I’ve just had my blood test results and I’m a little confused. My results are outlined below.
TSH 3.25 (0.27-4.2)
T4 15.1 (12-22)
T3 3.7 (3.1-6.8)
They’ve barely changed at all since July, even though I’ve increased my medication. I’ve generally felt ok but the last few days I’ve felt dizzy/headachy and fatigued and my brain fog seems to have returned. Could anything else be affecting my levels other than my dose? I’m on 100mcg and when I was on this in March my levels were much better.
Thanks,
Mel
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Flossiewestie2020
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These results suggest you are under medicated and need dose increase in levothyroxine
Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine
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)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
Hi, thanks for your message. I have increased my dose of Levo. Yes, I always take Eltroxin.
I always have my blood tests first thing but I haven’t been skipping my thyroid medication or breakfast beforehand - I’ll do this next time.
My vitamin levels are always on the low side, even though I take supplements. My iron always stays at 32 even when I’m taking prescribed tablets. It might be because I have SIBO. Do you have any tips on how to increase vitamin levels? I currently take separate vitamins but my dietician suggested a take a multivitamin instead. Are there any you recommend?
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.
Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones
Hi, thanks for this. I accidentally posted my reply below. Those articles are really interesting. Apparently I have hydrogen sulphate SIBO which is different from the main types - it’s hard to know how to go about treating it🤷♀️
I've looked back at your previous posts and understand you have Hashimoto's Disease.
If you want to learn more about this disease there are details on the Thyroid uk website, which is the charity who support this amazing forum.
Three months ago your ferritin was low, and I know from my own experience that I need my ferritin at around 100 for optimal conversion of the Levothyroxine T4 into T3 - which is the active hormone that the body runs on.
The blood test result above would suggest that you are undermedicated and need an increase in thyroid hormone replacement.
We generally feel better when our TSH is down at around 1 : with T3 and T4 up at around 75% through the ranges :
These results show your T3 is at about 16% and your T4 is at about 30% :
Optimal vitamins and minerals will improve your overall wellbeing and certainly help the Levothyroxine work effectively.
Hi, thanks for this. I don’t seem to be able to get my iron above 32 for some reason! Any tips on increasing this? I do have SIBO so this might be affecting absorption. Also, my dietician has suggested I take a multi-vitamin (as opposed to separate vitamins), are there any you recommend?
I now keep my ferritin optimal with Asda frozen chicken livers :
They are very clean and mild and whizzed down with a little mayo I take a spoonful a day:
1 tub a week, defrost and flash fry down in a little olive oil - then whizz down into a pate and keep in the fridge.
My ferritin was at 22, I built it up with various supplements but couldn't get passed the 40s and decided I wanted to try a more natural alternative and these tubs plus Spatone gently increased me up and I now feel at my best at around 100 though it does take time.
Haven’t tried lactose free but don’t feel like lactose affects me 🤷♀️ dietician has recommended a low-fibre diet for a bit. I definitely feel like fibre affects me so going to give that a go and reassess.
Endo thinks gut-issues are affecting absorption and conversion. I was absorbing and converting much better in March!
Only an NHS endocrinologist can initiate trial of T3
3-6 month trial prescribed via hospital pharmacy. Assuming trial goes ok, then endo writes to GP to formally request they take over care and prescription with annual review back with endo
Cost of T3 dropped considerably, but still difficult to get prescribed. Down from £268 for 28 tablets 20mcg, now £121.
Typical dose is 2 or 3 x 5mcg per day (cutting 20mcg into 1/4’s)
EU T3 is 30 euro for 100 tablets of 20mcg.
Many people get on private prescription direct from Germany, but Brexit debacle may stop access. Still very unclear
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Help with Blood Test Results
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Help with blood test results 
help with blood test results…
