Blood test results - am I interpreting them correctly?

[Alex_p]

I managed to get an appointment with a private endo next week, so I did some blood tests. The results are:

TSH < 0.01 (range 0.27 - 4.2 mU/L)

FT4 14.2 pmol/L (range 12 - 22 pmol/L)

FT3 4.6 pmol/L (range 3.1 - 6.8 pmol/L)

Cholesterol 5.2 mmol/L (should be <5)

HDL 1.57 mmol/L (should be >1.2)

non-HDL 3.66 mmol/L (should be <=4)

Triglyceride 0.85 mmol/L (should be <=4.5)

Vitamin D 111 nmol/L (range 60-105 nmol/L)

I've been experiencing some symptoms from too much D3 so I'll stop it for now.

I've been taking Novothyral (100mcg T4 and 20mcg T3) since December. From what I see in the results, FT3 isn't high enough, which is probably why I've been feeling hypo (fatigue, dry skin, depression) - am I right to think so? I'm not concerned about the TSH, it has always been low, but how come T4 is also low?

Also, I've read that high cholesterol might be because of hypothyroidism, might this be the case here?

Thank you in advance for the answers and the advice.

[greygoose]

You are right that your FT3 could probably do with being higher, given that you have symptoms, and that the FT3 is not quite mid-range. It's a shame that you're taking Novothyral because with the fixed amounts of T4 and T3, there's no wriggle room. Increasing by a whole tablet would probably be too much, and splitting the tablet would possibly lead to uneven dosing, because there's no guarantee that the T3 is evenly distributed through the tablet. Could you perhaps change to seperate T4 and T3? Or obtain some T3 to add to your dose?

High cholesterol is due to low T3. So, that result is saying that you need more T3, too.

Your FT4 is low because you are taking T3. That's what T3 does, it lowers TSH and FT4. For some people a low FT4 is fine, but others need it a bit higher than that.

[Alex_p in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for replying and for your interpretation. Unfortunately all the doctors I’ve seen in the UK have said that my T3 is in range and I don’t need any. Only one doctor in Romania has agreed that I’m not converting well and has prescribed the only available brand that has T3 in it. I’m going to see an endo next week from the list received on this forum and hopefully he’ll agree to prescribe T3 and so I wouldn’t need to continue taking Novothyral. I just wanted to make sure that when I see the endo I request the correct thing, so again, thank you for giving your opinion.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Alex_p]

You may to have to do 6-8 weeks minimum on just levothyroxine, to show poor conversion

Do you have test results from previously being on just levothyroxine

If so take these with you to consultation

[Alex_p in reply to SlowDragon]

I’ll take them, thank you for the suggestion.

[greygoose in reply to Alex_p]

Yes, UK doctors, in general, understand very little about thyroid. They don't realise it's not just about being in range, but where in the range the result falls.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Essential to regularly retest B12, folate and ferritin

We need OPTIMAL Vitamin levels

Ferritin and folate at least half way through range

Serum B12 at least over 500

Noticed 10 months ago your ferritin was extremely deficient

Have you had levels retested

[Alex_p in reply to SlowDragon]

I’ve had my ferrintin checked last November and it was around middle of the range (I don’t remember exactly the value).

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Alex_p]

Test all four vitamins at least annually