Looking for some advice on blood results which don’t correlate with symptoms please?

[CMBB27]

Hi there,

I’ve posted several times and had excellent support but don’t seem to be getting anywhere with my health.

I have attached my latest results which do not seem to correlate with my symptoms. The last set of bloods were last August. My GP wrote to endocrinology and were advised to try Metformin (for PCOS).

My weight is continuing to increase along with shocking brain fog, sleep issues, constipation, hair loss, brittle nails, concentration issues, tinnitus, mood swings and i’m always cold (sat with a full length padded coat typing this).

I’m seeing the GP on Friday and would love and appreciate some pointers of solutions. I can’t go on gaining weight as my health will decline.

I walk a minimum of 10k steps a day, working with a personal trainer, tried various eating plans that usually work.

I am convinced covid in Oct 2020 triggered my thyroid as that’s when the weight gain started.

Thank you!!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous post 9 months ago

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

Shows terrible ferritin

Low vitamin D

Dire Ft3 9 months ago…..now has improved a little but is still far too low

Before considering booking any consultation with thyroid specialist endocrinologist for T3 prescribed

You need vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 retested to ensure all four vitamins are at GOOD levels

Vitamin D at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better

Ferritin and folate at least half way through range

Serum B12 at least over 500

If not already on strictly gluten free diet

You need coeliac blood test done if not been tested yet

Assuming coeliac test is negative, it’s always worth trying strictly gluten free diet

Only 5% of Hashimoto’s patients are coeliac, but 86% of Hashimoto’s patients find strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential

Metaformin lowers TSH

Very low ferritin lowers TSH

cureus.com/articles/50564-e...

Email Thyroid U.K. for list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologist and doctors who will prescribe T3

[e-mail]

[CMBB27 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi. Thanks so much for replying to me again! I have been gluten free for around 3 years now. I will request the nutrients tested and find someone who will prescribe T3. I appreciate your help. Thanks x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to CMBB27]

As you need to be gluten free, it’s almost inevitable that you will need T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine

Recommend getting Dio2 gene test done

thyroiduk.org/deiodinase-2-...

Assuming you test positive can help get T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine on NHS

Initially likely to need to see endocrinologist privately to make progress

[greygoose]

Well, you're a poor converter, aren't you. And your FT3 is too low. It's low T3 that causes symptoms.

And, your FT4 is too high, so most of it is converting to rT3. Not that rT3 is the problem, but if you lowered your levo slightly, your conversion might improve.

Otherwise, you need T3 added to a reduced dose of levo.

Have you had your nutrients tested - vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin?

[CMBB27 in reply to greygoose]

Hi, by the looks of my full report they have not tested the nutrients. I will request this. Thank you so much x

[greygoose in reply to CMBB27]

You're welcome.

[fuchsia-pink]

Your free T3 is too low - and this is causing all your hypo symptoms. Free T4 is high - a tad above the top of the lab range but free T3 is less than 30% along - so (like me) you're a "poor converter". You want T3 at least double this ...

I found adding some lio (T3 meds) to the mix was transformative - no more brain fog, coldness, now have nice glossy hair, lost the hypo weight - feel completely well

It's endo-only, so you will need your GP to refer you - ideally to a T3-friendly endo - not all of them will prescribe it because (a) it's expensive - albeit getting cheaper all the time; and (b) they don't trust it - it has a short half-life and quite a lot of them genuinely don't believe it works and all of us who have tried it and disagree are suffering from some strange shared delusion

Get the list of T3-friendly endos from Dionne at Thyroid UK - [e-mail] - and see if there's anyone close-ish to you. You don't have to see the nearest person but must obv be reasonably convenient

Good luck x

[CMBB27 in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thanks so much, that’s great. I did get some T3 when on holiday as it was so cheap but didn’t go ahead taking it. I will get the list and contact some direct. I have written to a fantastic endo who I seen in pregnancy to see if she does private. Thanks again x

[waveylines]

When I had to see an endo I chose to go on reputation not distance...as even in the endo world there is a lot of ignorance/resistance to T3 prescribing. . In reality I wasnt seen much as I was already established on a ndt & stable so even though it was a 10hr round trip was worth it. I stayed in an Airbnb over night. If you already know a great endo then thats a fab starting point. Many do private as well as nhs.

[CMBB27 in reply to waveylines]

Thank you, I very much appreciate your advice x