Please give much needed advice on Lab Test result

[Koola]

After 6 weeks of raising T4 to 100 (from 88/94) and staying with 6.50 T3:

TSH: 0.165 mU/l (Range 0.2 - 5) 0.73% down from 6.88% on 21.02

FT3: 4.11 pmol/l (Range 1.8 - 4.5) 85.56% up from 30.37% on 21.02

FT4: 15.9 pmol/l (Range 7 - 20) 68.46% up from 41.54% on 21.02

Numbers wise this look like an improvement, doesn’t it?

However the “real feel” is that I’ve never felt worse. Symptoms increased, old ones returning with a vengeance, house bound the whole time – and since three days, a brand new one called “meralgia parasthetica” which I found out can, among others , be due to – guess what? hypothyroidism. Not surprising from the many-headed Hydra.

In any case, I cannot stay on this dosage. So, all suggestions more than welcome. Thanks in advance.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Related post: healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

"My previous lab test was on 21 .1, January, not 21.2. Sorry."

[helvella]

Original poster has posted again:

My previous lab test was on 21 .1, January, not 21.2. Sorry.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Koola in reply to helvella]

Thanks. actually it was obvious I'd made a typo. Please put all on account of heavy brain fog 💭

[helvella]

Koola,

You may not realise that you can edit any posts or responses you have made here.

HealthUnlocked have produced some help for how to do this. You can find this here:

support.healthunlocked.com/...

When you edit the original post in a thread, you will also have the option to add (or remove) a single image. (To replace an image, remove the existing image, then add the new one.) This is the same process as writing a new post:

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I am pointing this out purely to ensure that you know your options.

(If you make extensive changes, it is sometimes helpful to add a comment so that people can see that you have made changes.)

[Koola]

I know. I've edited before. But -- see previous reply. One thing I don't know how to do: is there anywhere I can see all my previous posts?I do keep all on microsoft docs but over the years, some are dispersed and I'm short of energy to reorganize.

[RedApple in reply to Koola]

Koola, click on your own username above any of your posts or comments and it will take you to your posting history (profile).

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Was test done early morning, before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Did you split T3 into 2 smaller doses day before test and take last dose approx 8-12 hours before test

What are your most recent vitamin results

Are you on strictly gluten free diet

[Koola in reply to SlowDragon]

- Yes to first two questions.

- I only did Vitamin D3 & Folic Acid (not folate, which has always been good) because I forgot to stop Vit B complex 7 days before.

- Vit D3 low: 49.3 Range 30 – 100 . I’ve been taking 2000 iu and I sit in the sun but probably need higher dose ?

- Folic acid was high: 24.8 – Range 5.4 – 19.8

I’m not on gluten free diet. I’m not celiac, not gluten intolerant and I ‘m not Hashi but have post RAI hypo.

Only idea I have is to slowly up T4 to 112, 125 and lower the 6.50 T3 or cut it out altogether. I’ve tried lower T4 and 12. T3 before.

What would you advise?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Koola]

Assuming vitamin D units are ng/ml as you are not in U.K.

Vitamin D isn’t low at 40ng/ml - that’s equivalent to 100nmol U.K. units

Many Graves’ disease patients (including post RAI) find strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential …..always worth trying strictly gluten free diet 3-6 months minimum

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Koola]

because I forgot to stop Vit B complex 7 days before.

Biotin in vitamin B complex can falsely affect any blood test results

Remember to stop taking before any tests

[Koola in reply to SlowDragon]

You’re right, it is ng/ml. So I stay with 2000 iu Vit. D3.

In all honesty, I don’t think I can stay on a strictly gluten free diet for months. There are no gluten free products here anymore. My only gluten intake is three rusks in the morning (I replaced them with rice cakes but then read that they also have gluten.) Otherwise I often have a beer or two in the evening to relieve stress and anxiety. I’ve tried various anxiolytics but no longer than four days because they make me feel like an emotionless zombie. Maybe in the summer when I can go swimming and feel better all round.

Meanwhile, I would like to try more levo – 106 / 112 first from 100 - and reduce or cut out T3. Could you please tell me what you think?

Thanks for your time, on a weekend.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Koola]

Many rice cakes are gluten free….but not all

healthline.com/nutrition/ar...

I find travelling around Europe, gluten free is fairly easy

legalnomads.com/gluten-free...

celiactravel.com/stories/gl...

kidslovegreece.com/en/insig...

[Koola in reply to SlowDragon]

But I live here, Slow Dragon! Also, I have gone to only one restaurant in two years and I always order the same anyway: sea food and some special vegie dishes I can’t be bothered to make myself.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Koola]

Your profile says you live in Greece!

[Koola in reply to SlowDragon]

yes, and that's why the links you sent about what to eat or not when visiting Greece don't apply to me. I eat very healthy food, I have a vegie patch 5 months a year and they taste better than anything in a store.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Koola]

But I live here,

I thought you meant you like here ….in U.K.

Yes obviously realise you live in Greece …not on holiday…but those links were all I could find about gluten free in Greece

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Koola]

There’s loads of gluten free options available in uk supermarkets

[Koola in reply to SlowDragon]

But nothing here., as far as I know. Have been ordering food for 2 years. First due to Covid and then because I can't do shopping. Too tired. As I wrote you, only my rusks and evening beer contain gluten. But not gluten free here.Have to add that many northeners imagine that a life in Greece is glamourous -- until you live here !

[FancyPants54 in reply to Koola]

Not everyone benefits from gluten free. And the way food supplies are going to go if this war goes on long a lot of people with restrictive diets will have to rethink. I tried it once for a year or so. Hated it. Didn't help at all. I'll not be doing it again. If it stresses you to even think about it, don't think about it. Your diet of fresh veg and fruit and fish sounds wonderful. I like fish but live a long way from the sea so nothing is fresh enough.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest you reduce levothyroxine to 75mcg and add 2nd T3 dose approx 10-12 hours after 1st dose

Retest in 6-8 weeks

[Koola]

Reducing Levo sounds like a relief.But how much T3? 2 times 3.25 or 2x 6.50?

[FancyPants54 in reply to Koola]

You got worse when you took more Levo. So that's not likely to be your answer. I would reduce Levo back to where you were comfortable again and add more T3. That's a tiny dose. I imagine your tablets are 25mcg size. You are taking a quarter. Add another quarter to your day 6 hours after the first. The trick to timing the second dose is to try to do it about an hour before you start to suddenly feel more tired.

Don't be afraid of T3. We scare ourselves about it. It's not necessary. Just be sure to make changes slowly and in small doses. Give yourself time for the change to settle. Don't change immediately a new problem shows up. Give it time.

[Koola]

Thanks much for the Tip! (I know exactly when I dip.)Actually, T3 feels good, after a few difficult tries over the years. It's T4 I now fear because I've been told for ages to take more due to lab results. A new vista opening up with advice I got this evening!