I have just got back my Medichecks test results (date of blood sample 11/8) Unfortunately they were unable to do a T3 test (failure of sample) but I had my T3 from my GP on 3.8.21 which was:
4.4 (range 3.10-6.80 poml/L.
I also did a home gluten intolerance test which was negative.
I am going to see an endocrinologist privately on Thursday (19/8) and am feeling anxious about the whole thing. I would really appreciate comments on my test results and support in what I need to be speaking to the endo about.
I mentioned in previous post that I had been extremely unwell after I was put up to 150 mg at the beginning of July by my GP and showed signs of over medication. I took this down to 100 mg on 4 August and have been feeling better than I did then.
Also
Although my B12 is not outside range - it is a bit on higher end and wondered why or what I might be able to do if I need to
Thank you.
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pebblesh
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Folate on the low side. It's recommended to be at least half way through range and Medichecks range is actually 2.9-14.5 but they don't show it any more. So with that range you're looking at at least 9+
Active B12 is OK, it's within range.
Vit D is recommended to be 100-150nmol/L by The Vit D Society and Grassroots Health, with Grassroots Health's recent blog post recommending at least 125nmol/L.
Thyroid antibodies confirm autoimmune thyroid disease, known to patients as Hashimoto's. Did you already know this?
You can't use the FT3 from another test with TSH and FT4 from a different test, they have to be from the same blood draw, so we can only use your TSH and FT4 here. When did you take your last dose of Levo before the test, it should be 24 hours before the blood draw otherwise you get a false high FT4.
Did you do your test no later than 9am, without eating or drinking anything but water?
I took the last dose of Levo 24 hours before test. Test was at 9.20 am - without eating and drinking before. I posted previously my TSH, FT4 (and FT3) from previous test and similarish to this test (TSH - 2.8 - range 0.3-4.2. T4 22.6 - range 12-22 and T3 as above. Thank you for letting me know about not having FT3 from different draw - I also queried this with medichecks in case of a re-test.
So I may need to look at increasing Folate - any advice on that - and also taking Vit D?
From information on here and from a blood test in January 2019 I have just found out that I have Hashimotos. GP did not tell me this. So these tests confirm this.
So I may need to look at increasing Folate - any advice on that - and also taking Vit D?
For folate I'd be looking at a good quality, bioavailable B Complex containing methylfolate 400mcg. I usually suggest Thorne Basic B. It also contains 400mcg methylcobalamin (B12) and you don't need any help with this so maybe try and find one that contains 400mcg methylfolate but minimal amount of B12. A B Complex is better than taking folate alone as it contains all the B vitamins and keeps them balanced.
This one might be OK as it contains 400mcg methylfolate and just 24mcg methylcobalamin:
B Complex is best taken no later than lunchtime as B vits can be stimulating and taken later in the day can disturb sleep. Take 2 hours away from thyroid meds.
Remember to leave off B Complex for 3-7 days before any blood test as it contains biotin and this causes false results when biotin is also used in the testing procedure (which most labs do).
As for Vit D, you may be one of those who makes a good amount of Vit D from the sun so I would wait a while, maybe retest Vit D in October/November and see what your level is then. If it has dropped you will probably benefit from taking D3 and it's important cofactors during the winter months.
You can do this with a fingerprick blood spot test from an NHS lab which offers this test to the general public for £29 if Vit D is all you want to test at the time:
SeasideSusie so we can only use your TSH and FT4 here .... they not much use either ~ tested after only 7 days on 100mcg dose (previously 150mcg for a month)
Yes. I can see what you say - will re-test after 6 weeks on lower dose to get a better idea. But it has helped me to see what my other levels for vits and antibodies is. This is a new journey for me so helpful get advice to optimise my self-knowledge.
testing after only a week on lower dose means that your TSH / and fT4 result will still be likely to change over the next few weeks .( 6 weeks on the same dose is needed to get a true TSH after a dose change , fT4 will be about right for that dose after 2 weeks , but may still change later if TSH changes) Also you can't use the fT3 from the previous 150mcg dose, to help with interpreting tests done on 100mcg.
So from the TSH/fT4/FT3 point of view there is a limit to what you can tell from your recent tests. as you were only on 150mcg for less than 6 weeks as well.
So at the moment you are going more off symptoms than blood results.
Dropping from 150 to 100 was quite a big drop. It would normally be recommended to only lower dose by 25mcg (especially since the fT3 on that dose was well within range)
So bearing this in mind make sure Endo knows how recently you lowered your dose ,, as it will mean any blood test he does in the next few weeks may still be unrepresentative of your true TSH/fT4/3 levels.
Thank you. I will let the endo know about this and why (have sent email in advance to their secretary to let them know about this also). Staying at 150 mg was unsustainable as was virtually bed bound and very unwell. 100 mg seems to work better for me in terms of symptoms. Seems I will need to do a re-test in 6-8 weeks on lower dose and see what happens. But if the last 6 months are anything to go by - my body does not seem to be able to tolerate above 100 mg. That is why I had reduced it to that myself - as with an earlier dose of 125 mg for over 6 weeks - my body did not tolerate it well also. It is a real struggle to know what to do for the best.
But the new tests to show me vitamins and full antibodies. So having those is also useful.
If you have any blood results from the 6 + weeks on 125mcg then take these along to show Endo too.Yes it's good you 've got vitamin results and proof of autoimmunity, so don't worry it's not a waste of a test ... and the TSH/fT4 do at least give some indication of where things are at .. just that they might still change a bit.
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