Could somebody take a look at my blood results

[Unsunghero]

I posted a few weeks ago will these blood results which I had been to see my Endo about:

FT4 [11.0 - 22.6] - 10.80

FT3 [3.50 - 6.50] - 4.40

TSH [0.2 - 4.0] - 1.30

These results were taken on 5th August while taking 75mcg Levo (taken once a day) and 40mcg Lio (split into 4 doses a day).

Advice on here was that I should look at increasing my T4 however my endo told me that FT4 level being under range does not matter, it is only the FT3 that matters and he outright refused to even consider raising my T4 but instead told me to increase my T3.

My bloods were re-taken 6 weeks later while taking 75mcg Levo (taken once a day) and 50mcg Lio (split into 5 doses a day).

FT4 [11.0 - 22.6] - 12.00

FT3 [3.50 - 6.50] - 5.7

TSH [0.2 - 4.0] - 0.42

Additional tests that have been done are:

Vitamin D [50.00 - 175.00] - 117

Iron [11.6 - 31.3] - 20

Ferritin [22.0 - 322.0] - 60

Transferrin saturation index 33% [15.0 - 55.0]

Transferrin level [2.15 - 3.65] - 2.4

Testosterone Level [8.0 - 27.0] - 19.1

All the blood tests were done at 9am, fasting, it had been 24hrs since my last Levo dose and 12hrs since my last Lio dose.

The only other change in medication since my last blood tests are that I was started on an injection called Amjevita for my psoriatic arthritis. I only mention this as my Endo suggested that it was my psoriatic arthritis causing the low thyroid levels.

Thanks

[fuchsia-pink]

How do you feel?

Personally I like both "frees" in the top of their range - but tbh I've never tried having high free T3 and really low free T4. But I know eg greygoose just takes T3 meds and has low free T4 accordingly - so perhaps she'll pop up in a bit to add her experience

But really it's what works best for YOU that's important for you x

[Unsunghero in reply to fuchsia-pink]

I have to say I am generally feeling better, I am not exactly bursting with energy but the tiredness isn't hitting me like it was in the early evening, I guess because I am now having the extra dose of Lio.

I was surprised that both T4 and T3 went up just with the small increase of Lio and I am still a little confused by my Endo saying that there was no problem when my T4 was under range, it is obviously now within range but very low.

[greygoose]

Yes, I take T3 only, and I like my FT3 a littel over-range. My TSH and FT4 are zero, as you would expect. Your FT4 would be much too low for me. But, as fuchsia-pink says, we're all different, so whatever makes you feel well is right for you.

[Unsunghero in reply to greygoose]

At least now I am within range, so I guess it is just going to be continue monitoring it over the coming months and see if my results stay as they are. It has been so long since I've felt well, that it is hard to remember what good energy levels feel like.

[greygoose in reply to Unsunghero]

Oh, you'll recognise it when you get there! But, I would have thought you need an increase in dose. I very much doubt the FT3 will go up by itself - unless you have Hashi's.

[Unsunghero in reply to greygoose]

I was told I was Graves, but I'm also post Radioiodine treatment. So, I'm still a little unclear on what that means.

I managed to get these most recent tests done through my GP but I was planning on paying for my next thyroid function test and getting the antibody tests done too, although again my Endo said they will not tell me anything due to being post Radioiodine.

The GP also did cortisol test too, but the results have not been uploaded yet.

[greygoose in reply to Unsunghero]

Ah, ok. Well, Grave's is autoimmune hyperthyroidism. The Radio Active Iodine treatment kills off the thyroid, and makes you hypo. I can't explain more than that without more detail.

But, your endo is wrong. If you had Grave's, I'm pretty sure you will still have Grave's antibodies: TRAB and TSI. They don't go away.

However, if they misdiagnosed you, and you actually had Hashi's, then they antibodies will probably be gone. So, I wonder why he said that...

I realise that's as clear as mud! So, if you have other questions, don't hesitate to ask.

[Unsunghero in reply to greygoose]

No, that is actually useful. I think I will go ahead and get the antibody tests done with my next thyroid function test and then if nothing else it will set my mind at ease and I'll have a little bit more information.

Thank you!

[greygoose in reply to Unsunghero]

You're welcome.

[LiliAmsterdam in reply to Unsunghero]

The antibodies only matter if you’re pregnant or have Graves Opthalmology (bulging eyes).

[penny]

Lots of articles about a link to low vitamin D.

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

Dr Coimbra is of the opinion that those with autoimmune conditions have a resistance to vitamin D uptake.

[Unsunghero in reply to penny]

Would you consider my Vitamin D levels to he low for someone with an autoimmune condition. I know vitamin D has been mentioned quite often on here and looking at the numbers it doesn't seem particularly low.

I do usually take a Vitamin D supplement (recommended by my endo) but stopped it prior to my blood tests.

I am just at work but will take a look at the link you posted later. Thanks

[penny]

I’m not a medic. so cannot advise. I copied the following from the Vitamin D Protocol:

You can begin your battle against a long list of diseases by having adequate amounts of vitamin D3. Most healthcare professionals who understand vitamin D3 target a vitamin D 25-hydroxy blood test result as high as 100ng/mL (250 nmol/L in the UK) and the greatest minds in our field suggest 50 ng/mL US [125 nmoL UK] as a target minimum and feel that real protection from disease does not begin until 75-80ng/mL or 187-200 nmoL. If you are considering taking vitamin D3 follow these simple steps we are about to lay out for you . Many of our readers and Facebook group members have had their health and quality of life improved tremendously. Join them here on Facebook.

[Unsunghero in reply to penny]

Thanks, I'm back on my Vitamin D3 now anyway and I think I'll stay on it for my next blood tests, see if it is pushing it up towards the top end of the range. It will be interesting to see how I feel with higher levels.

[penny in reply to Unsunghero]

Do remember the co-factors of Vit K2-MK4/7. (Dr Coimbra favours MK4) and magnesium and keep the hydration up. (There’s more about magnesium on the Protocol website.)

Good luck.

[GKeith]

I'm on 75 mcgs of T4 & 30 mcgs of T3 even though I am bouncing around changing my doses weekly because of a dental problem I think is (finally) over (4 extracted, infected teeth) & I'm hoping to stabilize someday soon. I now believe I never took enough T4 because of the complete ignorance of every GP I ever had, as, for 28 years, they left me on 88 mcgs of T4 never once raising it and by the time I raised it to 100 mcgs of T4 I had already been started on 50 mcg of T4 and 30 of T3 because I thought the T4 was the problem and was given less T4 (50 mcgs) than the original dose of 88mcg and started on 30mcgs T3 for no reason although I thought it was because I wasn't converting the T4, which. obviously, can happen. I am now convinced that doctors are not thinking as much of the patient as they are of the bottom line and the bottom line is (always) money. In this case, however, I should have, I now believe, changed the T4 to a higher dose while I still could have checked it by a blood test because once you introduce any T3 to the bargain, the blood tests go out the window. I am now, I fear, addicted to the 30 mcgs of T3 & am not sure if I can extraxt myself from it. I am ripe to try NDT, because of its ingredients and now just have to talk an endo who doesn't like it, it costs him more, into prescribing it. I see where you went up 20 mcgs of T3 in a few weeks and I completely understand why: because you feel better, but at what cost? Your health, because that much T3 can only continue to go up, although maybe it is helping many people if you can "tolerate" T4, you should try and stabilize on it until it absolutely refuses to help you, or take as little as possible until you medically must take T3 only, which is true for anyone who has a genetic defect of D101 or D102, both genes that absolutely, physically, prevent you from converting T4 into T3. For those readers who do not "understand" this post, I don't blame you, because, even though I wrote it, I'm having a hard time "understanding" it myself.

[Unsunghero in reply to GKeith]

Thanks for the reply, I had been trying to stabilise on T4 for around 7 years prior to eventually going onto a T4/T3 combo due to seeing no improvement on just T4. Over those 7 years my GP had me on anything from as low as 25mcg of T4 right upto 250mcg of T4. So I had been given both extremes. Their solution was always just to keep giving me more and more.

When I was first told by my Endo he wanted me to start a combo of T4/T3, I did have serious problems getting onto the T3 as the GP outright lied to me about it's availability and saying it was blacklisted. The receptionist for some reason, I'm not sure why, told me the truth. They are not prescribing you it because it costs a lot and after I put an official complaint in providing them with the UK guidance that it was no longer blacklisted and that they were prioritising money over health I then suddenly got prescribed it. So I do know first hand that it is all about money with many GPs.

I have also looked into NDT options but I have actually started feeling much better over the last year whilst on the T4/T3 combo, so am now reluctant to start changing things up again. Again, the latest dose change seems to have helped my energy levels so I am hoping I may start to stabilise now.

[GKeith in reply to Unsunghero]

Your answer is a good one; I only wish I had gone that high myself as I am very suspicious of all doctors after going through 28 years (now 30 years) of them doing nothing but reacting to my complaints. It's as if they could care less and they never, ever, understand the pain & suffering we have over the medication(s). My experience was actually the opposite of yours because they (the doctors) never prescribed me anything, no change for 28 years I had ice-cold hands and feet & they never raised or lowered my T4 & actually never even checked it; they just left it alone because the TSH was always within range. I actually feel better on more T3, which is much harder to get than the T4, although I have plenty at this time to dose myself more, which I will do until I either stabilize or go to high to which I will stop and cut back. We have to do it ourselves because the doctors, including (especially) the endos, mine is a Diabedes specialist, who never seem to get things right & just wish to use us as guinea pigs. I understand that the numbers, the 30 or 40 or? make little or no difference unless you actually feel well and we must pay attention to that and then we can help others by telling our stories. I only want to try NDT because it's the only thing I haven't tried but, like you, if I stabilize on T4/T3 I will stop because when you count your blessings you must remember that this one may be your last chance to get well. May God's Peace be upon you in these terrible times.