Can I have some help with results please? - Thyroid UK

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Can I have some help with results please?

Jojozo profile image
27 Replies

Afternoon everyone, I recently had a set of tests done privately and would love someone's take on them. I fasted before my test and did it first thing in the morning (and left it 24 hours since taking my last dose of Levo).

I stopped T3 two days previously after seeing my endo, who wants me to come off it permanently. My TSH level has been the same for around six years.

I am currently on 125mg Levothyroxine. I am now 45 and peri-menopausal, and I was diagnosed as underactive in my early 20s. Many thanks in advance!

TSH - 0.014 (0.27-4.20)

Free T4 - 17.41 (12-22)

Free T3 - 4.6 (3.1-6.8)

Ferretin - 52.71 (13-150)

Thyroid Peroxidase antibody - 65.0 (0-24)

Vitamin D - 100 (75-200)

Zinc - 13.8 (9.6-20.5)

Selenium - 1.40 (0.75-1.46)

Serum Folate - 17.63 (3.89-26.80)

Vitamin B12 - 629.7 (197-771) (I have not supplemented with B12 for some time so this seems high)

Magnesium - 0.73 (0.7-1.0)

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Jojozo
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27 Replies
SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Jojozo

I stopped T3 two days previously after seeing my endo, who wants me to come off it permanently.

What was the reason for stopping T3 2 days before the test? This actually hasn't helped. If you want an FT3 result to reflect you NOT taking T3 then you would have to leave longer than 2 days. If you want the result to reflect the fact that you are taking T3 and what the level is with your normal dose, then you'd take your last dose 8-12 hours before the test.

Also, why does your endo want you to come off T3?

TSH - 0.014 (0.27-4.20)

Free T4 - 17.41 (12-22)

Free T3 - 4.6 (3.1-6.8)

TSH and FT3 reflect the fact that you take T3 (it tends to lower both) even though you left it off for 2 days. Can't really comment on the FT3 result as it's not accurately reflecting your level.

**

Thyroid Peroxidase antibody - 65.0 (0-24)

Confirms Hashi's which you already know.

**

Ferretin - 52.71 (13-150)

On the low side. Ferritin is recommended to be half way through range.

You can help raise your level by eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week due to it's high Vit A content, also liver pate, black pudding, and including lots of iron rich foods in your diet

apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...

It's not recommended to take iron tablets to raise ferritin. You'd need an iron panel and full blood count before considering iron tablets.

**

Vitamin D - 100 (75-200)

Just about OK. The Vit D Council recommends a level of 125nmol/L and the Vit D Society recommends a level of 100-150nmol/L.

Do you supplement?

**

Zinc - 13.8 (9.6-20.5)

It's suggested that zinc should be half way through range. Yours is 38.53% through range.

**

Selenium - 1.40 (0.75-1.46)

You don't want this any higher. Do you supplement?

**

Serum Folate - 17.63 (3.89-26.80)

Folate is recommended to be at least half way through range. Yours is fine.

**

Vitamin B12 - 629.7 (197-771) (I have not supplemented with B12 for some time so this seems high)

Our B12 store is said to be good for at least 2 years. However, B12 is recommended to be at the top of the range. Active B12 is the better test. Total B12, which is what you have had done, tests both bound to proteins and unbound (active) B12. The Active B12 test measures only the unbound proteins which are available for the cells to use. We can have a good Total B12 but a poor Active B12.

**

Magnesium - 0.73 (0.7-1.0)

Testing magnesium is unreliable. About 99% of magnesium is stored in bone, muscles and soft tissues, leaving about 1% in the blood. So testing what's in the blood isn't giving an accurate picture of our magnesium status.

If you want to read the science, this information is from this article:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Jojozo profile image
Jojozo in reply to SeasideSusie

Wow, thank you! The endo said that by taking the T3 I'm stopping my thyroid from working properly on its own and I'm in danger of going overactive. He's the second endo to tell me that.

It worries me that he booked me in for a blood test on the Monday after he'd seen my on the Thursday and said the T3 would be out of my system by then. That's why I thought I would be able to do my private one on the Friday, because I read that it only stays in your system for 12 hours.

Thank you for letting me know about the Ferretin. I stopped supplementing with vitamin D when my levels went high. Should I reintroduce a supplement?

I don't supplement with seleium but I do with zinc. In fact, I take a high dose of zinc twice a day. I do the same with Magnesium and vitamin C, on the advice of a functional nutritionist I can no longer afford to see!

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Jojozo

It worries me that he booked me in for a blood test on the Monday after he'd seen my on the Thursday and said the T3 would be out of my system by then. That's why I thought I would be able to do my private one on the Friday, because I read that it only stays in your system for 12 hours.

This might be of interest:

rxlist.com/cytomel-drug.htm...

Pharmacokinetics

Since liothyronine sodium (T3) is not firmly bound to serum protein, it is readily available to body tissues. The onset of activity of liothyronine sodium is rapid, occurring within a few hours. Maximum pharmacologic response occurs within 2 or 3 days, providing early clinical response. The biological half-life is about 2-½ days.

So after 2 and 1/2 days you'd still have half the dose left in your body and it would reduce by half every 2 and 1/2 days.

Jojozo profile image
Jojozo in reply to SeasideSusie

Brilliant, thank you. I was only on a small dose - 6.25mg per day - but it sounds like the blood test should have been postponed.

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to Jojozo

Doesn't really inspire confidence as, if your thyroid was able to work properly on its own, you wouldn't be taking thyroid meds in the first place. That sounds like an exceptionally weaselly excuse for stopping your T3.

Jojozo profile image
Jojozo in reply to Angel_of_the_North

He seems to think that it's stopping my thyroid doing its job, so I need to take it away and allow my thyroid to rebalance. It's what the endo in Brighton told me too, but I feel terrible so it's definitely not doing a good job yet!

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to Jojozo

Sounds like rubbish to me - can he cite any scientific studies where this has happened? What does he mean by "rebalance" in scientific terms? Why does he think that removing T3 will either help your production of T3 (given that removing levo from a hypo person doesn't improve their production of T4) or improve the balance of your deiodinases? If it was me, I'd give up and buy my own T3

Jojozo profile image
Jojozo in reply to Angel_of_the_North

That's what I've been doing for the past six years or so, but he and the other endo I saw claim that I'm overstimulating my thyroid with the T3 and not allowing my body to convert/use levo properly 🤷🏼‍♀️

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to Jojozo

Ignore him, he has no evidence, and there are many studies that show that people on T4 only do not convert to as much T3 as healthy people even without a gene problem

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Why does Endocrinologist want to stop T3....highly likely to cause return of multiple symptoms

Have you done DIO2 gene test?

If test positive, this is clear proof of needing addition of T3 alongside levothyroxine

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/D...

Jojozo profile image
Jojozo in reply to SlowDragon

I've cut and pasted this bit!

The endo said that by taking the T3 I'm stopping my thyroid from working properly on its own and I'm in danger of going overactive. He's the second endo to tell me that.

I haven't done the D102 test but someone else suggested it to me recently so I will look into it. I used Blue Horizon last time but I will probably go with whoever has an offer on as I've just missed their 50% sale!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Jojozo

Regenerus do DiO2 gene test

Full thyroid and vitamin test currently on offer on Medichecks Today

As you have Hashimoto’s...your thyroid is packing up/has packed up anyway

Many hashimoto’s patients need TSH suppressed to stop wild swings in levels

Endo More likely pressurised into looking at reducing the cost of T3

Jojozo profile image
Jojozo in reply to SlowDragon

Thanks so much for the info, I'll have a look on Medicheck and Regenerus.

I live in East Sussex where they won't prescibe T3 so I source it myself. I went to see an Endo last year and even she told me to stop taking the T3!

in reply to Jojozo

Hi, I live in East Sussex and an Endocrinology Consultant prescribed T3 for me and instructed my GP to continue prescribing it. It is a complete lottery whether we can get it or not depending on who we see, Consultants can still prescribe it so maybe challenge their decision

Jojozo profile image
Jojozo in reply to

Oh wow, you are the first person I've ever heard say that. That's great. There is hope!

in reply to Jojozo

Good luck! x

Jojozo profile image
Jojozo in reply to

Thank you! x

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Jojozo

Depends which CCG area...Brighton is a complete refusal

But other Sussex areas have have some prescriptions

openprescribing.net/analyse...

Jojozo profile image
Jojozo in reply to SlowDragon

I've was under Brighton but I requested to be sent Eastbourne because I was getting nowhere with them. The endo is much more thorough, but he still taken me off the T3. I can feel fine one day and not be able to get out of bed the next. It's been going on for years, but since I became peri-menopausal (my oestrogen levels are non-existant) things have definitely got worse, and I'm scared stopping T3 will make me feel more unwell.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Jojozo

Then you need to see different endocrinologist....likely privately

Or self medicate

Jojozo profile image
Jojozo in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you very much. Sadly I spent my savings (literally thousands!) on a functional nutritionist last year, but it turns out he was unable to prescibe medication and I'm still in the same place. I did see Dr Peatfield and would love to go back but I don't he's practising any longer. I have been self-medicating up until now, and if things get worse I'll have no choice but to do it again.

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to Jojozo

If you are buying your own T3, endo can't take you off it. Just stop seeing him.

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to Jojozo

So don't tell them you are taking it. Why are you even seeing an endo if you don't need a T3 prescription?

Jojozo profile image
Jojozo in reply to Angel_of_the_North

That’s my plan, I just wasn’t sure if I should listen to the advice as he is the third doctor to tell me to stop taking the T3.

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to Jojozo

I would want to see some real hard evidence to show that I needed to stop.

Jojozo profile image
Jojozo in reply to Angel_of_the_North

I with you! I’ll see what he says at the next appointment. It’s a proper minefield, isn’t it?

Jojozo profile image
Jojozo in reply to Jojozo

Does anyone know if any of the ancesty websites, such as 23 & Me, check for the Di02 gene?

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