Hi I am attaching my spreadsheet with my latest results and some previous results for context. I feel like I am treading a very fine line with my energy levels at the moment. If I have a busy couple of days or stay up a bit later etc I very quickly go into a flair up which results in really bad headache, total lethargy and aches and need to sleep for a couple of days. I am really trying to manage my energy levels but it makes me feel like an old lady. I am interested to know if this is just life with Hashis or am I still not quite getting it right. I am gluten free but have not been very good with this for last few weeks due to holidays, I drink decaf drinks, am pescatarian and drink hardly any alcohol. I take 100mcg levo and have trialled HRT for four months to see if that would help with lethargy. I just feel in a bit of an energy slump much of the time. I wondered if I am not converting very well as I have had conversations in the past about this with someone. My tests were all done in the way directed by the forum. If anyone has any thoughts I would love to hear. Thank you.
As an extra note Feb 21 was after 6 weeks I increased from 75mcg to 100mcg levo
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MrsQ20
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I take Pure O.N.E. Capsule multivitamin daily as recommended by a naturopath I have seen but they are coming to an end and want to review them. I also take coq10. Where is the calculator ?
I just ran the numbers and indeed your conversion is frankly rubbish. 12.97% for T3 and 51% for T4.
I Know that the multivits aren't recommended here as they often contain other vits that can hinder absorption of the ones you need. The recommended one for B vits is Thorne Basic B. Honestly don't know if that would make the difference for you. Obviously you were doing better at one point though on this dose, so maybe ditching the multivit and adding in the B compex might do the trick? I'm sure you will get others more experienced to comment.
Thank you so much for doing this and directing me to the calculator. Yes I do think I would prefer separate vitamins so I can monitor them and their impact and adjust accordingly. I will look at the Thorne Basic B and do some more searching through posts. It is so hard to find what is right for us individually which is why I turned to a naturopath who has hashis but she always seems to recommend multivits...
yes - my vitamins were low so I didn't take them on holiday and then did test when I got back before restarting. I usually also take vit d spray as it has been so low but stopped that too.
Pure waste of money, more like. There's not much in it, is there.
There's no iron, which will block the absorption of everything else, but the vit C will stop the body using vit B12.
There's vit D, but not it's cofactors without which is will not do much: magnesium and vit K2-MK7.
There's zinc, but you don't know that you need zinc unless you've had it tested. And, the problem with zinc is that it needs to be kept balanced with copper, but hypos are usually too high in one and too low in the other. They both need testing to see which one you need.
The amount of selenium it contains is not going to help much.
And, worst of all, it contains iodine. And iodine is very bad for hypos because it can make them more hypo. It used to be used to treat hyperthyroidism before the invention of antithyroid drugs. Excess iodine is dangerous. And, you will already be getting some from your thyroid hormone replacement - 100 mcg T4 contains about 65 mcg iodine, which is recyceld in the body - plus what you get from your food. So, you really should not be taking that.
Thank you - it’s so frustrating when my naturopath suggests this- she has Hashis so thought I was getting sound advice. So I need b vitamins (Thorne basic b?)and selenium. I take magnesium at night and usually a vit d mouth spray with k (the red spray). I can search posts to see what else
Very few doctors know anything about nutrition. It's not taught in med schools. It's a very complicated subject. And a multivit seems like a gift from heaven when you don't know much about the subject. Not surprising so many people take them.
But, have you had your vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin tested? You should only be taking what you need - more isn't better, and taking things you don't need won't help anything.
Ok thank you - someone had suggested the Igennus because the Thorne were larget to take but I just want to get sorted so will take your sound advice. No I haven't tested for selenium levels - I don't know where to get that tested. Also I think I read somewhere about nail issues with selenium - I have lost two toe nails recently... not sure if this is relevant or I am just very confused!
I don't know about nail issues with selenium. I've never been able to take it myself, because it doesn't agree with me. But people usually take it to try and improve their conversion - which might work, or might not. Some people prefer to get it tested before taking it, just in case, because you can have too much. You might find somewhere to get it tested here:
Loving the spreadsheet 🤓 so great to have it all in one place. I’m interested the variation between testing companies too.
From my own experience, HRT didn’t make me feel better, but Levo, diet and nutrition did. I’m 48 and have those exact same dips after stressful or energetic events. I’m learning to pace myself (was initially cross about this but am at peace with it now, a little self compassion and adjustment in expectation is helpful - my CBT counselling had a really big impact on my outlook) we have a health condition that occasionally means we need to rest up, if we don’t approach it this way we become frustrated, angry, self destructive. So what if I need a day off work or a day in bed, or to say no to a commitment that will exhaust me. Providing I find fulfilling things to do with the energy levels I do have life is good/better than before. Sending you all my best wishes, 🦋💚🦋
Thank you. What dietary changes did you make? Interested to note het didn’t make a difference to you. I’m trying really hard with that mindset but I feel like the bar is getting lower again at the point I get triggered despite trying to make allowances.
I hear you, I’ve noticed that feeling rested, properly (like after a holiday rested) makes everything so much easier. Dietary that suited me. Mainly from reading Izabella Wentz and experimenting with one change at a time.
General diet, gluten, dairy, soy, sugar, alcohol free (meat fruit and veg suit me best, anything else has repercussions of pain aches IBS tiredness. Sugar in particular).
Wormed myself (OTC) helped with itchy bum (this is anonymous right 🙈)
LGlutamine before breakfast and last thing at night (tames my IBSy gut)
Collagen (bovine not marine) in breakfast smoothie (joint aches much improved) again good for sensitive tum.
28 days of Black Seed Oil 5ml for SIBO symptoms (gone in 14) suspected HPylori /Candida but could afford tests so trialled. Feel better after but not something to take long term.
Probiotic coconut yoghurt.
Quadrupled green veg intake
Doubled good fats intake
Thorne Basic B complex after breakfast.
Vit D with K2 by better you, will try one with MK7 next. Mid afternoon.
Selenium but not daily
LGlutamine last thing.
Magnesium cream at bed time, stings a bit but does go away.
Zinc with copper at bedtime.
Other things that seem to set me off with tum or pains - stuff made from sweetcorn/maize. Some probiotics.
This is months and months of trial and error, trying new vitamin supplements every two weeks, nutritional supplements or diet changes get 3 days trial before adding next, reading about therapeutic doses from a range of trusted sources and carefully watching for symptoms of excess. Diarising and generally obsessing. It isn’t sustainable but I’ll have a clear idea of what helps/doesn’t make a difference now and will drop some of these off and note any changes. It has also cost a small fortune and we don’t have a lot to spare, but I feel as though I’ve invested in a healthier happier future 🦋🌱🦋
Added afterthought… I missed Betaine with Pepsin tablets for low stomach acid, absolute game changer for protein rich or heavy meals. Don’t feel so dreadful/bloated afterwards. And have been decaf for 20 years, realises I was much less jittery during pregnancy with No.1 child. Was probably hyper back then but didn’t know it.
Wow thanks for comprehensive reply. I’ve read Isabella wentz too and tried going dairy free but I found it so hard to be dairy free and gluten free and a non meat eater and go anywhere! I can try again to reduce my dairy further. I will look into the other things. As you say do much trial and error to find what’s right as an individual.
Thank you so much for your reply. The reason I tried the HRT was because I was feeling so low in energy and getting flair ups. I started that at the beginning of May. How do I get my FT3 up? I will check out your article. I am so confused at what to do. I aim to go back to doctor to ask for help but we know how tricky that is - which is why I wanted some advice here to know what to ask for.
Hi DD, what did you think of the Black Cohash? Did it work? Did you have any side-effects from it? Asking for my daughter, who's just hit menopause! I feel so old!!! lol
I think her only symptom is the hot flushes, but myself, I didn't even have that. And, apparently, neither did my mother. So, it's not a subject I know a lot about. But, people have been very helpful, so I have a lot to pass on to her.
Yes, I expect it is all trial and error - like thyroid! We're all so different. But, she just had no idea where to even start. Think we've got her going on the right path now, with a little help from our friends. Thank you.
Ferritin is an acute phase reactant and as such, inflammation increases ferritin independent of any true effect on iron stores. Therefore, ferritin is most likely to be spuriously normal in the setting of inflammation. On the other hand, and in contrast to iron deficiency, the inflammatory state is distinguished by normal transferrin saturation. Thus, a low value is indicative of true iron deficiency.
high ferritin level secondary to subclinical inflammation in overweight and obese people may mask an underlying iron deficiency. It is therefore recommended to request a complete iron studies profile including transferrin saturation, ferritin, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and serum iron, to confidently exclude ID in obese or overweight subjects.
Hi Slow dragon - I’ve received iron panel test. I’ve taken two days of Thorne b complex do I need to wait a week before doing iron panel? And are there any other time of day or other things to consider before doing iron panel?
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Where next? 
Request for levo increase 
Am I converting T4 to T3 adequately?
Advice needed - before I lose the plot!
