Blood results

[Ajva]

Latest labs. I am on 1 grain armour (I was only on 3/4 grain before labs). No biotin or medication taken before test. My tsh was 13 a few months back but my t4 has dropped by 4.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Ajva

Which test bundle was this and when was this test done? I didn't think Medichecks had done Reverse T3 testing for some time now.

[Ajva in reply to SeasideSusie]

I managed to get it through my private Dr. He is able to order one but I couldn’t.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Ajva]

It's quite a strange set of results.

On the day before the test, did you split your NDT into 2 or 3 doses and take the last dose 8-12 hours before the test?

Taking NDT tends to give a low TSH, a lowish in range FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of the reference range when optimally medicated.

Your over range TSH suggests you need a dose increase, yet your top of range FT3 doesn't. A below range FT4 also suggests that it might be beneficial to raise the dose to get FT4 into range.

Maybe NDT doesn't suit you and you might be better with synthetic Levo and T3 so that you can tweak the dose of each to find the right balance for you, rather than the set ratio of T4 and T3 in NDT.

How do you feel?

Are your key nutrients all optimal - Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin?

[Ajva in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes I split NDT into 2 doses. I had a 12 hour gap between bloods and medication.

I feel awful, ache, very fatigued just feel zapped of energy.

I can not tolerate synthetic t4 which is the reason I am on NDT. Synthetic makes me pass out as raises my HR too high as I have POTs.

I am going to up my dose again next week then see how I go for a few more months. But as it stands I don’t feel great.

Also all my vit levels are good but iron is really low

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Ajva]

Low iron is going to make you feel unwell. What's happening about that?

Your below range FT4 may not be helping although some people on T3 only have well below range FT4 and are fine, that's a very individual thing.

[Ajva in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes I agree, the Drs are not doing a thing anymore about the iron. My level is 11.

I eat a lot of leafy greens and steak etc to try and raise levels naturally.

I’m going to give it a few more months on NDT and then give up. I am on heart medication now to slow down HR so I shouldn’t have so much of an issue tolerating levothyroxine. NDT Makes my heart race due to the t3. Starting to feel I can’t win either way

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Ajva]

Do you mean ferritin is 11

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency

GP must prescribe iron supplements

Meanwhile Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet

Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

Links about iron and ferritin

irondisorders.org/too-littl...

davidg170.sg-host.com/wp-co...

Great in-depth article on low ferritin

oatext.com/iron-deficiency-...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.

Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...

Post discussing just how long it can take to raise low ferritin …..probably at least a year

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first

Iron and thyroid link

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Posts discussing why important to do full iron panel test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Why low ferritin needs improving

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Iron/ferritin and restless legs

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Helpful post about iron supplements and testing

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Ajva in reply to SlowDragon]

Here are my last bloods done for vit & iron. My Dr said iron is 11 so I am guessing that means iron storage what they test? I’m not actually sure.

Light

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Ajva]

Ferritin is storage form of iron

Medichecks ferritin is 44 …..low…but not deficient

[Anthea55 in reply to Ajva]

I've been on Armour recently and seem to have a reaction to it. The other NDT available at present is Erfa. You may find you get on better with that.

[Ajva in reply to Anthea55]

Have tried ERFA I didn’t seem to get on well with that. Gives me bad palpitations.

What reactions did you experience from armour? We’re you on it for long?