Blood test results- finally!

[CaroleM-A]

Finally got my results back from the endo

I can see they show I’m severely under medicated which was to be expected with no T3 and a conversion problem, but would be interested in any observations please

TSH 0.68 (0.27-4.20)

FT4 12.4 (12-22)

FT3 3.2 (3.10-6.80)

Vitamin D 104

B12 538 (180-900)

Folate 11 (2.5-19.5)

Ferritin 85

I’ve given reference ranges where I have them

Tests were taken as per instructions on here

I’m currently taking 100 mcg levothyroxine and started back on T3 today 25 mcg

Thank you!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

CaroleM-A

I’m currently taking 100 mcg levothyroxine and started back on T3 today 25 mcg

You might want to re-think the amount of T3 at the moment. It appears you have been without it since last September so your body is not used to it. I would start at 1/4 of a tablet for 2 weeks, if all OK then add a second 1/4 of a tablet, see how things are. If all well add a 3rd 1/4 and then leave at that dose for 6 weeks and retest.

It looks like you also need a higher FT4 (most people on combination hormone replacement need FT4 higher in range that yours) so you probably need to increase your dose of Levo as well. You can't increase both at the same time, it may be that it's better to increase your Levo first, wait a few weeks then start adding the T3.

You will very likely have to tweak doses of both to find the right levels of both hormones that suit you, but remember not to change both at the same time, if you do that you wont know which has made the difference. Some people are fine with a lowish FT4 as long as FT3 is in the upper part of it's range, some of us need both FT4 and FT3 fairly well balanced, I need both mine to be around 60-70% through range on combo meds.

[CaroleM-A in reply to SeasideSusie]

SeasideSusie

I was on 125 Levo but felt really rough and then read about Teva. The 25 mcg was Teva so I dropped it. I also have the DI02 homozygous gene variant so don’t convert very well, if at all. I have never been properly medicated as the endo was obsessed with TSH but I’m in charge now.

Was thinking maybe I don’t need T4 at all if I don’t convert? But I haven’t stopped it or made any other changes

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to CaroleM-A]

Was thinking maybe I don’t need T4 at all if I don’t convert?

I don't convert well but I still need a fairly decent amount of T4. If my FT4 goes too low I'm very unwell, I recently reduced my Levo (as an experiment to prove something to the GP) and my FT4 went down to 22%, I could hardly function. It's now back up, after many months, and with FT4 at 65% and FT3 at 78% then thyroid-wise I know that's right for me.

We're all different, some don't need T4, some are fine with FT4 low in range, some are like me.

When you were on Levo plus T3 before, what were your levels when you thought you felt OK?

You can cut a 100mcg Levo tablet into quarters to get the 25mcg extra.

[CaroleM-A in reply to SeasideSusie]

Because the endo was a TSH obsessive I was never on enough of anything to feel really 100% but I was better on 100 levo and 50 Liothyronine (that was when I was self medicating T3 so I chose the dose!) my bloods were still low even then

Jan 2020

TSH 0.02 (0.27-4.20)

FT4 6 (12-22)

FT3 5.1 (3.10-6.80)

I think that was when they upped my levo to 100!

My T4 has been low all the time but that was the lowest. When I was on 40 T3 my test result was always around the bottom of the range but endo wouldn’t give me any more, he was always trying to reduce down from 40 because of the TSH

Idiots!

[CaroleM-A in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your advice SeasideSusie, I will take it slowly