Latest blood results are good news at last.

[sobs1962]

Hi all, just wanted to share my latest blood results with you and it seems things are going in the right direction finally. Will show last blood results and latest so you can see the difference.

02/10/20 - TSH 15 ( 0.35- 5.50) 13/01/21 - TSH 0.01 (0.2 - 5.0)

02/10/20 - FT4 16.0 ( 10.0 - 20.0) 13/01/21 - FT4 21.6 (9.0 - 24.0)

19/08/20 - FT3 2.0 (3.5 - 6.5) 13/01/21 - FT3 5.7 (3.6 -6.4)

I have to be honest I am really pleased with the massive improvement and feel that these may be my optimal levels, however I am still taking a small dose of Propranolol daily (10mg) but weaning off very very slowly, so my FT3 result could get slightly higher yet but hopefully not over range.

The only worry I have is that the doctor may try to say I'm over medicated as my TSH is suppressed and under the scale of (10.0-20.0) that the lab my GP uses they will say my FT4 is too high, but I as it's the FT3 that counts and it isn't over range, then surely no changes need to be made.

I don't know if it's the lack of Propranolol (currently taking 10mg daily) or my supplementing that has the made the difference but any pearls of wisdom or advice would be gratefully accepted as I am spending quite a lot each month on supplements and would prefer not to spend the money unless it's absolutely necessary.

[greygoose]

Did you have an increase in dose after those labs on 02/10/20, to account for the drop in TSH and massive rise in the Frees? How much levo are you taking now?

under the scale of (10.0-20.0) that the lab my GP uses they will say my FT4 is too high

No, they can't do that. Every result has to be evaluated according to the range used by the lab where the analysis is done. You cannot just use any old range from other labs. If the range for that FT4 of 21.6, was (9-24), then that's the range they should use to evaluate the result. And, it's not over-range.

[sobs1962 in reply to greygoose]

Yes dosage increased to 100mcg at beginning of November but I wonder if my supplements are at least partly responsible for the turn around in my results. Wondered if you think I should perhaps reduce dosage of some supplements or continue as I have for the last 6-7 months as wouldn't want to go downhill again.

[greygoose in reply to sobs1962]

I rather doubt your supplements are responsible. But, what supplements are you taking?

Do you have Hashi's?

[sobs1962 in reply to greygoose]

Well, I don't remember actually being given my diagnosis back in 2002 but the one time my TPAb were tested in 2007 by NHS they were at 1137 and having discussed this with the endo he said that certainly points to Hashi's. As far as supplements are concerned,I'm taking Igennus Super B complex,better you vit d +k2, solgar yeast bound selenium and ashwagandha which is an ayurvedic medicine and has been used for thousands of years in Asia and has dramatically improved my stress levels,but also has the ability to get rid of free radicals which are involved in the production of rt3 and obviously affect conversion. I think I may have been deficient in some of the most important vitamins and minerals for a long time and now they may be at optimal levels and that is improving my thyroid function.

[greygoose in reply to sobs1962]

So, judging by what you said, you didn't get your vits D and B12 and folate tested before you started supplementing. That could be a mistake.

With vit d, which is fat soluble, it's possible to over-dose, which is not a good thing to do. Which is why we should get it tested first, and from time to time whilst supplementing, to make sure we don't go over-range. But, if you're going to take vit D, you should also be taking magnesium with it, because the two work together.

As for B12, as you obviously do have Hashi's with that result for antibodies, you could also have Pernicious Anemia. So, B12 and folate should have been tested first to find out. Now your supplementing, you'd have to stop for five months to be able to get a base-line.

I do know what ashwagandha is. And, you should be careful with it because it can reduce cortisol. Have you ever had your cortisol tested?

but also has the ability to get rid of free radicals which are involved in the production of rt3 and obviously affect conversion.

No, I don't think so. It is perfectly normal to have a certain level of rT3. It would be a mistake to try and avoid it, even if that were possible. It's the body's safety valve to stop you going hyper. There are many, many causes of over-range rT3, and only one of them has anything to do with thyroid, and that's when your FT4 is too high. But, it's not the rT3 affecting conversion. rT3 doesn't affect anything, it's inert. It's the result of poor conversion, not the cause.

But, to come back to your original question, I think your Hashi's has more to do with your dramatic increase in levels rather than your supplements. It's not possible for your increased levels of nutrients to have improved your thyroid function because your thyroid isn't functioning anymore. Once you start thyroid hormone replacement (levo, etc.) the thyroid stops production of hormone.

[sobs1962 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for reply, I did actually have all my vitamin and nutrients levels tested on 15/05/20 and my results are in a post from 8 months ago titled" Latest blood test results and advice given by doctor" and I took advice from others on here and the supplements, I am currently taking were all suggested by members of this forum.As far as my latest tests are concerned, It has occurred to me that I was taking my vit b complex right up to 4 days before blood test, so may have had an effect on the results, believe they should be stopped 7 days before blood test and time just got away from me but didn't take any for 4 days before.

Have looked at the label on the bottle of my Super B Complex and it states that each tablet contains 900ug of B12 which is (according to the label) 36,000 of NRV and have been taking 2 tablets daily since June 2020, so do you think I should stop taking them or just take one a day or perhaps alternate days?

Actually had more bloods done yesterday at different hospital as part of a pre-op

assessment and they will include my thyroid bloods, so wouldn't surprise me if my levels come back even higher and TSH looking even more suppressed as I had no idea they were taking bloods and have continued taking my b complex which contains 300ug of biotin per tablet so in my case 600ug of biotin.

I appreciate your advice and I was taking a magnesium powder supplement, but haven't taking any for a few weeks, but if it's necessary for vit d to work, then I will start at same dose which was half a teaspoon in water and drank each day.

Thanks again for your input, it is much appreciated.

[greygoose in reply to sobs1962]

The trouble with biotin is that it doesn't always affect results, but you never know when it's likely to - nor which result, nor whether it will be skewed high or low. It depends how the analysis is done. So, it's always best to leave it off for around 7 days to be sure. You'd better warn them at the hospital that you were taking biotin in case it has affected any of the results.

[sobs1962 in reply to greygoose]

Hi, thanks for that,have rang hospital about the biotin in the vit b complex and said they should be aware of it. Regarding that, do you think I should continue taking it or not as don't know how much of it I'm actually absorbing as I know that Hashimotos can cause very low stomach acid but due to have another blood test done at GP on 24th February and will request for vit d, b12,ferritin and folate to be tested,but can't guarantee they will do it and I can't afford to spend hundreds of pounds on a private blood test. Thanks for your continuing support.

[greygoose in reply to sobs1962]

I can't see any reason to not continue taking your B complex. Just remember to stop taking it if there's any possibility of having a blood test. OR, refuse to have the blood test on those grounds. Say you'll make an appointment for the blood test at a more convenient time. They can't force you to have one.

[sobs1962 in reply to greygoose]

Yes,I agree, luckily or unluckily depending on which way you look at it,I have to book blood tests several weeks in advance so stopping my b complex is not a problem, unless I have bloods taken unexpectedly.