Your thoughts please lovely people

[ferretmam]

My latest results just in from Thriva. Sadly once again folate etc not there, though they have credited me with £13 towards my next test.

Immediately they instructed me to go see my Gp ( who as you know is not my best mate ! ) I've tried to take care of myself as best i can, used selenium,magnesium, vit d3 etc to help my thyroid as the surgery has not been open for so long.

Bit of background history..... Broke my arm in 2 places June 5th ( so surely i can't still have inflammation from that could i ? ). Feeling so ill a few months back i tested my blood glucose and low and behold 7.9 on a morning and it doesn't lower until 3pm almost every day. So i'm guessing it's had a helping hand from the Levo and i'm probably insulin resistant & pre diabetic too ( boo & hiss). 3 months ago I cut out all the crap in my diet and lowered the carbs that can turn quickly to sugar. My teary eyes have eased up a lot and i thought i'd helped myself as i actually feel a little better.

Are these results really as bad as Thriva say ?

Tsh 0.03. (0.27 - 4.2 )

FT3. 5.39 (3.1 - 6.8 )

FT4 25.9 (12 - 22 )

T4. 154. (66 - 181 )

TgAb. 44.6. (0 - 115 )

TPOAb 16 ( 0 - 34_). Yay hashi's still good , i think ! )

Ferritin. 188. ( 13 - 150 )

Iron. 25 ( 5.8 - 34.5 )

Total B12 (i know ! ). 540 (300 - 569)

CRP. 2.34. ( 1 - 3 ). They say i have inflammation

Vit D. 132 (50 - 175 ) supplements are definitely working

Thanks in advance of your thoughts everyone, i need to get my head in gear before i go defend myself at the surgery

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your results look pretty good

Can’t see why you need to discuss with GP

Presumably Thriva is equally obsessed with TSH

Low carb should help improve your blood sugar issues.

If you go very low carb it can reduce conversion of Ft4 to Ft3, so something to watch out for

Was 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 slightly over range , Ft3 within range. Many people need high Ft4 in order to get high enough Ft3

Total T4 is within range

Vitamins looking good.

You could perhaps reduce vitamin D dose a little

Taking too much vitamin D is not a good idea

chriskresser.com/vitamin-d-...

CRP is below range .....can’t see it’s a problem.

Is it normally lower than this?

[ferretmam in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon, yes, i always test the way you recommend, i don't take Levo until after test is done. i will cut back a little on the vit D as you suggest. I think my CRP is usually ok, never previously had them tell me to see a doctor because of it.

I think you might be right about Tsh obsessed Gp's, i won't book a Gp appointment just yet, i will retest in a few weeks. My annual test at the surgery is due in December so now i just need to get my facts ready for my Gp's bombardment of reasons why my meds should be reduced. This is the first time in 4 years i've felt fairly healthy, fibromyalgia is gone, i can breathe better, my sight has improved and i finally have a little energy ! Mental clarity is never gonna be grand, but i can live in hope.

Thanks for the tip about the low carbs, i didn't know it can reduce conversion xx

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ferretmam]

Ferretmam

I think your Vit D level is perfect. The Vit D Council recommends a level of 125nmol (50ng/ml) and the Vit D Society and Grassroots Health both recommend a level between 100-150nmol (40-60ng/ml).

I keep mine as close to 150nmol as possible.

As long as you test twice a year when supplementing with D3 to ensure your level stays within that range there would be no problem. That article mentions the US unit of measurement and shows the optimal range between 35-60ng/ml which is virtually the same as the Vit D Society and Grassroots Health.

As for CRP, I haven't used Thriva but I know their tests are done by County Pathology same as Medichecks and Blue Horizon, and if it is the hs-CRP test then the reference range is <5 so maybe they have put 1-3 is optimal and you are within that range although as low as possible is best.

[ferretmam in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you SeasideSusie, i've been religiously following your previous advice re magnesium, mk2, selenium and i feel so much better at this higher level.

The report indicated low levels of inflammation may possibly be a cardio vascular risk. Was gonna put a screen shot here but i don't know how to.

The range they used was 1 - 3 but still classed it as low inflammation that could be a risk. I don't know, maybe they're just being overly cautious because my Tsh is right down xx

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ferretmam]

Ferretmam

You can add a photo in the opening post of a thread. If you want to add your picture go to your first post and click on MORE then EDIT then ADD A PHOTO then click SUBMIT or whatever it says.

[ferretmam in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you i popped the crp screenshot up top for you to see.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ferretmam]

So the range is 0-3 and you are towards the upper part of the range. You also have over range Ferritin which can suggest inflammation or infection, you also have Hashi's and inflammation is part and parcel of Hashi's when the thyroid is attacked by the immune system. In your position I would very likely put it all down to Hashi's and not worry too much, perhaps repeat the test in, say, 3 months.

[ferretmam in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you so much, that actually makes sense. I've had an odd "sore throat" this last few weeks, ( though not in the normal way as in tonsillitis ) i just thought maybe i'd slept awekward. You're probably 100% right - Hashi's strikes again ! xx

[fuchsia-pink]

I'm guessing the GP (and Thriva) won't be happy that TSH is suppressed and free T4 is over-range ... but free T3 is respectable at 61.8% through range, so any reduction in meds is likely to bring that down - and I wouldn't want mine to go lower than that ...

Hopefully SeasideSusie will pop up in a bit - I'm not sure whether over-range ferritin is something to worry about (or just a reflection of what you ate the night before the test)

Good luck with the GP x

[ferretmam in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thank you fuchsia-pink, you may be right about Gp, they're miserable at the best of times. I think that is the first time i've had a really good T3 and first time in years i've felt reasonably well, you're quite right i'd like to keep mine there too xx

[pennyannie in reply to ferretmam]

We crossed in the ether as I was editing my answer to you :

[pennyannie]

Hey there again

I'm pleased to read you are feeling a little better and as you can see, your T3 has improved.

When on thyroid hormone replacement the TSH is the least important blood test result :

Your T4 has now gone a little over range but your T3 which is the most important number is still in range and there is no reason to reduce your medication.

Most people feel more well when their conversion ratio of T3/T4 comes in at around 1/3.5-4.50 - with most preferring their ratio at around 1/4 : your conversion is currently coming in at around 4.80 - to find your conversion when taking T4 only you simply divide your T3 into your T4 :

Apart from needing optimal vitamins and minerals conversion can also be compromised by any physiological stress ( emotional or physical ) inflammation. depression, aging and dieting so inevitably even as we just age, conversion becomes just that bit more of a challenge for some.

The logical option is to drop a little T4 and add in a little T3 thereby allowing both these vital thyroid hormones to fall into the ranges at high enough levels to give you your wellbeing : but I guess that will probably go down like a lead balloon.

[ferretmam in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you pennyannie, yes i've really not been myself at all this year. I looked at my notes from this time last year and i was in quite a mess, Gp just thought i was nuts and sent me on my way Then i fell and broke my arm again ( 9th break now ) this one really is taking it's time healing, i guess maybe my thyroid affects that too.

Thankfully everyone in here is so helpful and supportive, i learn so much ( then immediately forget it all then need to come back and have my hand held 😂 )

Thanks for the tip, i'm gonna write that little conversion down in my notes so i don't forget and yes, my Gp would turn grey if i suggested T3 ( secretly wish i could use psychic vibes to change her mind 😁) xx

[pennyannie in reply to ferretmam]

Yes, the level of T3 isn't constant and many things can affect your conversion and breaking your arm, just one example and another spanner in the works.

My cognitive functions were severely depleted when my T3 was too low, and I would write out what I needed to remember like writing out lines back in school ; I wrote to my doctor before appointment with my questions but she did nothing but offer me anti depressant, and actually watched me, over a period of around 2 years, go from a vibrant bubbly talkative person to someone unable to hold a conversation.

I did manage a referral to an endocrinologist but denied a trial of T3 in early 2018 as my TSH was low/suppressed:

I'm now self medicating and much improved and managing lingering Graves, RAI thyroid ablation. thyroid eye disease and hypothyroidism.

[ferretmam in reply to pennyannie]

Oh my giddy. aunt ! That's a catalogue of problems you have there ( though some of them look all too familiar ! ) i too have been down the anti depressant route ( not a pretty sight ) got myself off those when my own detective work found thyroid problems ( my Gp thought i was in kidney failure ( he couldn't have been more wrong !))

I don't think i will ever get an endo referral, the main Gp is a jumped up joey who thinks he knows best and all women are post menopausal hysterics ( he even put that on my record (cheeky so n so ! ) I'm quietly mentally preparing for the day i may need to self medicate as mostly i can't argue with the doc as my head works at a slower pace than his, any rebuttal is usually 2weeks too late.

Take care xx