Thyroid medi check

[Jackie101]

I asked a question about whether T3 only might suit me, as I've been on levo now since 2006, and was later diagnosed with ME/CFS in 2017. A coupleof very helpful people suggested that I get a test done. result below. A TSH test was done by my Dr which was on the borderline of being high. I don't know what these results mean..

TIA for any help.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Jackie101

What was your TSH that came with this test?

Did you also have vitamins tested?

When did you take your last dose of Levo before the test? Last dose should be 24 hours before blood draw.

Do you take any supplements containing Biotin, eg B Complex or hair/nail supplements and if so DD you leave it off for 7 days before the test?

[Jackie101]

Just after I had the test done, I came down with a chest infection, which may distort the results?

Ferratin etc

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Jackie101]

Your CRP is high. This is an inflammation marker so will be high if inflammation or infection is present. I think this is reflecting the fact tat you were probably incubating the chest infection and this ma y give a high TSH as TSH can be elevated in non-thyroidal illness. I can't say for definite if it affects FT4 and FT3.Ferritin is very likely high as this can also be raised by inflammation or infection.

Are you taking B vitamin and Vit D supplements?

[Jackie101 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Sorry I left another msg below before this. My GP also put me on HRT 3 weeks ago. I felt it was messing me up. I was on a progesterone capsule and an oestrogen patch. last week I had 2 anxiety attacks which were terrible, so came off it!

[Jackie101]

Thank you Seaside Susie!I haven't got the TSH test as the sample wasn't big enough. My GP had done one about a month ago, and It's a bit annoying that the chest infection may have thrown the results out a bit. i can't afford another test for now.Yes I did not take any T4 or T3 for more than 24 hours. I found using the pin-prick things quite an ordeal and felt v faint - but medichecks were good on the phone, so I managed to do it but the sample wasn't up to the top line.

I checked the vitamins I take for Biotin and didn't take them for over 24 hours before the test - but I've just seen your 7 days requirement. I've stopped taking oral B12 since the results, but not sure whether I should go back. I take a sub-lingual tab of a 1000mcg.

Does the free T3 & T4 mean anything? I feel like I've done it all wrong!

😙 thank you!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Jackie101]

Jackie101

I've stopped taking oral B12 since the results, but not sure whether I should go back. I take a sub-lingual tab of a 1000mcg.

You don't need a separate B12 now, once Active B12 reaches 100 then a B Complex alone will maintain folate and B12 levels.

Biotin in a B Complex is typically about 400mcg and this is fine to leave off for 3 days, if a higher dose such as that in a hair and nail or stand alone biotin supplement then it's best left off for 7 days. It's possible that your results are skewed if you only left the B Complex off for 24 hours.

I did not take any T4 or T3 for more than 24 hours.

24 hours is the time gap for last dose of Levo. For T3 the last dose should be 8-12 hours, with dose being split into 2 or 3 the day before.

So are you taking both Levo and T3? If taking T3 then because you left 24 hours you have a false low FT3 BUT I can't say for definite if your results are accurate due to the biotin and the fact that you were incubating might have affected results.

[Jackie101]

Thanks again. Yes it does seem there's a lot more to know about than I originally thought! I take half a tab of T3 in the morning, but no more than that...sounds like you're saying it's best to split the dose? So it had been 24 hours from last dose of T3 as well. I didn't take the B12 on the morning of the test, so it had around a 24 hour gap.

So it feels a bit uncertain... ie not conclusive at all.. A tad disappointed.i just wish I'd done the tests ages ago..

thanks