New Bloods- Help to interpret! : Hi all, Since I... - Thyroid UK

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New Bloods- Help to interpret!

thyroidqueen12 profile image
15 Replies

Hi all,

Since I last posted, my endo increased my dose (6 weeks ago) to 125mg of levothyroxine. He switched me from TEVA to Mercury Pharma. (This was due to difficulty with availability of teva at my local pharmacy but I also was suspecting that teva was giving me headaches)

I've just got my new Medichecks advanced thyroid panel results. I still feel tired and do not feel as though the increase in dose has helped my symptoms. Please help interpret my results! Someone mentioned on here previously that I might not be converting the T4 to T3 very well, does this still indicate this? I've also been told on the forums that the low energy could be due to cortisol, I have not yet tested for cortisol but will consider. Below I also put my results from 6 weeks prior.

*I followed all guidelines, early morning testing, no levo 24hrs.

RESULTS FROM TODAY:

TSH: 0.57 mIU/L (Range: 0.27 - 4.2)

Free T3: 4.9 pmol/L (Range: 3.1 - 6.8)

Free Thyroxine (T4): 19.8 pmol/l (Range: 12 - 22)

Thyroglobulin Antibodies: 301.0 IU/mL (Range: 0 - 115)

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies: 219.0 IU/mL (Range: 0 - 34)

Ferritin: 190 ug/L (Range: 13 - 150)

CRP HS: 1.1 mg/l (Range: 0 - 5)

Folate - Serum: 3.6 ug/L (Range: > 2.9)

Vitamin B12 - Active: 76 pmol/L (Range: 25.1 - 165)

Vitamin D: 127 nmol/L (Range: 50 - 200)

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 1st of FEBRUARY: (When i was on 100mg)

TSH: 1.73 mIU/L (Range: 0.27 - 4.2)

Free T3: 4.2 pmol/L (Range: 3.1 - 6.8)

Free thyroxine: 18.2 pmol/l (Range: 12 - 22)

Thyroglobulin Antibodies: 324.0 IU/mL (Range: 0 - 115)

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies 244.0 IU/mL (Range: 0 - 34)

Ferritin: 160 ug/L (Range: 13 - 150)

CRP HS: 1.0 mg/l (Range: 0 - 5)

Folate-Serum: 5.7 ug/L (Range: > 2.9)

Vitamin B12 - Active: 102 pmol/L (Range: 25.1 - 165)

Vitamin D: 135 nmol/L (Range: 50 - 200)

Appreciate any advice. I'm heading back to my endo next week with these results, so I want to make sure I'm armed with all the knowledge I can get!

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thyroidqueen12
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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

FT4: 19.8 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 is 78.00%

FT3: 4.9 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 only 48.65%

Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range

thyroid.dopiaza.org

So yes, poor conversion

Improving low vitamin levels can help improve conversion levels

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Folate is low

Have you had coeliac blood test done

Are you on absolutely strictly gluten free diet

Likely to need addition of T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine once you improve low folate and try strictly gluten free

thyroidqueen12 profile image
thyroidqueen12 in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you for your response SlowDragon! What percentage is a poor conversion and what is optimum conversion percentage then?

thyroidqueen12 profile image
thyroidqueen12 in reply to thyroidqueen12

Also seems strange that my vitamin levels have decreased with the increase in dose? I haven't changed anything. It seems these vitamin levels are in range, how do I know what's optimum for someone who has hashis?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to thyroidqueen12

Many, many people on thyroid replacement need to supplement continuously to maintain optimal vitamin levels

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Vitamin D is good, presumably you supplement?

Ferritin likely high due to inflammation

GP should do full iron panel once year to check iron isn’t too high

Low folate

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) may be beneficial. This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Thorne Basic B or Jarrow B Right are recommended options that contains folate, but both are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule)

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Are you on gluten free diet?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to thyroidqueen12

Ideally aiming for Ft4 and Ft3 at least 50% through range

Everyone is individual as to what levels suit

thyroidqueen12 profile image
thyroidqueen12 in reply to SlowDragon

Hi SlowDragon

So my through range of FT3 this time is only 48.65% , but in February (when I was on a lower dose of 100mg levo) my FT3 through range was FT3: 29.73%. The fact that the FT3 through range has increased- does this mean that Levo works or that I am a poor converter and should discuss being treated with T3 with my endo today??

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to thyroidqueen12

Working on improving low vitamin levels

Retest thyroid in 2-3 months

If not already on strictly gluten free diet…..it’s always worth trying …you may be amazed

If Ft3 remains low….yes likely to need addition of T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine

thyroidqueen12 profile image
thyroidqueen12 in reply to SlowDragon

Hi SlowDragon

I just saw my endo: he said that my T3 is not great, but that it is not considered very low and in-line with someone who does not convert well. Therefore he wants to first try: taking my regular dose of levothyroxine at night rather than morning. Have you heard of any success with this?

If this doesn't improve my symptoms in a month, he says he will consider prescribing me T3 or NDT. He also said my vitamin levels were good, including my folate. He does not recommend supplementing. He also said if symptoms are not improving, we must consider something other than thyroid. He said he will get Cortisol checked with my next blood work. I asked him about whether I should get the 24hr Cortisol check with DHEA as I’ve heard this is superior - and he said no, all of the ones in the UK are the same.


Any thoughts on this?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to thyroidqueen12

Yes taking levothyroxine at night can improve uptake

In part because taking at night is well away from calcium rich foods

It can certainly be more convenient

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

Also worth trying splitting levothyroxine dose. Taking half at night and half in morning

Or trying liquid levothyroxine (which is almost always split into two doses)

Folate is definitely too low

Recommend starting a daily vitamin B complex , one with folate in (not folic acid)

Thorne basic B or Jarrow B right

If not tried strictly gluten free, you need to consider this too,

Only make one change at a time or you can’t tell what’s helping

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to thyroidqueen12

Endocrinologist rarely consider vitamin levels other than to test for deficiency

On levothyroxine (or any replacement thyroid hormones) we need OPTIMAL vitamin levels

Post from another member on how effective improving low B vitamins has been

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to thyroidqueen12

Yes Regenerus 5 point cortisol and dhea test might be worth considering

Or Dio2 gene test if you have to fight for T3 to be prescribed

You might find my profile info helpful

thyroidqueen12 profile image
thyroidqueen12 in reply to SlowDragon

Thanks, very helpful.

I mentioned the Dio2 gene test to endo today and he said there's no point as those are not accurate. He seemed like he would put me on T3 if this 'levo at night' attempt doesn't work and my cortisol is normal though... so hopefully that happens if I don't feel better soon.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Have you been improving low folate with daily vitamin B complex

We need all four vitamins optimal before considering adding T3

Frequently gluten free diet is astonishing improvement…..Have you now gone on strictly gluten free diet

Can be an immediate obvious improvement, or some find it’s more subtle and slow reduction in symptoms

thyroidqueen12 profile image
thyroidqueen12 in reply to SlowDragon

Hi, how are you?

Endo put me on trying levo at night. Getting retested again in a couple of weeks. If this doesn't help (which so far it hasn't) he is having my full bloods tested again and cortisol to see if there's any other reasons why. I mentioned taking vitamins (for low folate) to him last time, but he said my folate is completely fine and not to take any vitamins at this point. I also asked the GP to double check, he said the same thing.

Just trying one thing at time to see what works. I will supplement if these next things don't work out. I also feel more tired when I cut out gluten, so I'm not trying gluten free for now.

I've asked on the forum for opinions on treatment medication. He said my next step is getting alternative treatments either: T3, T3/T4 combo or NDT. I want to know what's best so that I can have a strong opinion on what i'd prefer to take

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to thyroidqueen12

Yes I saw your new post

Hence my asking re folate and gluten

You can read my profile

Like many other members I couldn’t tolerate adding T3 (or NDT) until all four vitamins at good levels and strictly gluten free

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