I have at last had a Genova test that confirms that I am not converting T4 to T3, and the reading for T3 is too low to measure. I had long suspected this is the case due to my worsening symptoms, but the NHS blood test always came back as okay.
Apart from taking selenium and zinc, is there anything that can be prescribed by my GP to get this sorted and get my life back on track? Any ideas gratefully received.
You'll have to post your results and reference ranges for anyone to be able to comment sensibly.
Essential to also test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
As a vegetarian what vitamin supplements are you currently taking
Presumably you have Hashimoto’s?
Autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Are you on strictly gluten free diet?
Please add thyroid and vitamin results and ranges
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
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
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test
Thriva also offer just vitamin testing
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3
£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Also vitamin D available as separate test via MMH
Or alternative Vitamin D NHS postal kit
Thank you for this - I used the Genova Thyroid Plus test and had the results interpreted by a functional medic. I am now currently taking Ferrodyn, vitamin D3 and isoflavones, vitamin C, selenium, zinc and acetyl carnitine supplements. I am also unable to store vitamin D. I have been told that the low T3 and vitamin D is genetic. I am following a mainly gluten, dairy, sugar etc free diet. Christmas was a glitch but I'm getting back on track! Free T3 is outside the reference range, so T4, which is normal, presumably isn't converting to T3. There is rT3 production at .47. Thyroglobulin reading is very low at <32 and peroxidase is normal at 24. I guess I am hoping there is something I can be prescribed to take alongside the levothyroxine as all I really want is for my hair to stop falling out and my eyelashes to grow back - I can put up with all the other symptoms!
So how much levothyroxine are you currently taking
Do you always get same brand
When adequately treated Ft4 should be in top third of range
Please add actual results and ranges
Reverse T3 test is pretty useless (and expensive)
As a vegetarian it’s highly likely you have low ferritin/iron
And almost certainly low B12
As vegetarian it’s essential to supplement B12
On levothyroxine we need GOOD Vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels
Vitamin D at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better (that’s 40ng/ml)
Serum B12 at least over 500
Active B12 at least over 70
Ferritin and folate at least half way through range
What were your most recent results and ranges
TSH, Ft4 and Ft3
Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine
Before considering adding T3 Ft4 needs to be high in range and all four vitamins optimal levels
Frequently strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential
T4/T3 converter 
Good T4 to T3 converter, or not
Latest results? Advice pls and I converting T4 into T3?
Do we lose the ability to convert T4 to T3 if we supplement with T3?
How to work out if you are a poor converter from T4 to T3
