Results advice please

[LynLyn]

Dear Members

I’d very much appreciate your advice regarding my latest results.

I have been hypothyroid for 20+ years. I’m now 44 years old. I’ve most recently been on T3 only but could only take 30mcg as it gave me high cortisol.

I’m currently trying to add T4 to T3 which I know is not ideal. After being made poorly my my endocrinologists doses last year I am now increasing in doses of 12.5mcg.

These are my results on 12.5mcg T4 and 30mcg T3

TSH 1.89 (0.27-4.2)

FT4 3.86 (12-22)

FT3 6.01 (2.8-7.1)

I’ve been working on improving my vitamins over the last two years. I eat 100gms of liver every week and I take 5000 Vit d with cofactors (as recommended by the Facebook group)

Vit B12 796.3 (197-866)

Ferritin 76.94 (13-150)

Vit D 68.43 (31-100ng/mL normal)

Folate 27.87 >12.19 Normal

I should also add that I have got acid reflux under control by taking salt every day.

I’d appreciate your thoughts and advice. I’m keeping so much better with the advice I’d had from this forum so far.

Many thanks everyone for taking the time to read my post and comment.

[DippyDame]

These are my results on 12.5mcg T4 and 30mcg T3TSH 1.89 (0.27-4.2)

FT4 3.86 (12-22)

FT3 6.01 (2.8-7.1)

How do you feel?

This combo may work for some, do you feel it is working for you? How much better is "much better"!

In general terms your TSH is too high. When medicated it should be close to 1 but with your FT3 level I'm surprised it isn't a tad lower than1.89

Your FT4 is abysmally low and is -81.4% through the reference range but you are taking only 12.5mcg which partly explains that....but it appears that your thyroid may no longer be effectively producing T4. Have you considered raising your T4 dose?

Your FT3 is 76.74% through .....ditto above.... which is a reasonable level given your dose.

What prompted you to take this T4/T3 combo?

On what basis did you take 30mcg T3? Did you have symptoms of overmedication? Keep in mind that too much T3 can cause a converse effect.

Have you been changing T4 and T3 doses at the same time....we are advised change only one at a time? Have you been leaving 6-8 weeks between dose changes?

The bottom line is, how do you feel? I understand your dilemma it took me nearly 2 years to find a dose that suits me with much trial and error involved.

Just a few thoughts

Best...

DD

[LynLyn in reply to DippyDame]

Thank you for your message. I do appreciate you taking the time to reply.

I feel a lot more steady on 12.5mcg. I felt terrible the first week I took it hence I started in my holiday from work. It took almost 4 weeks to feel settled again. I haven’t had as many migraine headaches and the pain I’ve had in my knee for 6 years has almost gone! I think I’m on the right track but I want to try and stay on this hence posting.

I was previously on 50mcg T4 and then 1.5 grains of NDT (almost 10 years each for both) I could never take anymore NDT. I think I’ve always been under medicated. My gp at the time wouldn’t increase T4. I go very thin and weak when I’m not well. It happened more gradually on NDT.