Help with interpreting Thyroid results

[Teac]

Good morning all! I have just gotten some recent thyroid results and I would really appreciate any help on understanding them better. I tend to get overwhelmed with all the information and I don't know...maybe this brain fog just makes me easily confused.

TSH 6.45 (µIU/ml 0.27 - 5)

FT4 1.08 (ng/dl 0.93 - 1.7)

T3 1.27 (ng/ml 0.8 - 2)

Thank you so kindly for any information you can share. I should add that I've been diagnosed with Hashimotos years ago, but I've never been given any meds as my numbers were high enough for treatment.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

With TSH over 5, and high thyroid antibodies, and symptoms

You should be started on levothyroxine

Standard starter dose of levothyroxine is 50mcg

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks later

Request vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 are tested

Also coeliac blood test

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

[Teac in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes...sorry...I just started (quite literally as I've only had 2 doses) Tirosint 50 µg.

Also, I've only had Ferritin tested at 33.2 (13 - 150 ng/ml)

Iron 45 µg/dl (37-145)

My doctor isn't at all concerned about my ferritin and she says that I am fine.

My Dr. said she would see me again in 3 months time.

I should add that although I've never had a coeliac blood test done, I've been gluten free for many years; actually as soon as I learned that I had Hashimoto's.

I did have a vitamin D test several years ago and it was quite low. My current doctor doesn't at all seem concerned about any of these types of tests, so I may have to run those myself. In the wintertime I take Vitamin D3 with K2, but honestly I've stopped that for now as I'm getting plenty of sunshine currently. I sporadically take a B12 lozenge as gosh, I swear, it just makes me feel better, although I don't know my current numbers.

How would I know if I am converting T4 into T3 properly? Can I tell by my current numbers? Thank you so much!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Teac]

You won’t know how well you convert Ft4 to Ft3 until on full dose you need and all four vitamins OPTIMAL

NHS only tests and treats vitamin deficiencies

Down to us to maintain optimal vitamin levels

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

Most thyroid patients need to supplement continuously to maintain optimal vitamin levels

Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet to improve low ferritin

Aiming for ferritin at least half way through range

No point testing for coeliac as already gluten free

[Teac in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon! Immensely helpful! Not in the UK...in Greece currently, but they don't seem at all concerned about any nutrition levels at all. Thank goodness we have you guys to help us!!♥♥

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Teac]

Even in Greece (how lovely) you might need vitamin D all year

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Teac]

Please add country to your profile, especially if not in U.K.

[Teac in reply to SlowDragon]

Can I ask you about starting Tirosint? I am on 50 micrograms and have taken for almost 3 weeks. Will this jitteryness and anxiousness go away as I get used to the meds? How long does that usually take? Sometimes I even feel a bit out of breath with even perhaps a higher pulse. It does seem better than it did a week ago, but I am concerned that maybe it's too high a dose? I didn't have these symptoms at all before I started meds.