Just had a telephone conversation with my super helpful endocrinologist.
Bloods taken early July first thing on an empty stomach I n the morning allowing 24 hours between T4 dose of 125mg and twelve hours between T3 dose of 5mg
TSH 0.01
FT3 5.2 (3.1-6.8)
FT4. 13.8 (7.5-21)
Vitamin D 144 nmol upper range should be no higher than 120 and I have been supplementing throughout the winter but stopped end of June.
Ferritin 105 (12-150ng/ml)
Cholesterol 5.9 HDL 1.01 - apparently the HDL ratio is slightly low. Ido t take statins.
I don’t feel over medicated and my energy levels are usually very low as also have a diagnosis of ME/CFS. I am struggling to lose half a stone, don’t have loose stools or any heart palpitations or hand tremors.
The endo has slight concerns that there is some evidence that a TSH below 0.1 may have adverse effects on the heart.
She has agreed to repeat my blood tests in December.
Would appreciate any feedback from the very knowledgeable folk on the forum please.
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Trillylil
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Occasionally patients only feel well if the TSH is below normal or suppressed. This is usually not harmful as long as it is not completely undetectable and/or the FT3 is clearly normal.
There are also certain patients who only feel better if the TSH is just above the reference range. Within the limits described above, it is recommended that patients and their supervising doctors set individual targets that are right for their particular circumstances.
Your FT3 is 56.76% through it's range, there's scope to increase your T3 dose. It's low T3 that can prevent weight loss.
Cholesterol 5.9 HDL 1.01 - apparently the HDL ratio is slightly low. Ido t take statins.
Statins aren't recommended for females or us Hypos.
If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.
greygoose or humanbean might have more information to pass on about that.
I wonder if I should try to increase the T3 by 5mg.
Would I need to reduce my T4 if I do this and by how much?
My T3 is the highest it’s been in the last five years each time I’ve had a blood test. It’s usually 3.8 to 4.2 but I feel my weight is increasing even though my eating habits haven’t so perhaps I am a poor converter.
Don’t know why she said the vitamin D was too high- she mentioned 120 as being the top of the lab range (so maybe I’ve written the wrong range down.) but we’ve had a lot of sun since Easter and I’ve soaked it up.
My cholesterol has been high for years so I think it’s because my thyroid function is not optimal. I’ll try to eat more oily fish and plants to see if that makes any difference as I don’t want to take a statin.
I agree an increase in meds seems sensible. I wouldn't reduce levo - your free T4 is nowhere near the top of the reference range - only 46.7% whereas many of us like this in the top third of range or higher ... free T is 56.7% through range - so again that could do with a bit of a boost, but that would happen if you increase levo or lio. If you self-source lio, and can get another 25 mcg of levo from your GP that would obv be the cheapest option
I think the endo was a bit concerned about increasing my medication because my TSH is only just detectable even though I’m feeling more lethargic than usual with weight gain.
I’m sure they have to follow NHS protocol and she is extremely supportive within her remit.
I’ll have to cut up my 100mg tablets as I won’t be able to get a prescription for any more 25mg.
It’s usually 3.8 to 4.2 but I feel my weight is increasing even though my eating habits haven’t so perhaps I am a poor converter.
Your rate of conversion is irrelevant - and impossible to decern - once you're taking T3. However, I would assume that they gave you T3 in the first place precisely because you're a poor converter.
My cholesterol has been high for years so I think it’s because my thyroid function is not optimal. I’ll try to eat more oily fish and plants to see if that makes any difference as I don’t want to take a statin.
Cholesterol is made in the liver, and has little to do with what you eat. The more cholesterol you consume, the less the liver makes, the less you consume, the more the liver makes, so that it maintains a steady level. However, when T3 is low, the body cannot process and illiminate cholesterol correctly, so it builds up in the blood. What you need is higher T3, not a statin. The cholesterol won't give you a heart attack, the statin might.
I really can't see why eating oily fish would lower your cholesterol. Fat and cholesterol are two entirely different things. Plants don't contain cholesterol but, as I said, the less you consume, the more your liver will make. Besides, high cholesterol is not a problem, your body needs it. And, it's not a disease, it's a symptom.
You don’t have to take a statin if you don’t want to. Cholesterol is good, you make 90% of it. Studies have shown that those with ‘high’ (completely arbitrary) cholesterol live longest.
From what I’ve read, yes there is. The brain uses cholesterol in synapse development and has the highest concentrations of cholesterol. Your body makes 90% of all cholesterol for a reason. It’s about time that the ‘cholesterol is bad’ myth was exposed.
Maybe this video will help explain why high cholesterol is actually beneficial to women.
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