Please help with my results

[TXFiona]

Hello All. I live in The US and was hoping for some help on my blood work. I am seeing a functional practitioner for my Hashimoto but had to find another practitioner because I moved. She changed my medication to 25 mcg of Cytomel and 60 mcg NP thyroid. I am taking 10,000 IU D3, 450 mg Magnesium, 1000 mg C, 50 mg. No B vitamins as the smallest dose makes my heart race. I also take 200 mg of progesterone.

I use to take 10 mg of Hydrocortisone tablets but she took me off. Within 4 weeks I gained 5 pounds, feel cold, and overall worse. I am a 57 year old female

She based my medication on the following results:

TSH: 0.01; ( 0.40-4.50) T4 free: 0.6 (0.8-1.8) Thyroid peroxidase antibodies: 273 (<9), glucose: 98 (65-99); T3 Free: 4.1 (2.3-4.1); Progesteron: 3.8 (<0.5) I had a full metabolic panel done and there were no red flags. Thank you.

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum and am sorry you have hypothyroidism.

I think there's one lone doctor in the USA who is very knowledgeable about thyroid hormones.

hormonerestoration.com/

Its no wonder he can take no more patients as he's too many.

I will let other members who're more knowledgeable than myself to respond to your post.

[TXFiona in reply to shaws]

Great website. Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

High thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

Have you had coeliac blood test done

Are you on strictly gluten free diet

Have you had B12 and folate levels tested

Vitamin D should be tested twice year

Was thyroid tested as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last 1/3rd of daily dose NDT and cytomel 8-12 hours before test

[TXFiona in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. Yes, I have been tested for celeriac disease, heavy metals, B 12 1083 (200-1180), Vitamin D was 67 (30-100). I have been on a gluten free diet for the past 5 years, no soy, and very little dairy. My blood work is always around 8 am, no meds for 24 hrs, no food, water only.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to TXFiona]

Day before test recommended on here to split T3 or NDT in to 3 doses at roughly 8 hour intervals

Taking last dose 8-12+hours before test

If left 24 hours before test, Ft3 is false low result

[TXFiona in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. I will do that

[greygoose]

Why did she take you off of your HydroCortisone? You're not supposed to come off it abruptly, like that. You are supposed to wean off it very slowly.

She changed my medication to 25 mcg of Cytomel and 60 mcg NP thyroid.

What were you taking before, with your old functional practitioner? How do you feel on the new dose compared to the old dose?

How long were you on the new dose before testing?

As SlowDragon says, if you left a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of NDT/T3 and the blood draw, you have a false 'low' FT3, so it rather looks like you're over-medicated. But, always difficult to tell with Hashi's. So, the most important factor is how we feel.

[TXFiona in reply to greygoose]

She felt that long term use of HydroCortisone is to not beneficial. Cytomel was reduced from 50 mcg to 25 mcg; NP from 30 mcg to 60 mcg. Feel tired, no energy , cold, body and muscle pains. Also, I am very aware of what I eat and have gaining weight since the meds were changed. I lost over 30 pounds and I do not want to go backwards. Thank you

[greygoose in reply to TXFiona]

Speaking as someone that was on HC for over two years, I cannot understand why she thinks that. You need it for as long as you need it. And if you still need it, I cannot see why it would not be beneficial. But, my main point was, she should not have taken you off it 'cold turkey', you should have been weaned off it slowly.

And she has given you a massive - dangerous? - reduction in dose! There's no excuse for that whatsoever. Cytomel should only be reduced by 5 mcg every two weeks, and NDT by 1/4 grain every two weeks, but they should not both be reduced at the same time. I'm not surprised you feel tired and have gained weight. Your poor body must be wondering what the hell is going on! Quite frankly, you have several red flags there, against this doctor, and if it were me, I'd be running away as fast as I could go! I really don't think she knows what the hell she's doing. Be very, very careful, she could make you very ill.

[TXFiona in reply to greygoose]

Thank you so much greygoose. Somehow I felt she did not know what she was doing. It is difficult in San Antonio tx as well to find a good Dr.

[greygoose in reply to TXFiona]

I think it's difficult all over the world!

[shaws Administrator in reply to TXFiona]

That's why many of us who've dysfunctional thyroid glands self-medicate with the help/advice of many on this forum who seem to know far more than an endocrinologist or a general practitioner (doctor).