PS on letter to GP: Results look fine for DHEA/DHAS and haematinics. Adrenal antibodies awaited.
I have ongoing hypothyroid symptoms + hair loss/condition. Endocrinologist will be phoning me when he gets the adrenal antibodies result and he obviously thinks the ferritin/folate are within range. I had low ferritin with hair loss in 2018, supplemented with iron on the advice of a trichologist and it went over range. The hair problem resolved though. The more I read about iron tests the more confused I get. Wondering if asking for a full iron panel would be in order when endo. phones. If anyone has experience/opinions on this I would be grateful.
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Sorry your post was missed this is an extremely busy forum
When were thyroid levels last tested
Looking at previous posts you are on levothyroxine plus T3
What doses, do you always get same brand levothyroxine and T3
Essential to test Ft4 and Ft3
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies
Ask GP to test vitamin levels
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)
If/when also on T3, make sure to take last 5mcg 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?
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
Igennus Super B is good quality and cheap vitamin B complex. Contains folate. Full dose is two tablets per day. Many/most people may only need one tablet per day. Certainly only start on one per day (or even half tablet per day for first couple of 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
Low iron and/or low ferritin frequently linked to hair loss
Heavy periods are classic sign of being hypothyroid and will lead to low iron and ferritin
ask for full iron panel testing for Anaemia
Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
Have been supplementing with Vitamin B complex, Vitamin D (last tested in Feb.) and Magnesium. Vit D was 103 ug/L (R13 - 150).
Am waiting on contact by Endo. with anitbody result, but it may just be a letter. I was just going to go the chemist and get the same capsules as previously when Ferritin low in 2018. However like you mine went up to 170ug/L and almost 3 months later was down to 75 ug/L. So feeling unsure on whether this is safe/ok - hence the post.
Have been on the same dose T3 since starting this in August 2018 (5 mcg twice daily) and wonder if this could be adjusted. However, so thankful to have it, don't want to rock the boat. Thanks for reading SlowDragon and also your reply. Busy days as you say!
Suggest you get note added to all future prescriptions saying Mercury Pharma only
Teva brand upsets many people
Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.
Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.
Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Teva contains mannitol as a filler, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half
Teva, Aristo and Glenmark are the only lactose free tablets
Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).
Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime
No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap. Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away
(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
Suggest you consider getting dose levothyroxine increased to at least 75mcg/100mcg alternate days
But might want to retest first 6 weeks after getting back on just mercury Pharma at 75mcg
My blood test was done at 1.30 pm and last T3 taken a.m. the previous day along with Levo.. Blood testing has been centralised here so choice of timing wasn't so easy. On the day of the test I had a light breakfast and then only water until after 1.30 pm. I've not taken any supplements until at least 2 hours after breakfast and stopped B supplement for a good week before any test. Appreciate your advice on preparing for testing and the Teva brand - will follow through and all the other information. Will absorb all you've written and hopefully get to a more stable state. Thanks so much!
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Updated results TSH, fT3 & fT4, ferritin and folate
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Ferritin/Iron Advice & Other Results
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