Good Morning.
Any advice welcome regarding T3 levels.
T3 3.2 ( 2.6-5.7) pmol/l
FT4 15.5 (9-19)pmol/l
THS 0.09 (0.35- 4.94) mu/l
Vitimin D 85 (71-200nmol/l)
I had a thyriod removal this year, should I be taking T3/T4 combination? I'm prescribed T4 only.
T4 reduced as previous levels were (0.03)(0.06) now at 0.09 to which I feel better.
Could you edit your post Ness21 to add your TSH and T4 too (with ranges) as this will help members advise.
Why did your endo reduce your Levo from 100 to 75mcg?
Have you had key vitamins tested (Vit D, ferritin, folate, B12)? Having these optimal will really help.
Re adding T3, it’s important to get key vitamins & Levothyroxine dose optimal first before going down a combination route (if needed).
What are your current symptoms?
Thankyou for your reply I've update my post with the levels.
It wasn't a endo it was the surgeon who reduced meds, as i had headaches stomach cramps sweating couldnt sleep and my THS was at 0.03, 0.06.
It's now 0.09 I feel better now than I have in a long time.
He said I didn't need my THS to be suppressed as the cancer was only a trace which was a accidential find, it hadn't spread and was removed with the thyriodactomey.
I had chronic thyrotoxicosis and a 5cm grioter/ mass which was removed.
I'm feeling alot better the above symptoms have disappeared, however I still feel tired in the early afternoon.
I would definitely test key vitamins, as having these higher in range boosted my energy and improved my overall health. I test privately (eg Medichecks- which are often discounted on Thursdays), then post results on the forum for advice re supplements. It’s important to get these optimal before considering adding T3.
Suppressed TSH isn’t necessary a problem if T3 and T4 are in range. Many medics panic about this, whereas more enlightened & knowledgeable practitioners understand.
Thankyou for your reply
What are the key vitamins? I know vitimin D.
Folate, ferritin, Vit B12 and Vit D are all key for thyroid health. Please don’t supplement before testing.
Thankyou. I will call the doctor and ask for them to be checked.
If GP won’t test (some don’t) look into private home testing & post results on the forum for advice.
I checked my medical records app, it states I had the vitimin panel tested in 2018, I should recieve a call from the doctors on Monday regarding retest. Should I ask for a celiac test?
From Vanessa.
Previous post
Weight 82kg
THS 0.09 (R) 0.35 - 4.9 MU/L
FT4 15.5 PMOL/L (R) 9-19
FT3 3.2 PMOL/L (R) 2.6-5.7pmol/L
Vitimin D 85NMOL/L (R) 71-200
So you are on Teva as lactose free suits you better
Are you also on lactose free diet
Have you had thyroid antibodies tested?
Lactose intolerance suggests autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s diagnosed by high TPO or high TG thyroid antibodies
Also ESSENTIAL to regularly retest folate, B12 and ferritin
Night sweats often low B12
At 81 kilo the guidelines on dose by weight is 130mcg daily, so 75mcg is unlikely high enough
It’s common phenomenon that when dose levothyroxine is initially reduced, many people feel better initially. Lower Ft4 possibly results in better conversion of Ft4 to Ft3. And/or adrenals are less stretched
But eventually hypothyroid symptoms return
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.
Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis) or if under medicated
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test
Thriva also offer just vitamin testing
If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3
£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via
Thyriod antibodies 20ku/l (0-40kul)TG 28g/l (20-35g/l)
Tyroglobium 1.1 (0-40ugl)
RDW 11.4 (11.6-14%cv)
I was diagnosed with graves disease however I feel better when I eat less lactose.
I'm have a blood test in three weeks for THS, T3 FT4.
This is all new to me and I'm just a bit lost with it all.
Both Graves and hashimoto’s patients are often gluten intolerant and/or lactose intolerant
Important to test vitamin levels regularly
Thankyou, I'm going to ask doctor if he will test my vitimin levels.
Unlikely to do so, but always worth asking
If not, test privately 6-8 weeks after dose reduction in levothyroxine
Always test as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Aristo is an alternative lactose free levothyroxine, but only available in 100mcg tablets.
Can cut into 1/4’s to get 25mcg
I spoke with the doctor, they won't do my vitimin testing, she said my tyroglobium ( I think that was what she referd too) was fine when tested in July. It seems I'm going to go private testing, however I have my thyriod panel being done today THS T4 T3 and reverse calcium.
So next step is to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done
Only do test after minimum 6-8 weeks on constant unchanging dose and brand of levothyroxine
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning and then post back via tracked postal service
Always test as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
If taking any supplements that contain biotin stop these a week before all blood tests as biotin can falsely affect test results
If testing iron/ferritin levels, stop any iron supplements a week before test
Come back with new post once you get results
Thankyou
I'm only taking vitimin D.
When supplementing vitamin D test twice year
How much vitamin D are you currently taking
Test others - folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually
Most U.K. patients forced to test privately via Medichecks or Blue horizon
Come back with new post once you get results
I will, Thankyou.
Ft4 65% through range
Ft3 19% through range
Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range
Thankyou.
What percentage should they be? I have no idea.
Most people when adequately treated will have Ft3 at least 50% through range, sometimes need higher at 70% plus
Usually on levothyroxine only need Ft4 higher % than Ft3 in order to get Ft3 high enough
Optimal vitamin levels help tolerate higher doses levothyroxine
So getting vitamins optimal helps and can reduce symptoms
Always worth trying strictly gluten free diet too, especially if lactose intolerant
Lactose intolerance often improves on strictly gluten free diet
If can’t tolerate high enough dose levothyroxine then looking at adding small doses T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine
Thankyou.
I don't have milk, I have small amounts of butter, rarely have cheese/ dairy products.
It's strange the less food I eat the better I feel, however still stones over weight.
Hello Ness :
A fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you daily with T1. T2 calcitonin plus approximately 10mcg T3 + approximately 100 mcg T4 .
T4 - Levothyroxine is a storage hormone that needs to be converte by your body into T3 the active hormone that the body runs on and is said to be about 4 tims more powerful than T4 with the average person needing to find find / convert / utilise around 50T3 daily to function.
Your ability to convert the T4 into T3 can be compromised by low viamins and minerals and we need ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D to be maintained at optimal levels to assist in the thyroid hormone conversion.
The thyroid is a major gland responsible for full body synchronisation including your mental, physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual well being, you inner central heating system and your metabolism.
It is essential that your dosed and monitored on your T3 and T4 blood test results and not your TSH, though in primary this maybe all you find is being actioned, read or understood.
We generally feel at our best when both these vital hormones are balanced, within the ranges, and with your T4 in the top quadrant of the range and over 75% as this in theory gives a better, higher T3 reading.
Currently your T3 is coming in at around 19% with your T4 higher at around 65% and I see your dose of T4 has been reduced so not sure if this has to yet impact on this result.
The accepted level of conversion when on T4 - Levothyroxine only is 1 / 3.50 - 4.50 - T3/T4 :
with most people feeling at their best when they come in at around 4 or under ;
So, to find your conversion ratio you simply divide your T3 into your T4 and I'm getting 4.80 showing your conversion struggling and going out from centre.
It could still be " early days " as I'm not quite sure now, when you actually had your surgery.
I too have Graves but I was treated with RAI thyroid ablation in 2005.
I have found the Elaine Moore Graves Disease Foundation website a very useful adjunct as to understanding Graves, as it is poorly understood and bdly treated auto immune disease.
I found I also needed to learn about the thyroid and all that it does and found the following book written by a doctor who has hypothyroidism and excellent " go-to " :
Your Thyroid and How To Keep It Healthy by Barry Durrant-Peatfield -
I know it sounds counter intuitive but we do need to know all that it does, just so we can try and compensate accordingly.
Hey there Ness ;
Nobody except me is going to see this new post tagged on the end of what is considered an " old " post:
Whilst I maybe flattered, you deserve more than my eyes, and suggest you repost the above as a new post where everybody is able to help and give advice.
People will look back at your previous posts if they need to - don't worry :
I'll reply on the new post, so it's all together, and I also don't know all the answers :
See you on the " other side " :
T3 levels - my recent results
T3 and T4 results interpretation
test results - on T3 and T4
t3 results help please
