Low T3 and T4

[Esinedharry]

Any advice on how I can improve my T3 & T4 in the range without further suppressing my TSH. Also what vitamin supplements are advised? Any help would be appreciated.

[greygoose]

Any advice on how I can improve my T3 & T4 in the range without further suppressing my TSH.

I think the short answer to that is: you can't. TSH levels follow FT4/3 levels, so the higher they go, the lower TSH goes. That's how it works, no matter what doctors think.

Also what vitamin supplements are advised?

None. What is advised is that you get your vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin tested, and supplement according to the results, adding in any necessary cofactors.

[Esinedharry in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for your helpful reply I will look at my next set of results.

[greygoose in reply to Esinedharry]

You're welcome.

[fuchsia-pink]

Why are you worried about a low TSH? There is a world of difference between having a suppressed TSH (and in range free T3 and free T4) because your are taking thyroid meds and having a suppressed TSH and waaay over-range free T4 and free T3 when not on thyroid meds, albeit that it's one that eludes many doctors ... Many of us who take lio have suppressed TSH - for years or decades - and are completely fine with that.

But if your GP is one of the school of "if you have a below range TSH regardless of having poor actual thyroid hormone results you will get osteoporosis and heart problems and die", it's pretty easy to get him/her to arrange a dexa bone scan so you can see what your bones are doing - and be re-assured and have that as a useful benchmark going forwards x

[Esinedharry in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thank you for responding. I am not worried but my GP will not prescribe a higher dose of Levo with such a suppressed TSH. I had a Dexa scan in 2012 which showed some thinning in my spine but other than that I was fine. However my current G.P. Practice won’t increase the dose neither will the Endo so what can I do?

[fuchsia-pink in reply to Esinedharry]

Can you try having another dexa scan so that you can see what - if any - deterioration there has been to your spine? If unchanged, might your GP be a bit more helpful?

Alternatively, have a look at Diogenes' posts [look up his name on "members" - unlike us amateurs he's a proper research scientist dealing with thyroid - and I'm pretty sure he's posted reasonably recently about the myth that low TSH does bone damage ...

Good luck x

[Esinedharry in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thanks for your helpful advice. I will try and push for another Dexa scan if I can. I will look up Diogenes posts if I can.

[Hoxo]

Have you had both free t3 and free t4 tested and where are the results in the range? There is info on Thyroid patients Canada blog about their low TSH issue. Maybe you could print out for your GP to read.

[Esinedharry]

Thanks for your comments. From the last blood test my T3 was 41% in the range and T4 38%. I’ll take a look at the blog.

[Hoxo]

thyroidpatients.ca/2018/07/...

[Esinedharry]

Thank you Hoxo