Latest results and comparisons.

[sobs1962]

Just wanted to post latest results, but bear in mind that ft3 hasn't been tested since January 2021 and is very unlikely to be.

19/10/21 TSH 0.01(0.35 - 5.50)

02/08/21 " 0.12(0.35 -5.50)

24/02/21 " 0.01(0.35 - 5.50)

02/10/20 " 15 (0.35 - 5.50)

19/08/20 " 96(0.35 - 5.50)

26/05/20 " 0.12 (0.35 - 5.50)

15/05/20 " 0.01 (0.35 - 5.50)

T4

19/10/21 21.9(10.0 - 20.0)

02/08/21 15.2(10.0 - 20.0)

24/02/21 18.6 (10.0 - 20.0)

02/10/20 16.0(10.0 - 20.0)

19/08/20 4.6(10.0 - 20.0)

26/05/20 10.6(10.0 - 20.0)

15/05/20 23.5(10.0 - 20.0)

15/05/20 20.4(10.0 - 20.0)

Please note the readings for August 2020 were after I decided to stop taking levo as had me on a tiny dose of 25mcg, which is of no use to anyone, but bad decision and went back on levo again after that but it took till October to get levels back to anything like normal. My latest T4 level of 21.9 with a TSH of 0.02, means they will be reducing my levo dose, whether I like it or not and that's without checking my ft3 levels. I'm going to insist they test my ft3 and refuse to lower my levo until they have. I just don't need the stress of having to argue with doctors who don't have the knowledge to treat me adequately, as my husband is getting home from hospital today after a total knee replacement and I need to try and focus on him. I don't understand why ft4 has gone over range as stopped any biotin containing supplements 2 weeks before blood test and have been on same dose of levo 100mcg, (with a small blip for a few days in September), since around May.

Any help or advice greatly appreciated.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested

Are you currently taking propranolol….that would probably increase Ft4

[sobs1962 in reply to SlowDragon]

Vitamin d 15/05/2020 51.3 (50 - 125)

B12 15/05/2020

546(211 - 911)

Folate 11/08/2021 24.0 (>4.0)

15/05/2020 6.2 (>4.0 )

Ferritin 11/08/2021 111ug/L(10-291)

15/05/2021 164ug/L(10-291).

As you can see my vitamin d and b12 haven't been tested for nearly 18 months but my folate has increased massively and weirdly my ferritin has decreased quite a lot.

Yes, I am taking propranolol 2x 10mg, twice daily but at least 4 hours after Levothyroxine, although there have been a few days when I've got up later, as haven't slept well and needed to take them for my anxiety. So presumably propranolol causes ft4 to rise as it's not being converted, so all the more reason to test ft3,which is what the NICE guidelines say when TSH is suppressed. I am refusing to lower my dose of levo unless they test my ft3 and it's showing over range and therefore I am over medicated, but might have to resort to doing a private blood test to get these tests done. It is ridiculous that we're being kept ill because they don't have the knowledge to treat us properly, they should enhance their knowledge and not forget the hippocratic oath " I will never knowingly do any harm to any patient in my care" or something like that. Sorry for long post but feel so frustrated and any advice you can give me with regards to arguing my case with doctor would be great.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to sobs1962]

Yes ….well I gave up NHS testing about 8 years ago, they don’t even test Ft3 if prescribed T3 on NHS

I was stuck on propranolol almost 20 years….

Propranolol lowers magnesium too, are you currently taking magnesium supplements?

Vitamin D needs magnesium as an important cofactor

[sobs1962 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, take calm vitality magnesium at night, as suggested on here and also take better you vitamin d + k2 at same time. Will look at monitor my health as,they do a full screen, that includes, thyroid, vitamins and cholesterol, as it appears the NHS are a waste of time. Thanks for your input.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to sobs1962]

Monitor My Health Is private testing service run by NHS and cheapest option for TSH, Ft4 and Ft3

There’s 10% off via Thyroid Uk

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

The result in August this year …..was that when you stopped propranolol Ft4 at 15

[sobs1962 in reply to SlowDragon]

I wasn't taking propranolol in August but started taking them again in September. They gave me metropolol to take as were worried about my high heart rate ( 80-120), but it made me like a zombie , so confused, like an elderly person with a UTI , stopped taking them and decided to start propranolol again 20mg twice a day, they also decided to lower my levo at the same time to 87.5mcg, so obviously had no idea which change was causing my symptoms, but agreed to putting the dose of levo back up to 100mcg as felt absolutely shattered and had pain everywhere. Took a month for disorientation to completely disappear. I am now confused as to what to think of it all, in fact when I rang the surgery to ask about side effects of metropolol, I was told by a receptionist no less that it sounded like a virus that was causing my symptoms and to get a PCR test done. I was very upset by that as had absolutely no symptoms of covid at all. It's been a bit of a nightmare and I don't think either a doctor or a pharmacist checked my symptoms as side effects and the receptionist just told me to get test off her own back, very unprofessional to say the least. Am in the process of changing to another surgery. Sorry long post again, but it's all been a bit of a saga.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to sobs1962]

So, as I suspected…in August (when not on propranolol) Ft4 only 50% through range ….suggesting you needed dose increase in levothyroxine

Now, back on propranolol, conversion and uptake is slower….so Ft4 is at top of range

Pity no Ft3 results for those dates

[sobs1962 in reply to SlowDragon]

They have a problem with testing ft3, as they believe that result is not useful and doesn't tell them anything. Just shows, that we the patients have more knowledge than them. If they attempt a dosage decrease, will insist they test ft3 and if it's over range, then will accept lower dose, but doubt if it will be if propranolol is interfering with conversion.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to sobs1962]

Yes….I couldn’t get off propranolol until I got full private testing …..supplementing to bring all vitamins optimal…strictly gluten and soya free….then very very slowly got off propranolol (took 6-8 months) …..this then demonstrated low Ft3…got T3 prescribed

[sobs1962 in reply to SlowDragon]

Just have to see what doctor says, but took me 14 months to get off propranolol and it is so frustrating that I need to take them again and doctor is aware how they affect conversion as was pointed out to him by the endocrinologist. Fingers crossed he actually listens to what I have to say.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to sobs1962]

I saw 6 endocrinologists/thyroid specialists …. Not one of them seemed to understood that propranolol slowed conversion or uptake

[sobs1962 in reply to SlowDragon]

Maybe I've just managed to get one who updates his knowledge regularily and they are few and far between. 😊