Confused by thyroid results

[Surrey17]

Thank you for the advice received on here.

I started 50mcg of Thyroxine in September, went up to 75mcg in November and am on 100mcg since February. My TSH has gone right down but my FT3 stays the same and my FT4 changes only slightly. They don’t seem to be in the upper quartile of the ranges. I had covid 3 weeks ago (2 weeks before I tested) a friend who is hypo was told their results would be skewed due to covid. I fasted and stopped medication for 24 hours. The test was done at 7am.

I’ve just spoken to my GP who has suggested 100 mcg and 125 mcg to be taken on alternate days . I’m not sure how to get my T3 levels up. I get very cold and get white fingers, very tired and low mood.

Thank you

16/3/22

FT3 4.5 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8 pmol/L)

FT4 16.7 pmol/L (12 - 22 pmol/L)

TSH 0.98 mu/L (0.27 -4.2mu/L)

3/2/22

FT3 4.5 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8 pmol/L)

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

TSH 4.73 mu/L (0.27 -4.2mu/L)

23/11

FT3 4.7 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8 pmol/L)

FT4 15.3 pmol/L (12 - 22 pmol/L)

TSH 2.97 mu/L (0.27 -4.2mu/L)

26/8/21

FT3 4.87 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8 pmol/L)

FT4 17.6 pmol/L (12 - 22 pmol/L)

TSH 6.01 mu/L (0.27 -4.2mu/L)

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Good your GP has increased dose levothyroxine

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

Many people find different brands are not interchangeable

Retest again in 6-8 weeks

Looking at previous posts

Your ferritin was really terrible

Have you retested recently

Similarly vitamin D, folate and B12 all needed improvement

Optimal vitamin levels can improve conversion levels of Ft4 to Ft3

Have you had coeliac blood test done

Are you on strictly gluten free diet

[Surrey17 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for your reply. I’m on Accord. I had a hysterectomy in October and hoping my ferritin has improved since then. I’m having a blood test tomorrow ready for my next surgery in two weeks for lipoedema. I’m not coeliac, I’ve had the blood test as well as a gastroscopy. I imagine an endocrinologist would see me and give me T3 as my TSH is now normal. I have SIBO so I don’t think I absorb vitamins optimally but I am working on all of this. I don’t eat much gluten but I’ll try and cut it out completely.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Surrey17]

Are you on HRT after hysterectomy

HRT frequently results in needing dose increase in levothyroxine

[Surrey17 in reply to SlowDragon]

I mean an endocrinologist wouldn’t see me as my TSH is considered normal. Definitely going to try going gluten free.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Surrey17]

FT4: 16.7 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 only 47.00%

FT3: 4.5 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 only 37.84%

Shows under medicated

Most people when adequately treated on just levothyroxine will have Ft4 at least 60-70% through range in order to get Ft3 at least 50-60% through range

First step is to try small dose increase in levothyroxine

I’ve just spoken to my GP who has suggested 100 mcg and 125 mcg to be taken on alternate days .

So yes GP is correct

Work on getting all four vitamins regularly tested and maintain at OPTIMAL levels

Ferritin and folate at least half way through range

Serum B12 at least over 500

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

Frequently gluten free will improve absorption and vitamin levels

Retest FULL Thyroid And vitamin levels 6-8 weeks after latest increase in levothyroxine

[Surrey17 in reply to SlowDragon]

This is so helpful, thank you for calculating the percentages, really clarifies it for me. Will see what I can do to improve it over the next couple of months. Thank you again.