New medichecks results. Endo appointment coming up. Advice appreciated.

[Mickeydooley]

Just received my medichecks results.

TSH 0.01

FT4 - 15.4 (12-22) 34% through range

FT3 - 6.12 (3.1-6.8) 81.6% through range.

Ferritin - 176 (13-150)

Folate - 8.8 (>3.89)

B12 - 99.7 (37.5 - 150)

Vit D - 152 (50-200)

CRP - 0.82 (lowest it’s been ever despite having a bad cold at the time)

TGAb - 210 (<115) lowest it’s been for a while

TPOAb - 14 (<34)

currently taking 20mcg t3, 50mcg levo and metavive 111 on advice from my naturopathic doctor

Have been feeling well. Levels haven’t been so high in a while.

Test done 8am with the recommended 24/12 hour gaps

It’s amazing! Having been hypo for over 30 years the doctor’s report says I have an overactive thyroid!!! 😂. ‘Ferritin levels can increase when your thyroid is overactive. As your thyroid test shows you have an overactive thyroid it is likely that this is the cause of your high ferritin levels’

Have to return to the endo next month. He will again insist I come off some of my meds because of my suppressed TSH. I’ve been on a three month trial of t3 for over three years now! At every appointment I have to fight to stay on meds. Want nothing more to do with the endo but if I don’t attend I run the risk of being denied my prescription. It has been suggested here before that I reduce my meds before my next review but I hate messing about with my doses as it takes me a while to recover. I suspect when he sees my ft3 so high he’ll have his excuse to reduce. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Thyroid Results look perfect

Waste of time getting Dr comments from Medichecks…..their just ordinary GP’s with no specialist knowledge of thyroid disease

Ferritin is often high due to inflammation of autoimmune disease

Are you male or female…..pre or post menopause?

[Mickeydooley in reply to SlowDragon]

Female. Post menopausal. I asked for advice on my high ferritin levels before and was assured they weren’t ridiculously high. I gave blood recently and they have fallen since last testing. Don’t know if that has helped. I’m not worried about the ferritin levels tbh. I’m aware that these doctors are as clueless as my own gp. It just made me laugh! I’m very happy with my results atm and feeling good. These thyroid levels are higher than my last ones despite no change in doses. I’m concerned that the high FT3 result will give the endo the excuse to reduce my meds. He was happy last time I did tests when my FT4 was below range and ft3 was about 50% through. Even then he wanted to reduce my meds! I was feeling very unwell. He doesn’t care about thyroid levels or symptoms, only TSH. I don’t want to go back but don’t know how to avoid it? I’ve considered buying my own levo/t3 and monitoring things myself (as I generally do anyway!). How do I get out from under his clutches otherwise? They don’t seem to want to discharge me.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mickeydooley]

TaraJR wrote a reply in a post this week that an eminent endo confirmed it’s the Ft4 and Ft3 results that are the relevant results

Low or suppressed TSH not relevant on replacement thyroid hormones….especially if taking T3

[Mickeydooley in reply to SlowDragon]

thanks. I’ll see if I can find it. Each time I go in for a review the conversation is always the same. I’ve tried to explain that TSH is irrelevant if taking t3, that my thyroid hormones have been low and I have hypo symptoms. Endo didn’t care told me they had to abide by guidelines and increase TSH. I stood my ground again but so fed up with the arguing.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mickeydooley]

here it is

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Can you add on your profile that you’re female and based in U.K.

[Mickeydooley in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you very much. I’ll do that now. X

[TaraJR in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I did! Actually I asked on 2 separate occasions - with Prof Colin Dayan and on another occasion with Prof Simon Pearce. The latter was maybe a tad reticent to agree it's probably not the suppressed TSH that's the problem and he added there's a study on osteoporosis in mice that we should maybe consider.

I am not a mouse, and to be honest, I want a decent life now, so I keep taking my long fought-for T3

[Mickeydooley in reply to TaraJR]

it’s pathetic that we have to fight for proper treatment. Wish I could convince my endo.

[TaraJR in reply to Mickeydooley]

If you're on facebook, do join us on ITT Improve Thyroid Treatment. We have template letters for patients to send to endos, GPs, MPs, CCGs/ICBs, etc etc, with links to all national guidance on T3, that should be followed as best practice.

[Mickeydooley in reply to TaraJR]

thank you! I will look it up. Much appreciated

[Brightness14 in reply to TaraJR]

I take NDT without a thyroid and the professor who performed my operation requested with a letter to myself and my GP that my TSH should always be supressed. I am 76 years old and well after seven years without my thyroid. My bones are more like a Lion, not a mouse.

[Mickeydooley in reply to Brightness14]

good to hear! My bones aren’t amazing. I’m 63. Had a DEXA scan which indicated osteopenia. I suspect it’s as much from under replacement for over 30 years and the associated low mood/energy/motivation to exercise which hasn’t helped. X

[Ozziemum in reply to Mickeydooley]

Here we have a system that dictates if you change your appointment date twice you will be returned to the care of your GP and will need to be re-referred. Can you not see if they have a similar system where you are, then cancel and rearrange your appointment giving plenty of notice so they can't even moan about wasting appointments and when you get returned, if your GP then starts making noises about changing things ask to be re-referred. You are then still more than willing to attend appointments but it's just unfortunate you can't go on those particular days - so you're not removing yourself from treatment, you've just been really unlucky. Of course I'd like to help you reduce my meds doctor, but I really would like the endo's input, being as I'm feeling so well just now on my current regimen...

[Mickeydooley in reply to Ozziemum]

Haha! Tried this numerous times. I’ve received curt letters telling me I’ve ‘cancelled’ so many appointments that if I wish to be seen I am required to contact them to make a suitable appointment within 2 weeks of the date of the letter. They don’t give up! They get snarky with me now on the phone.