I’ve just received results back from medichecks which indicate that I’m on too much medication at the moment. My TSH is suppressed at 0.005 which doesn’t surprise me since I’m on combination t4/t3. My FT3 levels are over range at 7.01 (3.1-6.8) and my ft4 levels are 19.9 (12-22). About 8 weeks ago I decided to increase my Levo slightly. I had been taking 20mcg t3 and 75mcg Levo and increased the Levo to 75/100 on alternate days. Since my t3 levels are now over range do I drop my t3 or go back to my previous dose the endo had me on (i.e. 20mcg t3 and 75mcg t4?). This might be the best thing to do as I’ll have to go back to him when the clinic opens up again. I’ve been feeling quite well on the increased dose but have had some tummy problems and didn’t know if it was due to over medication.
The other thing which is more worrying is that my ferritin levels are very high at 234ug/l (13-150). They’ve been slightly high in the past but have increased. I’m worried about this as I’m not supplementing. What do I do now? I’m very concerned having read about high ferritin! Hoping someone can allay my fears!
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Mickeydooley
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No. Haven’t been supplementing with vitamin b. I’m not sure what the optimal level for folate would be and never thought I had an issue with it. Would that affect ferritin? More concerned about that tbh and my high t3 levels
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 (or even half a 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
No b supplements at all at the moment. I’ll check those ones you recommended. Is it really essential to retest so often? I dread these tests. Didn’t realise my folate wasn’t optimal either. Thank you.
I’ve been looking for the vitamin b complex tablets you recommended but the ones I’m finding have vitamin c in them and from what I’ve read vitamin c can exacerbate ferritin issues?
Personally I can’t swallow capsules (only since becoming hypothyroid) so prefer Igennus and can take just one tablet per day...so smaller dose than Jarrow (which I use to take)
Tricky one. Normally FT4 and FT3 results are balanced through their ranges - similar percentages. On combo therapy some folks feel well without this balance and their FT4 is low; others need both FT4 and FT3 well over half way through the ranges and balanced with each other.
For me your FT4 result of 36% would have been too low and I would have increased levo as you did.
Now do you keep FT4 at its new 79.8% and reduce liothyronine to 15mcg to bring FT3 down hopefully to a comparable level or do you revert to your lower dose of levo?
As you are relying on the endo for the meds it would be politic to go back to the prescribed dose and then discuss. However this will set you back as you cannot change 2 things at once so after you see the endo you would need to repeat the increase wait 8 weeks, bloods and then reduce the lio.
I cannot manage with low FT4 so I would be reducing my lio. But you are you!
Thank you. Yes I’m depending on him for meds so I don’t think I have any option but to go back to previous dose. I hadn’t consulted him on the increase and was hoping the results would show that I was right to do what I did but seems not! I’d have a lot of explaining to do if I continued to tweak my meds on my own.
I could reduce Levo to twice weekly if I thought it would reduce my t3 levels enough. I’ve been low carb/keto for the most part for a few years now. I’m struggling with the gluten free bit at the moment. I was completely gluten free for about a year and didn’t notice much difference. I’m not overweight. In fact, I could probably do with a few extra pounds. However I do enjoy a couple of small glasses of wine in the evening which I reckon will have to stop now. 😩
Which vitamin b should I take and how much? Thank you for taking the time to answer all these questions.
Yes that’s what I meant. Sorry. I’ll try that. Just hope it brings my FT3 down. Can’t believe it’s made such a difference to my levels increasing from 75 to 100mcg on alternate days.
Can I ask what may be a stupid question? The night before I took the test I had a few glasses of wine as we were celebrating my husband’s birthday. Could that have affected my ferritin levels or does it not work like that?
Possibly might make slight difference...beer is supposed to be worse than wine ....But I avoided all beer and lager for weeks and ferritin still went up!
my ferritin goes up at each test ...level similar to yours. I have been low carb for at least 2 years....not made any noticeable difference...apart from desirable weight loss
Of course I might have always had high iron...but use to be regular blood donor. They don’t want my blood anymore,....this plus being post menopause...Ferritin levels go up...but my GP tested iron ...that’s not high
High ferritin levels linked to inflammation of autoimmune disease
High Ferritin issues for women obviously tend to not appear until, after menopause
I’ve ordered the medichecks test to assess my iron levels. I’m not taking supplements. I took t3 meds 11 hours before test. My t3 went from 65% through range to 105% with a very small increase in levo (extra 25mcg on alternate days). Have been wondering if it is so high due to a decrease in activity on my part in lockdown.
Haven’t lost weight recently. I’m not normally a good converter hence the t3 prescription which is why I’m so surprised by my results this time. Only thing that has changed is activity level during lockdown. Haven’t felt up to much exercise. Tired and not sleeping well. Sore muscles and joints. Maybe signs that I’m over replaced atm.
I’m planning to cut down again. Hopefully I’ll feel a bit more energetic and in better form. Just still don’t understand why levels increased so drastically. Probably will never know. Thought it was just lockdown getting to me. Thanks for replying
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