Recent Thyroid Test results

[Charltonjl]

I just received my medichecks test results. I did a whole Well Woman test and most of the results seem OK other than a high Platelet Count and high Cholesterol (although I've just started the Cambridge diet and am hoping this will rectify itself soon). Can I please gain some advice with regards to the attached Thyroid test results? I've been feeling awful but the medichecks doc seems to think the thyroid results are OK. Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Charltonjl

The aim of a treated Hypo patient on Levo only, generally, is for TSH to be 1 or below with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their reference ranges.

Medichecks are saying your results are OK because they fall within the range but your FT4 is only 35% through range and your FT3 is 25.68% through range. These are very low, no wonder you don't feel well.

You need an increase in your dose of Levo, 25mcg now and retest in 6-8 weeks.

If your GP is reluctant to increase your Levo dose then use the following information to support your request:

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine (the professional magazine for doctors):

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l. In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l. This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l).*"

*He recently confirmed, during a public meeting, that this applies to Free T3 as well as Total T3.

You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing Dionne at

[e-mail]

print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.

Were nutrient levels included in your test - Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin? These need to be optimal for thyroid hormone to work properly.

[Charltonjl in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks sooooo much. I will def be speaking to my GP. I'm currently on 50mg of Levothyroxine and my other test results were:

Folate 19.8ug/L

Vitamin B12 150pmol/L

Vitamin D 68.3nmol/L

Ferritin 94.8ug/L

Are these optimum? Thanks again

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Charltonjl]

Charltonjl

Medichecks as well I assume.

Folate 19.8ug/L - range 3.89-19.45

Vitamin B12 150pmol/L - Active 12 range - range 37.5 - 188

Ferritin 94.8ug/L - range 13-150

These are all good. Are you supplementing?

Vitamin D 68.3nmol/L

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

If you're supplementing with D3 then are you taking 3,000iu D3 daily along with important cofactors Vit K2-MK7 and magnesium?

[Charltonjl in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes also medichecks! I take Omega 3, Collagen, Probiotic, Vit D and Iron supplements (but didn't take these the day before the test).

Yes I am taking 3000iu of Vit D via spray which has K2, plus 2000iu consisting of 2 tablets of Vit D a day.

I take a magnesium spray on my body before bed. Is this enough? And do I need to increase my vit D? My last test results about 6/8 weeks ago had my Vit D level at 38 and I took your advice to start using the spray

Thanks again :)))

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Charltonjl]

Charltonjl

3,000iu D3 is the dose suggested for your current level to achieve the recommended level. If you're happy to carry on with the 2,000 tablets then continue with that as well and retest in 3 months. Are you taking the ta let's with some dietary fat?

You may do well enough on the magnesium spray, some members are happy enough with it. I tried it but didn't like it. I'm not a fan of creams and stuff on my skin.

As your Ferritin is good it might be an idea to lower your dose of iron tablets to a maintenance dose. Have you done an iron panel to check that your serum iron hasn't gone too high. We should check our iron levels, as well as Ferritin, when supplementing with iron tablets.

[Charltonjl in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you again

I only take one iron tablet a day now instead of 2. I'm not sure but my iron level came back at 15.21umol/L? Is that the same thing?? X

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Charltonjl]

Charltonjl

It could be, it usually says Serum Iron. What is the range, optimal level is 55-70% trough range with the higher end for males.

[Charltonjl in reply to SeasideSusie]

The range is 5.8-34.5

Maybe it's the Transferrin Saturation? My kevel is 21.63% (range 20-50).

Thanks so much

[SlowDragon Administrator]

High cholesterol is linked to being under medicated and in need of dose increase in levothyroxine

Was this test done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test?

Ft4 is only 35% through range

Ft3 only 26% through range

Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range

chorobytarczycy.eu/kalkulator

Aim is to increase the dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps until Ft3 is at least 50% through range

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking?

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

What was vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 results

[Charltonjl in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for this. I will speak to my GP.

I did my test at 10am (but I normally don't wake before 10am anyway as my baby keeps me up most of the night and my main sleep is from 6am to 10am). I took my previous Levothyroxine around 9.45am the previous morning. And I did not eat or drink since around 9pm the night before (other than water).

I am currently on 50mg Levothyroxine (increased about 6 weeks ago from 25mg since sending you through my last test results).

I take Omega 3, Collagen, Probiotic and Vit D supplements (but didn't take these the day before the test).

My other results were:

Folate 19.8ug/L

Vitamin B12 150pmol/L

Vitamin D 68.3nmol/L

Ferritin 94.8ug/L

Thanks again :)))

[Charltonjl in reply to SlowDragon]

Sorry also forgot to mention that I take iron supplements also

[greygoose]

High cholesterol is due to your low FT3. It has nothing to do with your diet, so won't sort itself out because you change your diet. To bring it down, you need to raise your FT3.

Having said that, it's really nothing to worry about in and of itself. It's a symptom, not a disease. And, high cholesterol does not cause strokes or heart attacks.

[Charltonjl in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for reassuring me

[greygoose in reply to Charltonjl]

You're welcome.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Charltonjl]

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

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.

[Charltonjl in reply to SlowDragon]

Is it likely that my GP may want to treat my high cholesterol with statins? I don't know too much about this. Is it better to increase my levo dosage and hope it in turn it reduces my cholesterol levels? Thanks x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Charltonjl]

Unlikely, but not impossible (they get bonus for prescribing statins )

Suggest you have that printed off just in case

Strong argument for dose increase in levothyroxine

[Charltonjl in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much x