Your thoughts please on suggested levo and thyroid glandular regime

[Noelnoel]

I’ve been complaining for ever about static weight, sleep issues and other niggles but since metavive had nucleotides added I noticed more niggles (or an exacerbation of) and actual weight gain and so I had to decrease the dose to the point where they just weren’t enough

A few weeks ago I began phasing out the metavive in favour of a glandular without nucleotides and on Friday I had a blood test. Here are the results alongside April’s, for comparison. I hope the layout works because I’m sending this from an iPhone and sometimes it does funny things. Please let me know if the numbers have moved all over the place

1/10/21 13/04/21

C reactive protein <4 (0 - 6) <4

Ferritin 73 (10 - 21) 76.9

Iron 23.6 (10 - 34) 20.8

Transferrin 2.84 (2.5 - 3.8) 3.36

% iron saturation 37 (16 - 50) 27

TSH 0.03 (0.35 - 5.5) 0.82

FT4 12.8 (10.5 - 21) 9.9

FT3 5.5 )3.5 - 6.5) 4.7

B12 661 (211 - 911) 507

Folate 9.91 (>5.38) 13.42

Vit D wasn’t tested as it’s always extremely high. I now take a maintenance dose so will test in 6-8 weeks when I do followup TFTs

I should add that I don’t think the change-over from metavive is responsible for the higher FT3, that would be due to the fact thar it’s solely porcine (higher T3 content) rather than a combination of porcine and bovine. Since Monday’s results I’ve started a bovine glandular to raise the T4 but I’m toying with the idea of adding in levo instead, which my endo prescribed a few months ago but I’ve never taken. I should also say that since adding in the bovine my weight has dropped a few ounces. The first time in a long while. Ounces(?!!) I hear you say. Well yes only ounces but the weight has been either static or steadily climbing no matter what is done, so a few ounces is significant and I’m elated. For now. I’m well aware it’s only fluid at this point as I’m peeing more and the puffy ankles are not so much of a a cankle! Interesting though that I’m peeing more ..,

On Monday, because my T3 is now good but T4 not so much, my gp suggested that adding levo/T4 might be better at raising my T4 than a glandular because although the glandular does contain T4, it also contains T3 in which case both would rise possibly taking my T3 out of range, as it’s already 80% of the way through. Not a bad thing necessarily but also, depending on what my T4 conversion is like that will also add to raising my T3 if conversion is good. Not too much of a problem in itself

The argument for levo, is that it’s a known quantity and may raise T4 accordingly

Anyway, I think it’s enlightened of her to entertain the idea that a combination could work and for that I’m really grateful. She’s a truly empathic gp who listens. Her suggested regime is this and I wondered what your thoughts are

Week 1

Mon 50mcgs

Week 2

Mon 50mcgs Weds 50mcgs

Week 3 (all being well)

Mon 50mcgs Weds 50mcgs Fri 50mcgs

And if I feel well to continue this until testing in 6-8 week’s time with a view to remaining on that regime

I’ve also included iron overload studies and would appreciate comments on those too please, or I could send them in a separate post

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

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