Advice on blood results: Hi. I am just wanting... - Thyroid UK

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Advice on blood results

Nonnygirl profile image
16 Replies

Hi. I am just wanting some advise on my latest blood test results from Blue Horizon .

I have been feeling really tired lately/ lack of motivation /low mood and so wanted to see where my levels were as i am not due to see the consultant again till next January

I am currently taking 15O mcgs of levothyroxine and 25mcgs of Liothyronine.

I also supplement with b12 , vitamin d and magnesium malate.

Do any have any advice in what to do?

Do i also need to start taking iron?

Thank you in advance for any help

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Nonnygirl
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16 Replies
Nonnygirl profile image
Nonnygirl

Sorry ! Should be added now

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Nonnygirl

Your ferritin level isn't too bad. Ferritin is recommended to be half way through range, which is 82 with that range. You definitely don't need an iron supplement but you could boost your level by eating iron rich foods regularly, such as liver, liver pate, black pudding.

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

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.

Vit D is very slightly over the recommended level of 100-150nmol/L so as you supplement you should now be on a maintenance dose, possibly 1000-2000iu D3 daily. Do you also take Vit K2-MK7? This is needed when taking D3 as it directs the extra uptake of calcium from food to bones and teeth where it's needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems.

B12 of 1476pmol/L = 1999.98pg/ml. According to an extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok:

"We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 pg/ml to at least 450 pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550".

"For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml."

You no longer need to supplement with B12. Have you also been taking a B Complex along with the B12 to keep all B vits in balance? If so you could just continue with the B Complex now.

Folate is OK, it's recommended to be at least half way through range and it's a bit shy of that as it would be about 35+ with that range. A good B Complex containing methyfolate would help there, eg Thorne Basic B or Igennus Super B.

For someone on combination thyroid hormone replacement your FT4 is very high. When we add T3 it tends to lower FT4. Your FT3 is good at 73.78% through range, but your FT4 is over range and you might feel better if you lower your Levo dose and bring your FT4 back down into range. You might find that if they are both in balance that is where you feel best. I am on combination replacement and I find I'm best when both are around 60-70% through range, some people are fine with a much lower FT4.

I can't comment on blood cortisol results.

Nonnygirl profile image
Nonnygirl in reply to SeasideSusie

Thank you . I will reduce my levo to 125 and see if that helps

I have been taking 4000iu D3 with vitk2 so i will reduce that as well.

I do take a b complex and b12 separately so will now stop the b12.

Would you recommend getting tested again in 6-8 weeks?

Thanks again for your advice

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Nonnygirl

Yes, for thyroid tests it's recommended to retest 6-8 weeks after any dose change.

meme profile image
meme in reply to Nonnygirl

Does your supplement have Biotin in it? You should stop Biotin about 7 days before a blood test as it can interfere with results.

Nonnygirl profile image
Nonnygirl in reply to meme

No luckily i read about that a while ago and the supplement i currentky take doesnt have it in

Blobby1234 profile image
Blobby1234 in reply to meme

I didn't know that. I take an otc Vit B supplement and have never left it off before a blood test. Would that cause a random 0.05 TSH result even though I'd never changed the dose from its usual 100mcg?

Thanks in advance.

meme profile image
meme in reply to Blobby1234

Yes,it can give odd results to blood tests.

Stop for a few days before a test.

Blobby1234 profile image
Blobby1234 in reply to meme

Thank you. What a useful website!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

How do you NORMALLY take you T3?

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)

If/when also on T3 make sure to take last half or third of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?

Nonnygirl profile image
Nonnygirl in reply to SlowDragon

Yes i did it at 8.50 in the morning before my breakfast and i hadnt taken any T4 for over 24 hours and my last T3 was at 1pm the day before

Im not sure if i have Hashimoto's has it has never been mentioned in all the time i have been on thyroid medication.

Yes i always seen to be given the same brand of medication for both types

I will read the links you have given.

Much appreciated

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Nonnygirl

So last dose of T3 was too long before test at around 19 hour gap ...so Ft3 is false low result

Suggest you consider reducing levothyroxine by 25mcg and retest in 10-12 weeks

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Nonnygirl

Do you split your T3 into 2 or 3 smaller doses?

Nonnygirl profile image
Nonnygirl in reply to SlowDragon

I usually take it in one dose at lunchtime . This is just so that i remember to take it really

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Nonnygirl

Suggest you get a weekly pill dispenser for levothyroxine and another for T3

Try splitting T3 into 2 doses - 1/2 tablet morning and evening

Or (as many find) - three doses - 1/2 tablet waking and 1/4 tablet mid afternoon and 1/4 tablet at bedtime (Roughly equal 8 hour gaps between doses)

Avoiding food and drink apart from water for an hour either side

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Do you have Hashimoto’s?

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine and same brand of T3?

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