Medichecks results- help please?

[Thyro12]

Hi All,

I was wondering if someone could kindly provide me with some advice on my latest Medichecks results please?

From the Aug 2022 results below , do I have scope to increase Levo or should I cut my losses and attempt to add T3? I am still dealing with a lot of symptoms.

I am currently taking 150mcg levothyroxine only and I have been on this dose since December 2021.

Any help, greatly appreciated.

Thank you 😊

31st August 2022 (150mcg)

TSH= 0.63 (0.27-4.2)

FT4= 17 (12-22)

FT3= 5.17 (3.1-6.8)

Ferritin= 45.5 (13-150) (work in progress!)

Folate= 16.37 (>3.89)

Vitamin B12= 115 (37.5-150)

Vitamin D= 90 (50-200)

Both antibodies and CRP HS negative

15th June 2022 (150mcg)

TSH 0.59 (0.27-4.2)

FT4 18 (12-22)

FT3 4.81 (3.1-6.8)

Ferritin 45.9 (13-150)

Folate 10.52 (>3.89)

Vit B12 58.7 (37.5-150)

Vitamin D 77 (50-200)

Both antibodies and CRP HS negative

[pennyannie]

Hello Thyro12 :

Well - ferritin apart - there is an overall improvement in everything else from June to August and just sorry to read you are struggling - has there be any improvement in anything ?

Your T4 is only 50% through the range and we generally feel best when T4 is in the top quadrant, so yes there is plenty of room to increase your T4 :

Any increase in T4 should be converted into a higher T3 and hopefully you will start seeing some relief of symptoms.

Your conversion of T4 into T3 has improved in these few months so you can see how important it was to build optimal vitamins and minerals and you will likely need to go onto a maintenance regime going forward

Your ferritin still needs a bit of help - I know it does take time - can you increase what you are taking, and maybe add in eating liver once a week?

P.S. I 've just looked back and sorry but I don't know much about cortisol results though do take adrenal glandular.

[Thyro12 in reply to pennyannie]

Thanks so much for this very helpful advice pennyannie.

I have been improving my ferritin initially using Spatone , then I moved onto black pudding daily, iron rich foods and beef spleen capsules. I tried liver and could not stomach it!

I had my iron tested separately in April 2022 via Medichecks. Results below.

Iron = 24.5 (5.8-34.5)

TIBC= 54.8 (45-81)

UIBC= 30.3 (24.2- 70.1)

Transferrin Saturation= 44.8 (20-50)

Ferritin= 63.7 (13-150)

I was thinking about adding Gentle Iron to see if that improved things. Do you think this would be wise from above results?

Also, should I increase thyroxine by an additional 25mcg per day or every other day?

Thanks again 😀

[pennyannie in reply to Thyro12]

Well your ferritin was better then and in the 60's ??

Spatone has little value per sachet - no wonder your level is stalling.

Yes, I couldn't tolerate the basic ferritin supplements and so switched to the brand Gentle Iron - but any form of an iron glycinate supplement is kinder on the stomach .

I think I started on 3 tablets a day and I also took 5 sachets of Spatone a day as I purchased these not realising how insignificant the iron content was, and ate liver twice a week.

I am now able to maintain my ferritin at around 100 with a weekly tub of Asda chicken livers - they are very clean and very mild - defrosted and fried in a little olive oil I then blitz it down into a pate with a little mayo and I keep it in the fridge in an old jar and each day just take a spoonful and if necessary, a dollop of Hellman's mayo helps this medicine go down well.

Since your T4 is only 50% through the range you can comfortable afford to go up by 25 mcg - but if you feel anxious split the dose with a pill cutter and start with 12.5 mcg daily and see how you go - T4 is a storage hormone so it takes a little time build in the body - you could take 25mcg every other day if that sits better with you - what suits you best is the best option :

[Thyro12 in reply to pennyannie]

Oh yes sorry, my ferritin was in the 60's at that point but since dropped back to 45's.

I was afraid to take too much Spatone in case I raised my iron levels too much.

Thanks for the advice re gentle iron, I will likely give this a try.

Thanks again 😊

[pennyannie in reply to Thyro12]

I think you would need to drink a gallon of Spatone daily to get anywhere near it being used as stand alone iron supplement :

No worries - the gentle iron supplements will do the trick - and try my chicken livers you may well be pleasantly surprised !!

[Thyro12 in reply to pennyannie]

Yes, true re Spatone and it is expensive too!

I will give the liver a second shot 🤞

Thank you again.

[pennyannie in reply to Thyro12]

When I was researching low ferritin for myself I kept reading that ferritin needs to be at least over 70 for any thyroid hormone replacement to work well - so just remember as your ferritin builds so should your conversion of the T4 into T3.

[Thyro12 in reply to pennyannie]

That is very helpful, many thanks for this info.

I had best get stuck into the chicken liver asap 😀

[SlowDragon Administrator]

I would keep going as you are …Ft3 is improving

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Possibly try splitting levothyroxine dose…..half waking and half at bedtime ….some people find it helps improve conversion

Ferritin obviously….still needs improving

[Thyro12 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SlowDragon, much appreciated.

Could I ask, what would be the risks of increasing the dose at this time? Patience is running out with it all at this stage!

Yes, I always make sure that I get the same brand (Accord) each time.

You kindly gave me the splitting dose advice a month ago which I have been doing ever since so fingers crossed T3 continues to improve!

Thanks again 😀

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Thyro12]

it would be useful to see how much figures have improved before (or if) you do then increase levothyroxine

[Thyro12 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SlowDragon, I will keep you posted 😊