Underactive thyroid symptoms

[Mjpp84]

Hi all, I have posted on here a few times before and received some good advice but would like to share my latest blood test results to obtain any further advice:

Blood test on Thursday 19th May, 10.15 am (earliest time available), no caffeine or food before test, last levothyroxine dose taken previous day. Vitamins stopped 7 days before test.

Results (reference ranges in brackets):

TSH=2.41 (0.3-5.5) - taking 125/150 levothyroxine before test, have now increased to 150 daily.

Folate=14.2 (3.9-20)

B12=818 (223-1132)

Ferritin=83 (30-284)

TPO= <25 (0-33.9)

Vitamin D=87 (50-125)

No T3 or T4 available through NHS blood test, will look to do Thriva test over coming weeks. Currently take one Thorne Basic B complex supplement and one Doctor's Best 2000 Vit D3 at lunch and one Vitabay vit K2 in the evening (K2 when I remember). Any further advice to help improve symptoms (tiredness, muscle aches & pains, poor concentration etc.) would be greatly appreciated - for example do I need to up dosage (are these levels optimal enough?) on any vitamins or take other steps ?

Many thanks.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Mjpp84

Vitamins stopped 7 days before test.

There really is no need to go without your vitamins for a week for the test. All that is needed is

Iron - if taking iron supplements and testing iron then leave off for 7 days

Biotin/B Complex - leave off for 3-7 days before test

Everything else you can take up to and including the day before.

Folate=14.2 (3.9-20)

B12=818 (223-1132)

These are OK, I'd continue with the B Complex.

Ferritin=83 (30-284)

Not too bad at all, recommended is half way through range although some experts say that the optimal level for thyroid function is 90-110ug/L, so I'd just include iron rich foods in your diet regularly (liver, pate, black pudding, etc).

Vitamin D=87 (50-125)

The Vit D Council, the Vit D Society and Grassroots Health all recommend a level of 100-150nmol/L with a recent blog post on Grassroots Health recommending at least 125nmol/L. Muscle aches and pains can be due to low Vit D so even though yours isn't low it may not be high enough for you personally.

I'd carry on with your D3 supplement and maybe now that summer is here you may be able to make Vit D naturally with the sun so that should improve it a bit more. Retest end of October/beginning of November to see if you need to adjust dose for the winter.

Vitabay vit K2 in the evening (K2 when I remember).

Because taking D3 aids absorption of calcium from food, and Vit K2-MK7 directs calcium to bones and teeth where it's needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems, it's best to take K2 regularly. Can you set an alarm? Or maybe next time you need to restock on D3 then buy a combined D3/K2 supplement. This one gets good feedback:

natureprovides.com/products...

It may also be available on Amazon

TSH=2.41 (0.3-5.5) - taking 125/150 levothyroxine before test, have now increased to 150 daily.

I agree that you needed to increase your dose. Wait 8 weeks for levels to settle before doing Thriva test.

[Mjpp84 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks SeasideSusie. Are there any other steps you would recommend to improve/optimise T3 conversion ? I tried going gluten free but didn't notice so much of an impact. Does coffee through the day impact conversion ? Any other tips greatly appreciated.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Mjpp84]

Mjpp84

Optimal nutrient levels required for good conversion.

Supplementing with selenium is said to help conversion. You may want to test your level first. 100mcg is said to be a safe amount without testing, not more than 200mcg unless you know you need more.

Recommended forms are selenium l-selenomethionine or a yeast bound selenium.

Forms to avoid are selenite and selenate.

Don't know about coffee, sorry.