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.
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?
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
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
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??
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.
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.
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
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