Hello, I would like to have your opinion on these results and if there is something I can do better. At the time of the blood test, I was on 40 T3 and 50 T4.
I didn't take any thyroid hormone 24h before the test.
My doctor is not happy at all with my TSH being so suppressed and now we agreed on me being on 30 T3 and 75 T4 to see if FT4 and TSH improve...
I have read somewhere that the ''ideal'' results would be FT3 top range, FT4 middle range, and TSH around 0.50-1.50
FREE T3 6.6 pmol/L 3.1 - 6.8
FREE T4 * 11.4 pmol/l 12.0 - 22.0
T S H * <0.01 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.2
SEX HORMONE BINDING GLOB * 206 nmol/L 22 - 142
Active B12 128 pmol/L 25.1 - 165.0
Red cell folate 499 nmol/L 285.4 - 1474.7
Thyroglobulin Antibody 10.1 IU/mL 0-115
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies <9.0 IU/mL 0 - 34
25 OH Vitamin D 158 nmol/L 50 - 200
IRON 21.2 umol/L 6.6 - 26.0
T.I.B.C 42 umol/L 41 - 77
TRANSFERRIN SATURATION 50 % 20 - 55
FERRITIN 73 ug/L 13 - 150
Thank you 🌸
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Clara62
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Hey Clara62, your results look good, apart from low ft4, mainly because you take only a bit of t4 and then t3. Main question is - how do you feel? Of course medics want us to have tsh in ranges, but we need to go by how we feel. Shbg is a bit high, which points to high hormone intake, but maybe this is a normal reaction to t3? That I am not sure of.
Thank you Swampyswamp. I am feeling better than when on T4 only but I still have low blood pressure and consequently I feel often tired. What does it mean practically when Shbg is high? What are the consequences?
Have you tried increasing this dose? Or eliminating t4 completely or raising it? Here is some info on high SHBG:"Compared to men, women naturally have higher levels of SHBG. The aging process, particularly for women, increases SHBG levels, which means younger women tend to have lower SHBG levels than postmenopausal women. Pregnancy increases SHBG even further, as SHBG is actually produced in the placenta tissue. Some evidence suggests that continuous use of oral contraceptives can also increase your SHBG levels. Finally, undernourishment, as seen in anorexia nervosa, and estrogen or thyroid hormone treatment can cause higher than normal SHBG levels in women.
Women with high levels of SHBG have less available testosterone in their bodies. That’s bad news since testosterone plays an important role in maintaining energy levels, muscle development, bone health, and your sex drive".
Strange none of the female hormones or testosterone were measured along with SHBG. To give an example, a long time ago my GP measured my SHBG, it was high, but my testosterone was fine too. No action taken.
Reduction of 10 t3 and exchange for 25 mcg t4 can be a big change, if you decide to do it, you can do it gently, like 5 t3 and 12.5 t4.
Oh and TSH on t3 is suppressed a lot of times. One GP removed all my thyroid meds some years ago, because my TSH was 0.01...I am still not recovered.
Thanks again. 🌺Useful info. Tried only T3 for a few months last summer but I wasn’t feeling well. Apparently I need some T4 too. I think that my main problem is the low blood pressure ... 100/65 on a good day, normally 95/65 or less . I think I have also other female hormones measured, will post it a bit later
I'm similar to you, also can't do t3 only, now combining NDT and T4. I also have that kind of low blood pressure, which would make you tired for sure (I'm still underdosed though). Do you take your dose in one go? And if you can post your other hormones that would be good as this should give a fuller picture
Thanks swampyswamp. I Will post them tomorrow, have to find them .... I guess I need a bit of sleep now. I take my dose in the morning and in the afternoon. Low blood pressure and low body temperature ...not easy 😒
No rush, I'll get notified when you post them as a reply, or just tag me.Have you ever tried taking it in one go? I get more hypo when I split, so I take it all in the morning. It's not for everyone, but I feel better that way.
Hi Swampyswamp, I might try to take my t3 in one go in the morning. First I have to see how the next results look. I think that probably 20mcg in the morning once a day should be enough. I have to do this by myself slowly, cannot count on the 'help' of my endo. What are your T4 and T3 dosage? Do you also have a suppressed TSH?
I didn't take any thyroid hormone 24h before the test.
If you left 24 hours between your last dose of T3 and the blood draw, then you have a false 'low' FT3 - i.e. if you'd left the recommened 8 to 12 hours, it would have been a lot higher.
My doctor is not happy at all with my TSH being so suppressed and now we agreed on me being on 30 T3 and 75 T4 to see if FT4 and TSH improve...
Sorry, but it's sheer madness to reduce your T3 by 10 mcg in one go. It shouldn't be more than 5 mcg every two weeks maximum. Even if you are increasing the levo.
However, your TSH does not need 'improving'. It's where one would expect it to be when taking T3 - especially a high dose like yours. And, it's low because you don't need it. Your doctor should know that, and if she doesn't, she should go back to school.
TSH is a pituitary hormone. When the pituitary senses that there's not enough thyroid hormone in the blood, it increases the output of TSH, to stimulate the thyroid to make more hormone. Your pituitary is obviously satisfied that there is enough thyroid hormone, so has cut back on TSH production. The only other job TSH has is to stimulate conversion of T4 to T3. As you are taking T3, you don't need it for that.
Some questions to better understand:
1 How long have you been taking that dose of 40 T3 and 50 T4?
2 Do you have any other lab results on that dose?
3 Do you have Hashi's?
4 Are you taking any biotin in any of your supplements?
Maybe the leak it's not too serious, tomorrow we will know...🤞
''If you left 24 hours between your last dose of T3 and the blood draw, then you have a false 'low' FT3 - i.e. if you'd left the recommended 8 to 12 hours, it would have been a lot higher.''
I know you are right I think the T3 is higher indeed because 4 days ago I went for an allergy test and the doctor decided also to test my thyroid hormones ( don't know why) I had already taken my morning dose and the afternoon dose just 90 minutes before the test because I had no idea he intended to check my FT3 too and the result was 8.7
''Sorry, but it's sheer madness to reduce your T3 by 10 mcg in one go. It shouldn't be more than 5 mcg every two weeks maximum. Even if you are increasing the levo.''
my fault ...also he didn't advise but I should have known it anyway - I know it.
However, your TSH does not need 'improving'. It's where one would expect it to be when taking T3 - especially a high dose like yours. And, it's low because you don't need it. Your doctor should know that, and if she doesn't, she should go back to school.
TSH is a pituitary hormone. When the pituitary senses that there's not enough thyroid hormone in the blood, it increases the output of TSH, to stimulate the thyroid to make more hormone. Your pituitary is obviously satisfied that there is enough thyroid hormone, so has cut back on TSH production. The only other job TSH has is to stimulate conversion of T4 to T3. As you are taking T3, you don't need it for that.
Perfect. I wonder why we all know this except doctors and endos 😟 why they make a big deal out of it...
1 How long have you been taking that dose of 40 T3 and 50 T4?
It's a long story, I was on T4 only until last June, but wasn't feeling well. I started the CT3M under the guidance of Paul Robinson and slowly in the course of weeks and months, I ditched the T4 and build up the T3, arrived at 60mg daily in 3 doses, even there my blood pressure and body temperature were low. I didn't feel comfortable being on T3 only, so I introduced back some T4 and reduced the T3, for 3 months I have been taking 50 T4 and 40 T3, already started a few days ago 75 t4 and 30 T3. I still think it's not the right dosage...maybe too much T3?
2 Do you have any other lab results on that dose?
No, not on that dose, but I have a lot of results taken in the last years in various dosages.s...
3 Do you have Hashi's?
No
4 Are you taking any biotin in any of your supplements?
Not at the time of the blood test showed in my post but yes when the allergy doctor tested my thyroid hormones ( B complex with biotin)
Perfect. I wonder why we all know this except doctors and endos 😟 why they make a big deal out of it...
Oh, politics and money. If doctors knew how to make hypo patients better, Big Pharma would lose a lot of money. So, as BP controls what doctors learn in med school, they make sure that doctors don't know how to test and treat! Doctors are taught that the TSH tells them everything they need to know, and that the TSH must be somewhere in-range, and that it's dangerous to have a suppressed TSH - and that that's all there is to treating thyroid! And, what doctors learn in med school is sacred. They cannot entertain the idea that it might be wrong. And, that way, they keep us alive, but never quite make us better.
1 OK
2 Do you have any other lab results on that dose?
No, not on that dose, but I have a lot of results taken in the last years in various dosages.s...
I'm sure you do, but it's that dose that interests me, as that's the one that's over-range, and I was hoping for a comparison. Never mind.
3 OK
4 4 Are you taking any biotin in any of your supplements?
Not at the time of the blood test showed in my post but yes when the allergy doctor tested my thyroid hormones ( B complex with biotin)
OK, shame about that. But, of course, if you took your hormone just before the test, those results are null and void. As is the latest FT3 result because you took your last dose 24 hours before. So, now you've reduced your T3, no more testing for at least six weeks, because if you tested now, it wouldn't give you accurate results, either. But, pretty certain you did need to reduce the T3.
I have read somewhere that the ''ideal'' results would be FT3 top range, FT4 middle range, and TSH around 0.50-1.50
There's no such thing as the 'ideal' result where thyroid is concerned. Only the results that suit you best. But pretty certain that those results would be impossible to achieve!
On T4 only, it's highly unlikely you will manage to get an FT3 higher than the FT4. It rarely happens.
If taking T3, it would be impossible to get an FT3 at the top of the range with a TSH that high. Taking T3 suppresses the TSH. That's just what it does. And, why on earth would you need a TSH that high, anyway? You wouldn't.
So, forget about aiming for the 'ideals' of some doctor/researcher/idealist, who doesn't have the disease themselves, and aim to find the results that make you feel well and get rid of your symptoms. And, you can only do that by trial and error.
OK, shame about that. But, of course, if you took your hormone just before the test, those results are null and void. As is the latest FT3 result because you took your last dose 24 hours before. So, now you've reduced your T3, no more testing for at least six weeks, because if you tested now, it wouldn't give you accurate results, either. But, pretty certain you did need to reduce the T3.
Thank you greygoose, next time I 'll do the blood test in the afternoon, I take T3 in the morning around 7:30 so I'll do the test around 4pm.
And, you can only do that by trial and error.
Yep, that's what I have been trying to in the last few years. Before I was on T4 only and didn't work ...
It's possible that even 30mcg of T3 is too much. Currently taking 75 T4 +20 T3 in the morning and 10 T3 in the afternoon.
Since I have never noticed a real difference in energy etc in the afternoon after taking T3 I might slowly reduce it to 5 and then stop it...
Well, you don't want to reduce your T3 too much. And, don't do any reducing without seeing labs first. Every time you change the dose, you should stay on it for at least six weeks, and then retest. Slow and steady wins the race, as they say (at least, I think they say that, don't they?)
Yes, labs first in 6 weeks! Oh BTW if you know an enlightened doctor /endo in London let me know , asking too much probably 😄. Thanks for all your replies to my post greygoose🌸 ok ''Slow and steady wins the race''
EDIT Apologies I wasnt clear. I meant as T3 was this high so long after it is probably peaking too high. Hi I take T3/T4 like you I have very suppressed tsh. My endo says thats fine as long as SHBG is in range. He says this shows cell health. It used to be used to diagnose hypo/hyper. T3 is fairly high as you left so long this means it is even higher. Maybe just reduce by 5.
I take 30 in 3 doses of 10 plus 75 T4. I am told to test 4-6 hrs after dose to see peak so my test is normally one point below top of range. Gp freaks at my very suppressed TSH so SHBG in range calms him! (Not sure this is definitely true but endo uses this method)
Thank you Helsan. I will try to reduce a bit my dosage , 5 mcg every 2weeks or 10 days . I am still not sure how to do it , I’ll probably start with leaving 20mcg in the morning and reduce from 10 to 5 in the afternoon. Next week. The other alternative would be 15 morning ( from 20) and leave the afternoon at 10mcg. Not sure yet...
Just reduce by 5 a day then retest in a few weeks. Its short acting so you should have a difference quite quickly. Use a good pillcutter they are easy to get Amazon have several.
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