalent to 2 grains.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to legsgran]

Would recommend trying increase in levothyroxine first ....before trying NDT

Important to wait for all four vitamin results

These need to be be at good levels for levothyroxine, T3 or NDT to work well

[legsgran in reply to SlowDragon]

yes, I will take an extra 25 mg and get retested, including vitamins, in 6 weeks. Thank you.

[Marz in reply to legsgran]

Yes as explained by SlowDragon above your FT3 is only 25% through the range - needs to be nearer 75%

[greygoose in reply to legsgran]

Obviously you're 'in-range', you can see that for yourself. But, that's not the point. The ranges are too wide, so it's where in the range that your results fall that counts. Your FT4 and FT3 results fall too low.

Were you on 100 mcg when these labs were done? 100 mcg is quite a small dose. You need an increase to 125 mcg, and a retest in six weeks. Hopefully, that will bring the TSH down to one or under, and then you will be able to see how well you convert.

In the meantime, try raising your ferritin by eating liver once a week - or pâté or black pudding. It needs to be optimal for your body to use the thyroid hormone you're giving it.

[legsgran in reply to greygoose]

Thanks, don't know whether I'm being dim, but its the interpretation of the high/low etc. I'm having trouble with - I think I've got it now! So I'll up my dose by 25 mcg, (though I know other times I've done this it doesn't seem to have made much difference to symptoms, though these were mild in the past, now getting really severe. ) I have routine blood tests every 3 months anyway for my liver transplant consultant to keep an eye on my immunosuppression, so I'll get my helpful GP to do my thyroid, and also try to get him to do FT3 also, plus B12. Next one due in 6 weeks, so should show results of any increase in Levo dosage.

Thanks about the liver and black pudding - does Floradix help, its a non meat iron supplement in the UK.

[greygoose in reply to legsgran]

Hypo is high TSH and low FT4/FT3. So, what you're aiming to do, is raise the FT4/FT3, which will bring the TSH down.

I know other times I've done this it doesn't seem to have made much difference to symptoms

If the dose was still too low, then it wouldn't have helped your symptoms. You need to keep raising the dose until the symptoms go. But, you have to be patient. It won't happen instantly you raise the dose. It will take about six weeks to feel the full impact of the increase.

[legsgran in reply to greygoose]

Thanks, that makes sense now! I've been up to 150 mg and not felt that brilliant, but that was some years ago. I'm positive I don't convert T3, but will keep up the detective work. Suck it and see, seems to be the order of the day

[greygoose in reply to legsgran]

Well, we'll be able to see how well you convert when you get your TSH down a bit. First of all, you need to have enough FT4 to convert.

[legsgran in reply to greygoose]

I just can't get my head around how every doctor in the UK will say that that is a completely normal result!

[greygoose in reply to legsgran]

Sheer ignorance, that's all. It's all about money and politics, long and complicated, but boils down to lack of education on thyroid.