Blood test results - advice please

[Bubbles789]

Can someone please give me some advice on my blood tests.

Im taking 75mgs of levo and 25mgs of t3 per day

I had levo 24 hours before test and t3 12 hours before.

Ferritin 50.7 (13-150)

Folate serum 5.1 (>3.89)

B12 Active 87.4. (>37.5)

Vit D 63 (50 -175)

Tsh 0.08(0.27-4.2)

Free T3 4.94 (3.1-6.8)

Free Thyroxine 13.9 (12-22)

Symptoms have been tiredness, brain fog and achey joints.

Thanks any help appreciated.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Bubbles789

For the amount of thyroid meds you are taking, your FT4 and FT3 results are quite low. FT4 is 19% through range and FT3 is 49.73% through range.

When on combination meds one would expect to see FT3 in the upper part of it's range. FT4 is very individual, some people are fine with a low FT4, others need it higher in range, it's something that we have to find out for ourselves. On combination meds I need both FT4 and FT3 fairly well balanced around 70% through range. If that was my FT4 level I'd be very unwell.

If those were my results I would increase my dose of Levo which would raise FT4 and depending on how much natural conversion there is then FT3 should increase as well. Retest in 6-8 weeks to check levels then decide if further adjustment is needed.

Ferritin is recommended to be half way through range. You can help raise Ferritin by eating liver regularly, no more than 200 grams per week due to its high Vit A content. Also liver pate, black pudding and other iron rich foods. Don't supplement with iron tablets unless you do an iron panel, if your serum iron is already at a good level it can increase too much which isn't a good idea.

Active B12 isn't too bad but I like mine over 100.

Folate is too low and when there is no upper limit of range then a level in double figures is what I would aim for.

Supplementing with a good quality bioavailable B Complex will help improve both B12 and Folate levels. Good brands are Thorne Basic B or Igennus Super B. We should leave B Complex off for 7 days before any blood test as it contains Biotin and when Biotin is used in the testing procedure (which most labs do) then it can cause false results.

Vit D is recommended to be 100-150nmol according to the Vit D Society and Grassroots Health. You could supplement with 4,000iu D3 daily then retest in 3 months.

When the recommended level has been reached you'll need a maintenance dose to keep it there, possibly 2,000iu daily, maybe more, maybe less, it's trial and error. Retest twice a year to keep level within range.

Important cofactors when taking D3 are needed - magnesium to help the body convert D3 to it's usable form and Vit K2-mk7 to direct the extra uptake of calcium from food to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissue where it can be deposited and cause problems.

D3 and magnesium should be taken 4 hours away from thyroid meds. Other supplements 2 hours away from thyroid meds.

D3 and K2 are fat soluble so need dietary fat to be absorbed. D3 softgels such as Doctor's Best contain extra virgin olive oil which helps absorption.

Don't start all supplements together, start with one, give it 2 weeks and if no adverse reaction then add the next one, give it 2 weeks and if no adverse reaction add the next one, etc. That way if you do have a reaction you will know what caused it.

[Bubbles789 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you seasideSusie i feel really lucky for receiving such great advice from you guys.

Below are my iron results.

I feel i need to get my T4 higher and my Ferritin.

Ive been diagnosed with hypothyroid for 4 years and still learning.

My iron results

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Bubbles789]

Bubbles789

Serum iron is recommended to be 55-70% through range (higher end for males) and yours is 57.53%, so if female your level is very good. So it's Ferritin that needs help so I'd try liver and other iron rich foods and maybe retest on 3 months to see if Ferritin has increased. Aim for around 82 with that range although I have seen that for females 100-130 is a good level, if I could get mine up to 100 I'd be very happy