advice on results: Hi I was wondering if you... - Thyroid UK

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Yorki57 profile image
8 Replies

Hi I was wondering if you would be able to advise me on my blood results

I was eventually diagnosed in 2015 with an under active thyroid , and have been taking levothyroxine since then I’m on 75 mg they have occasionally tried to reduce it but then TSH raises to high, T

I continue to steadily gain weight despite trying various diets which make no difference at all,

My cholesterol is high and m blood pressure is moderately high,

I continue to have no energy,

I have recently had private blood tests which show

TSH 0.57

Free T3 4.95

Free Thyroxine 16.9

Folate serum 2.99 ug/L

Vitamin B12 active 69.4 nmol/L

Vitamin D 88 nmol/L

Ferratin 1.30 ug/l

CRP HS 1.28

Thyroglobulin anti bodies 12 IU/ml

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies 12 IU/ml

I wondered if I might do better with some medication that contains some T3,

My doctor has always been very unhelpful , and not open to discuss any changes

Thank you

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8 Replies
SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Yorki57

Assuming that the reference ranges are the usual ones from the private labs and I'm guessing this is a Medichecks test (we always need ranges as they vary from lab to lab), then

TSH 0.57 (0.27-4.20)

Free T3 4.95 (3.1-6.8) = 50% through range

Free Thyroxine 16.9 (12-22) = 49% through range

I wondered if I might do better with some medication that contains some T3

No, as you can see your conversion of T4 to T3 is perfect.

However, for thyroid hormone to work properly we need optimal nutrient levels and you have some problems here:

Folate serum 2.99 ug/L

Is the range >3.89 or >2.89?

Whichever it is this is a dire result. Technically it is folate deficiency according to NICE:

cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-b12...

Folate level

◦Serum folate of less than 7 nanomol/L (3 micrograms/L) is used as a guide to indicate folate deficiency.

You need to show this result to your GP and you should be prescribed folic acid for a few months and then retested.

Vitamin B12 active 69.4 nmol/L

Active B12 below 70 suggests testing for B12 deficiency according to Viapath at St Thomas' Hospital:

viapath.co.uk/our-tests/act...

Reference range:>70. *Between 25-70 referred for MMA

There is a link at the bottom of the page to print off the pdf to show your GP.

Do you have any signs of B12 deficiency – check here:

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

b12d.org/submit/document?id=46

If you do then list them to discuss with your GP and ask for testing for B12 deficiency and Pernicious Anaemia. Do not take any B12 supplements or folic acid/folate/B Complex supplements before further testing of B12 as this will mask signs of B12 deficiency and skew results.

Vitamin D 88 nmol/L

The Vit D Council, 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. However, with summer upon us you might be able to make enough Vit D from the sun to raise your level naturally. It would be a good idea to retest Vit D at the end of October and see whether you need to supplement during the winter.

Ferratin 1.30 ug/l (13-150)

Can you please check this result? Is it really 1.3ug/L?

Ferritin is recommended to be half way through range (approx 82 with that range) although some experts say that the optimal level for thyroid function is 90-110ug/L.

So at the moment your priority is to optimise your nutrient levels and that may improve your thyroid hormone levels. However, an increase in your dose of Levo wouldn't go amiss, this would raise both FT4 and FT3. Maybe try and get a 25mcg increase and if GP is reluctant see if you can compromise on 12.5mcg daily. Retest 8 weeks later. If necessary, as your GP is unhelpful, can you see a different GP in the practice?

Yorki57 profile image
Yorki57 in reply toSeasideSusie

Hi SeasideSusie

Thank you for getting back too me so quickly

Yes it was Medichecks test I took with the ranges you say,

and I can confirm that my Folate serum result was 2.99 ug/L (range 389>)

and my ferritin result was 130.0 ug/L (range 13-150)

thanks for providing the links so I can go armed with all the relevant information

😀

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toYorki57

OK so your Ferritin is OK, I was rather shocked to see 1.30ug/L. So priorities are to address the folate deficiency after discussing B12 and seeing if further testing will be done. Plus get an increase in your Levo.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

Teva is only brand that makes 75mcg tablets

Teva brand upsets many people

Request SMALL dose increase in levothyroxine, while working on improving low vitamin levels

Suggest you increase to 87.5mcg daily (cutting 25mcg tablet in half)

Or take 75mcg and 100mcg alternate days

Get weekly pill dispenser so you know which dose on which day

Yorki57 profile image
Yorki57 in reply toSlowDragon

well I'm on 25mcg of teva and 50 mcg of accord ?thank you I will give it a try

Jazzw profile image
Jazzw

You’ve mentioned your doctor has occasionally tried to reduce your dosage—have they ever tried to raise it?

I suspect you’re actually undermedicated. 75mcg Levo isn’t a particularly big dose.

Yorki57 profile image
Yorki57 in reply toJazzw

no they have never tried to increase the dose, so I could maybe suggest it when I get an appointment,

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toYorki57

Folate is deficient

So GP should prescribe folic acid

Once you finish the prescription

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

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

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate methyl folate supplement and continue with separate B12

Low B12 symptoms

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a B12 supplement as well as a B Complex (to balance all the B vitamins) initially for first 2-4 months.

once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.

B12 sublingual lozenges

amazon.co.uk/Jarrow-Methylc...

cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

How other member saw how effective improving low B vitamins has been

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo

Guidelines on dose levothyroxine by weight is approx 1.6mcg per kilo per day….unless you are very petite likely to need at least 100mcg per day

Are you lactose intolerant, or suspect you might be?

If not….best avoid Teva brand

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