Finally got results

Got letter from GP with results. He says T3 is slightly below the normal range but if I am feeling well this is the level he would be reasonably happy with. Alkaline phosphatase is very slightly raised as is haemoglobin both to be tested again in 3 months. Still waiting the results of the vitamin D test which he says could explain the raised alkaline phosphatase. TSH 0.18L may, 0.06L april, 0.50 in 2020 (0.27-4.2) Free thyroxine 19 may, 26H april (12-22) Free T3 5.01 (3.1-6.8). Ferritin 97 (13-150) ferritin was 31 back in 2020. Folate 14.6 (3.9-26.8) folate was 4.7 2020 B12 795H (191-663) it was 427 in 2020 Iron 17.9 (11-29) 12.5 2020 Transferrin 2.89 (2.0-4.0) 2.96 2020 . Transferrin saturation 24.7 (20-55) 16.8L 2020 Anti-tTG IgA Diasorin 1.3 (0.1-8.0 . Alkaline phosphatase 158H (35-104) 132H in 2020. HGB 159.0 H, 155.0 H jan 2020, 153H feb 2020. The last time HGB was normal was november 2018 when I moved into my current home which is damp and has mould and has got worse over the last 3+ years. If I get breathless, feel unduly tired hot or lose weight I am to make an appointment for review but doc doesn't know about the damp and mould. I do however have constant nasal drip since I moved home and ongoing sinus issues which I only had after a cold but it used to clear up within a few weeks. I wonder if it's the damp and mould raising HGB.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

TSH 0.18L may, 0.06L april, 0.50 in 2020 (0.27-4.2) Free thyroxine 19 may, 26H april (12-22) Free T3 5.01 (3.1-6.8). Ferritin 97 (13-150) ferritin was 31 back in 2020. Folate 14.6 (3.9-26.8) folate was 4.7 2020 B12 795H (191-663) it was 427 in 2020 Iron 17.9 (11-29) 12.5 2020 Transferrin 2.89 (2.0-4.0) 2.96 2020 . Transferrin saturation 24.7 (20-55) 16.8L 2020 Anti-tTG IgA Diasorin 1.3 (0.1-8.0 . Alkaline phosphatase 158H (35-104) 132H in 2020. HGB 159.0 H, 155.0 H jan 2020, 153H feb 2020

This is really difficult to read

Please separate results by date and include ranges after each result

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Results for may. TSH 0.18 low (0.27-4.2), Free thyroxine 19 (12-22) Free T3 5.01 (3.1-6.8) Ferritin 97 (13-150) Folate 14.6 (3.9-26.8) B12 795 (191-663) Iron 17.9 (11-29). I am still waiting for results of vitamin D

[humanbean in reply to Hidden]

Please post in a list - like this - it's easier to take in that way.

TSH 0.18 low (0.27-4.2)

Free thyroxine 19 (12-22)

Free T3 5.01 (3.1-6.8)

Ferritin 97 (13-150)

Folate 14.6 (3.9-26.8)

B12 795 (191-663)

Iron 17.9 (11-29).

[pennyannie]

Hello again:

Your T3 is now coming in at around 51% through the range and with your T4 coming in at around 70% there is room for a dose increase in T4 and with your doctor saying he thinks your T3 a little low, it sounds as though he is open to writing a prescription dose increase.

Before I started self medicating I was fine on a T3 at 5.50 but because this gave me a suppressed TSH - 0.01 and T4 slightly over range 22.0/23.50 I was told I was over medicated and had to exist on 100 mg T4 which was when all my troubles started as when I then tested my T3 it was coming in at 4.00.

We generally feel at our best when the T4 is nearing or in the top quadrant of the range as this should in theory convert to a good level of T3.

The accepted conversion ratio when on T4 only medication is said to be 1 / 3.50 - 4.50 T3/T4 with most people feeling at their best when they come in at around 4 or under.

To find your conversion ratio you simply divide your T3 into your T4 and I'm getting yours coming in at around 3.80 so you are well utilising and converting the T4 into T3 .

Your vitamins and minerals are now looking much better, and you'll likely need to think about maintenance doses going forward, and also for your B12 once it drops back down a little.

I'm sorry but I can't comment on the other blood test results.

[Hidden in reply to pennyannie]

Ty Penny. In april they wanted to decrease my levo to 100 mcg, I am not sure about increasing it as when they increased me to 150 mcg a few years ago I was having some hyper symptoms and TSH was down to 0.1 if I remember correctly. At that time a different GP said she did not know if I was over or under medicated so I opted to go back to 125 mcg. I think I will carry on taking 125 mcg and ask for testing again in 3 months when they retest HGB and Alakaline phosphatase

[pennyannie in reply to Hidden]

Ok then - I'm just glad your doctor actually commented that he considers a T3 of 5.10 a bit low and is likely open to trying to do something about it - is this the ' popular doctor ' ?

When I had to pay the hospital to get my T3 and T4 results I was told that I was wrong and that a T3 of 4 in a range of 3.10 - 6.8- was 50% and not 25% and that I was very lucky to have any T3 at all - my doctor being the ' thyroid lead ' in a group practise !

Speechless, brain fogged and very unwell I sat in the chair and refused to move until I had a dose increase in T4 and a referral to endocrinology - however by the time I got to see the diabetes specialist my T4 had drifted out to 23.50 and my T3 at 5.00 told the same old story.

With a TSH stuck down, low suppressed at 0.01 I was presumed overmedicated irrespective of my T3 reading - and told to reduce back down my dose of T4.

The TSH, especially in Graves patients is known to be a totally unreliable measure of anything, especially once on any thyroid hormone replacement.

Your HPT axis - on which the TSH reading is reliant - is not working as after the RAI thyroid ablation, this Hypothalamus / Pituitary / Thyroid feedback loop is no longer complete as your thyroid has been disabled and any TSH reading is ' suspect ' ,

You must be monitored on T3 and T4 levels with a view that these 2 vital hormones are balanced, hopefully in the ranges, at around a 1/4 ratio T3/T4.

The TSH was originally introduced as a diagnostic tool to help identify a patient suffering with hypothyroidism and was never intended to be used once the patient was taking any form of thyroid hormone replacement.

You could consider - half a 25mcg tablet - taking your dose to 137.50 T4 ?

Many people split a 25mcg when getting close to optimal - maybe pop a pill cutter on your shopping list ?

[Hidden in reply to pennyannie]

Hi Penny, thanks for the response, I have been busy with childcare hence the late reply. Yes he is the popular doctor. It's so unfair you had to pay for your tests, If he is the thyroid lead in your surgery then it doesn't bode well when other doctors ask for advice on thyroid problems/results. I have a pill cutter and will try increasing to 137.5 for the next 3 months till I am tested again. I am having some hip and back pain again but not so bad that I feel the need to take painkillers. My vitamin D test was normal. 80 (50-120) range. I'm not sure if that is sufficient with a thyroid condition so will assume there is room for some improvement and start supplementing again. Thanks for the info.

[pennyannie in reply to Hidden]

No worries - I've found through trial and error that I now need to aim for around a ferritin of 100, folate around 20. active B12 around 75++ and vitamin D around 100 on the ranges generally run by Medichecks.

Make sure you also take K2-MK7 alongside the vitamin D so to assist in this vitamin being absorbed by your bones rather than your arteries.

[Hidden in reply to pennyannie]

I will Penny. Thanks for your advice