Still feeling rough - Hashimoto's and menopause

[KikiLR]

Hello fellow thyroid people and here's to a better 2021.

Any thoughts on these blood test results please?

K

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

What thyroid hormones are you currently taking

How long on current dose

What vitamin supplements ?

TSH 3.88.

Ft4 13.3 (10.5-21)

Ft3 4.1 (3.5-6.5)

Ft4 is only 26% through range

Ft3 only 20% through range

Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range

chorobytarczycy.eu/kalkulator

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

Aim is to increase the dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps (retesting 6-8 weeks after each dose increase) This continues until TSH is under 2. Most people on levothyroxine when adequately treated will have TSH well under one

Most important results are always Ft3 followed by Ft4. Aiming for Ft3 at least 50% through range, and some people will need ft3 at least 60-70% through range

[SlowDragon Administrator]

No vitamin D or folate test results

Ferritin on low side .....ideally at least over 70

Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

KikiLR

What thyroid meds are you on? Thyroid results suggest undermedication.

Do you take any supplements?

Vit D is low recommended is 100-150nmol according to the Vit D Society and Grassroots Health.

B12 is OK although top of range, even 1000ng/L is recommended.

Would be useful to have Folate tested when testing B12.

Ferritin is recommended to be half way through range so yours is quite low. FBC doesn't suggest anaemia.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Sorry missed vitamin D at 56.8 nmol

Too low

GP will often only prescribe to bring levels to 50nmol.

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required

ouh.nhs.uk/osteoporosis/use...

But, improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function. There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

It’s trial and error what dose we need,

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

Taking too much vitamin D is not a good idea

chriskresser.com/vitamin-d-...

Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7

Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

[KikiLR]

Happy NY and thank you both for your super speedy responses, it is much appreciated.

I have been listening and learning from your advice on this forum (thank you!)...Tests were taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and not having taken any meds. Levo not taken for 24 hours.

Levothyroxine

I’m on Mercury Pharma 50mg for two days then 75mg one day. Last increase of additional 25mg every third day was Spring 2020 after my last test. I take it early in the morning with water and an hour before food. I wait 3-4 hours before taking any other meds.

Vitamin D

I had been taking DLux Vit D+K2 daily, but am currently using up my DLux 3000 daily spray.

I was quite surprised about the level. Not sure what else I can do to get it up?

Ferritin

Every now and again I take a sachet of Spatone liquid iron because my results are consistently low. I have a diet very rich in green veg, and eat red meet once a week.

Serum folate

Last test was March 2019 at 7.64 ng/ml (>5.38)

Am taking Black Cohosh supplements for the menopause instead of soya supplements. I also find the LadyCare magnet has stopped my hot flushes which is fab. Not keen on going on HRT because of family history of thrombosis and embolism.

I have been on 50-100mg Sertraline SSRI for 20 years which keeps me nice and stable.

The results also show the following at a relatively low range:

Lymphocyte

Basophil

Eosinophil

Erythrocyte

Is this possibly linked to the Hashimoto’s - or maybe it is to do with my genetic alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency, S-Z phenotype?

I've entered my test results from the last 10 years to help understand the fluctuations but I don't seem to be able to attach it to the thread!

[klr31]

I don't know what dose you take but you look like you could do with an increase. Karen