Hi, I have up to date bloods and have even managed to get my FreeT3 tested at last😃
I am taking folic acid and doc says that I need to be taking vitamin D tablets, starting them tomorrow.
Levo is 175mcg alternate days with 150mcg.
I would really appriate any advice that you guys might have after looking at ym blood results.
Xx
Looking at previous post
I have spoken to the doctor and she has recommended taking 175 and 150 alternate days for my Levothyroxine. Do this along with the folate and then go in for bloods to look at levels. She is also going to look at my history with my under active thyroid. I am hoping that she will do more testing on FT3 etc. I have been on Everol for 5 weeks for my HRT and doctor has suggested putting that up from Everol25 to Everol50. I also use inhalers as I have asthma
Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking
Do you always get same brand
How long since you increased dose levothyroxine to 175mcg and 150mcg (previously on 150mcg every day)
You should really test 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
Test early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Is this how you did your test
Previous post shows you have low B12
Are you now taking a separate B12 supplement as well as folic acid?
After you finish folic acid on prescription, recommend you then take a GOOD QUALITY daily vitamin B complex
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-...
B vitamins best taken after breakfast
Thorne Basic B recommended option that contains folate, but they 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 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...
Hi, I have been taking the 175/150 alternate days now for 7 weeks.Brand i think is Teva for the 75s and Mercurypharma for the 50s. I am still on the folic acid tablets and haven't started B12 yet. Will get them ordered today. Thanks again for looking at my results as i canny make heed nor tail of them. Its very appreciated Xx
Teva brand upsets many people
Teva is only brand that makes 75mcg tablets
If you are at all suspicious this includes you, get 75mcg tablets prescription changed to 50mcg and 25mcg tablets and get Mercury Pharma brand instead
What are your 100mcg tablets
Teva contains mannitol as a filler, which seems to be possible cause of problems.
But for some people (usually if lactose intolerant, Teva is by far the best option)
Teva, Glenmark or Aristo (100mcg only) are the only lactose free tablets
Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord
Mercury Pharma make 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets
Accord only make 50mcg and 100mcg tablets
Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots, and Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg via Lloyds ....but Accord doesn’t make 25mcg tablets
beware 25mcg Northstar is Teva
List of different brands available in U.K.
thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...
Posts that mention Teva
healthunlocked.com/search/p...
Teva poll
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.
Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.
New guidelines for GP if you find it difficult/impossible to change brands
gov.uk/drug-safety-update/l...
If a patient reports persistent symptoms when switching between different levothyroxine tablet formulations, consider consistently prescribing a specific product known to be well tolerated by the patient. If symptoms or poor control of thyroid function persist (despite adhering to a specific product), consider prescribing levothyroxine in an oral solution formulation.
academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...
Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).
Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime
verywellhealth.com/best-tim...
No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.
Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away
(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
Ok, i think in the past i have had 100s but cannot remember the brand. Thanks for all of the info, i had no idea that it could make such a difference. I will ask for all of the same brand in the future fir sure.
Surely on 150mcg and 175mcg you are getting 100mcg tablets?
No, just now i get 50s and 75s
How much vitamin D has GP prescribed?
GP should prescribe 1600iu everyday for 6 months
NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required
ouh.nhs.uk/osteoporosis/use...
GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol. Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol
leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...
GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)
mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...
But with thyroid disease, improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...
vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...
Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.
Test twice yearly via NHS private testing service when supplementing
Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.
There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7.
One spray = 1000iu
amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...
Another member recommended this one recently
Vitamin D with k2
amazon.co.uk/Strength-Subli...
It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average
Vitamin D and thyroid disease
grassrootshealth.net/blog/t...
Vitamin D may prevent Autoimmune disease
newscientist.com/article/23...
Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7
Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine
betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...
medicalnewstoday.com/articl...
livescience.com/61866-magne...
sciencedaily.com/releases/2...
Great article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium
drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...
Vitamin K2 mk7
betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...
healthline.com/nutrition/vi...
I have been prescibed 2 caps weekly for 7 week of Colecalciferol 20,000 unit caps.
Retest vitamin D at end of prescription
You will definitely need ongoing maintenance dose vitamin D daily
Trial and error what dose that is
Likely to be at least 2000iu daily
Test twice yearly via NHS private testing service when supplementing
Likely to need higher dose in winter than summer
Ok, thank you
No ferritin result ?
Any iron test result?
CRP is high - this shows non specific inflammation
GP should retest again in another 6-8 weeks
Asthma inhaler likely to suppress TSH as contains steroids
Cortisol levels look low ….could also be linked to asthma inhalers
What time was test done in morning
Thyroid levels
FT4: 14 pmol/l (Range 8 - 19.1)
Ft4 only 54.05% through range
FT3: 3.5 pmol/l (Range 2.4 - 6)
Ft3 only 30.56% through range
Suggest you work on improving low folate, B12 and vitamin D
Retest again in another 6-8 weeks
HiSerum ferritin 67.1 ug/1 (7.0-150.0u)
Blood count says its normal and
Serum folate 5.1 ug/1(3.0-20.0u)
I did try to add these with photographs but for some reason coukd inly add the first page, 1 photo!
You can only add one image to a post.
However, you can add an image to a reply to your thread.
Or, as you have, type them in.
(Images have their place but typing is often easier for us to read.)
Ok, thanks
So folate and B12 low
See my previous reply on this post re taking daily vitamin B complex and separate B12
Thank you
Hi Slow Dragon, one more question for you. As i dont have a gall bladder will it make a difference to how my vitamins are being absorbed inti my body?
link about gallbladder and being hypothyroid
Blood tests on NDT & Thyroxine
Fasted blood test on T3?
Thyroid blood test results 
Dosage before a blood test 
VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS AND BLOOD TESTING
