Thoughts on my blood results

[Knittingcat123]

Hi

I have just received my latest blood results

(Attached) and I am rather confused

as TSH is higher than my usual level and T3 is lower end of range , I was thinking I am under medicated. However my T4 is very high!

My question is why is my T4 so high?

I stopped all my supplements 9 days before test

to ensure Biotin etc did not affect results and

my bloods were taken 8am before breakfast and morning thyroxine dose (150mcg,wt75kg)

Last dose was 6am previous day.

Would appreciate your thoughts

Thank you in advance

[greygoose]

It looks like you're a very poor converter of T4 to T3. Of course, it would help if you gave the ranges, though. Ranges vary from lab to lab, so we need the ranges that came with your results.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at previous posts

You have Hashimoto’s, PA and autoimmune gastris

Are you on strictly gluten free diet

Likely to need addition of small doses of T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine

Your Ft3 is far too low

When were vitamin D, folate and ferritin levels last tested

Email Thyroid UK for list of recommend thyroid specialist endocrinologists who will prescribe T3

...NHS and Private

[e-mail]

[Knittingcat123]

Thank you both for your quick response Added photo with ranges

Can’t say I am 100% gluten free but close

I have full bloods done every 6 months

My vitamin D was low about 50 but slowly coming up

Also have low ferritin stores and have iron infusions as required. I now insist on at least 100 after not being treated when it was 20!yes I was on my knees I was so tired.

I am grateful to this forum for what I have learned. Certainly no one told me about taking supplements and as I eat mostly home cooked food , didn’t think I needed to.

I am in Australia and have been with my endo for some time. I don’t think T3 is prescribed very often here unless it can be justified so it will be interesting to see what she makes of these results and if she will prescribe it.

Is it worth being tested for the gene mutation?

Thanks again

Ranges

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Knittingcat123]

Seems you can get Tertroxin in Australia

healthdirect.gov.au/medicin...

nps.org.au/medicine-finder/...

thyroidfoundation.org.au/th...

[Knittingcat123 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SlowDragonI will discuss with my Doctor

As my type 2 diabetes is controlled by Jardiance + Janumet , I am a bit concerned Tertroxin will upset my diabetes control but I accept it may mean adjustments.Totally worth it if I feel better and everything is optimised.

My other concern is my high cholesterol levels . I have tried statins but can’t tolerate them as they negatively affect my mood . Interestingly they affect my sister & mother likewise.

I wonder if T3 would help this too.

I checked out Australian thyroid site . I wonder if others have found this useful. I was somewhat put off as they do not recommend supplements. I too was once sceptical but from the info I have gained here , I now appreciate they do have a role to play .Certainly since I have been monitoring my vit D , folate ,iron etc

I feel so much better. Thanks again for your help. This really is a tough journey and so appreciate I am not alone

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Knittingcat123]

High cholesterol is linked to being under medicated

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.

[Tinacros in reply to SlowDragon]

My cholesterol is 6.7. I rang my GP quite concerned and they said my ratio’s were good. I compared them to my husbands and they were way higher than his x

[Tinacros in reply to Knittingcat123]

You are very lucky to get an infusion in oz. my sister lives there and can’t believe the way they leave you here In the uk. My ferritin was 20 and my daughters 9! GP was adamant it was normal xx

[Knittingcat123 in reply to Tinacros]

Yes I do feel lucky .I have pernicious anaemia too and I self inject .I buy vitamin B12 at chemist(not available in Uk). In Australia private health insurance is encouraged and even then you still have to pay to see a specialist. Being unwell as I know too well , is very expensive. I have tried to be active and informed about my treatment . Fortunately I have good relationships with my Drs as I see making me healthy as a collaborative process.On the whole they accept that .

After all as this forum demonstrates, one size certainly doesn’t fit all particularly with regard to “normal ranges’.

Thanks for your comments