So some background - my Mum's had thyroid issues, ME/CFS for 15 years, and has been largely bedridden for the past 2/3 years.
She's on 200mcg of levothyroxine.
She's been routinely dismissed over the past several years by her doctors, at one point she had a T3 test which she was told was in 'normal range', which this latest test show isn't the case.
Her CRP seems very high, which could be linked to a recent bacterial infection, but I'm not sure.
Her Vit D is low, as she's not been as diligent with her supplements as she could be, but that's being remedied.
Any help is hugely appreciated. I want to go into her GP appointment with her with as much ammo as possible.
Thank you!
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kendrewaddams
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She had a celiac test some years ago and it came back negative.
I had a negative coeliac test in 2010. As a result I didn't think I needed to give up gluten. However, in 2015, in desperation, I decided to give it a try. And the results were amazing.
I think everyone with thyroid disease of any kind should at least give going gluten-free a thorough try.
Igennus Super B is good quality and cheap vitamin B complex. Contains folate. Full dose is two tablets per day. Many/most people may only need one tablet per day. Certainly only start on one per day (or even half tablet per day for first couple of weeks)
Or Thorne Basic B is another option that contain folate, but is large capsule
IMPORTANT If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
With B12 result below 500, recommended to be taking a B12 supplement as well as a B Complex (to balance all the B vitamins) initially for first 2-4 months, then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
Well, if there was ever a need to reassess someone's thyroid hormone treatment - you mum should be one of the one's at the front of the queue.
Just another thought :
The accepted conversion ratio when on T4 - Levothyroxine only is 1 / 3.50 - 4.50 : T3 / T4 with most people preferring to come in at around 4 or under:
So to find the conversion ratio when on T4 only you simply divide the T3 into the T4 and Mum 's ratio is coming in at around 7.70 : somethings clearly is not ok and Mum can't function on such a low level of T3.
It isT3 that is the master and most important number :
Too low a level of T3 and you have the debilitating symptoms of hypothyroidism and conversely at the other end of the same stick too high a T3 and you may have the debilitating symptoms of hyperthyroid.
No one wants to be at either end of this stick, as both ends are horrible, and what we all need is a level of T3 high enough to restore our physical, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual well being.
T4 is a storage hormone and needs to be converted by the body into T3 - which is the active hormone that the body runs on and is said to be about 4 times more powerful than T4 with the average person needing to utilise around 50 T3 daily just to function.
There can be varous reasons why the body isn't able to convert the T4 and these need investigating.
If her surgery just run the basic yearly TSH thyroid function test, which does seem to be all that happens in primary care, this TSH result will not be outside of the reference range and so considered ok - and needing no further blood analysis by the laboratory.
Which makes a mockery of the current thyroid function test which we all know - but which the medical profession seem oblivious to - I wonder why ?
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