I have struggled to get my thyroid results into the correct range and after taking advice from some extremely knowledgeable people on this forum I’ve been taking high strength B12 (5000 ug a day) high strength vit B complex (Solgar vit B complex “50” high potency) and betteryou vit D + K2 spray (3 sprays a day)
After 8 weeks I’ve just had blood results which show a huge improvement in my thyroid results
T4 free serum. 1.44ng/dl (0.78 - 1.80) 64.71%
T3. Free serum 2.38 pg/ml (2.0- 4.4) 15.83%
TSH. 1.12 μUI/ml (0.35 - 5.50) 14.76%
I can see T3 could be better but this is a huge improvement on where I was.
Previous results were
T4 free serum. 1.33 ng/dl (0.78 - 1.80) 53.92%
T3. Free serum 1.82 pg/ml (2.0- 4.4) -7.5
TSH. 3.07 μUI/ml (0.35 - 5.50) 52.82%
my vitamin levels are (not all tested)
Folic acid 11.79.ng/ml (.35 - 3.37)
B12. 454 pg/ml (221 - 911)
Calcium. 8.0 mg/dl (8.6 - 10)
Vit D 20.6 ng/ml (20 - 50)
I can clearly see a big improvement as two months ago these were the results
Ferritin. 67 ng/ml(15 - 150).
Iron free 80. μg/dl (33-193)
Folic acid 3.18. ng/ml (3.89-20)
B12. 257. pg/ml (221 - 911)
. Calcium. 8.3 mg/dl (8.6 - 10)
I am a bit concerned about the folic acid result which is now very high. (I have no idea why the ranges are different between current and previous tests) could this be the B complex which contains 400ug (200%) folic acid?
Also my vit D and calcium is still not in range despite using the D + K2 spray. Do I need something stronger ?
any advice on what I need to change would be really appreciated. I feel I have made really good progress with this regime with regards to my tolerance and uptake of the levothyroxine. I’m feeling well albeit still have days when I’m tired but nowhere near as often.
Not sure if it’s relevant but I’m post menopausal and everything has gone a little haywire in that dept. since the new regime but nothing I can’t cope with and I’m sure it will settle.
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greygoose humanbean pennyannie SlowDragon you wonderful people put me on the path to sorting my vitamin levels in order to better tolerate a higher levo dose… I’m now up to 100mg 4 days a week with 88mg on the days in between. This has shown an improvement in my thyroid results as you can see. Do you think I’m ok where I am and can go in a maintenance dose or should I stay on the high dose for a bit longer? Thank you so much
Well this is good news especially as you can feel some improvements yourself as well as see them in print.
If it were me I'd be looking for a ferritin at around 100: folate at around 20 : B12 - 500 ++ and vitamin D at around 100.
There is still a big disparity between your T3 and T4 percentages through the range which isn't too surprising as you have had a thyroidectomy and 'lost' your own natural T3 thyroid hormone production.
Whilst mainstream medical have guess estimated a dose of T4 to replace that 'lost' by losing your thyroid they have not reinstated any T3 - Liothyronine and this seems like the most obvious next discussion to have with your endocrinologist.
A fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you on a daily basis with trace elements of T1. T2 and calcitonin + a measure of T3 at around 10 mcg + a measure of T4 at around 100 mcg.
T3 is said to be around 4 x more powerful than T4 and it is T3 the active hormone that runs the body with the average person needing to find / convert around 50 T3 daily just to function.
The thyroid is a major gland responsible for full body synchronisation including you physical, mental, psychological, emotional and spiritual well being, your inner central heating system and your metabolism.
Getting T3 - Liothyronine in the UK on the NHS is a bit of a post code lottery so I don't know where you are relocating to and do not know how T3 is 'seen ' in Spain though you are still under an endocrinologist in Spain so presume s/he know it's value is likely vital if one has no thyroid function.
Some people can get by on T4 - Levothyroxine only :
Some people find that T4 seems not to work too well for them and still have symptoms of hypothyroidism which are relieved when a little T3 is added to their T4 prescription.
Some people can't tolerate T4 and need to take T3 - Liothyronine only.
Whilst others find their health better restored taking Natural Desiccated Thyroid which contains all the same known hormones as that of the human gland and derived from pig thyroid dried and ground down into tablets referred to as grains.
NDT was the original treatment for hypothyroidism and used successfully for over 100 years until Big Pharma launched their T3 and T4 thyroid hormone replacement options in the middle of the last century,
Food for thought - well done for those vitamins and minerals but I'd continue the build :
I think your ferritin has dropped quite a lot from last time hasn't it ?
Was there an inflammation marker - ( CRP ) last time around when it was around 150 ?
Hi pennyannie thanks for this comprehensive reply! 😃
If it were me I'd be looking for a ferritin at around 100: folate at around 20 : B12 - 500 ++ and vitamin D at around 100.
I may need to get my ferritin and folate checked as last results were prior to me starting the supplements, although I don’t think I’ve been taking anything with these in. Is Folic acid the same as folate? What supplements and strengths would you recommend?
I will continue on the high strength 5000ug B12 until over 500. It’s come up from 257 to 454 in 8 weeks which is good. My vit D hasn’t improved so will take SlowDragon advice to increase to 5 sprays, hopefully this will kick start calcium too which also hadn’t improved and remains at bottom of range.
There is still a big disparity between your T3 and T4 percentages through the range which isn't too surprising as you have had a thyroidectomy and 'lost' your own natural T3 thyroid hormone production.
Yes agreed, but in 8 weeks it’s improved from -7% to +15% which I thought was very encouraging after 8 weeks with the vitamins and a small levo dosage increase of 12.5mg just four times a week. I was thinking about taking that to 5 days a week to see the effect on T3. Hopefully I’m converting better and as my vitamins get to a more optimum level I’m hoping that T3 will improve. I’m feel the vitamins are allowing me to tolerate the higher dose of levo though I’m taking baby steps as it has a tendency to make me feel faint when I take more than 88mg a day. So I feel it’s a bit of a victory to now be taking 100mg for four days of the week!
Getting T3 - Liothyronine in the UK on the NHS is a bit of a post code lottery so I don't know where you are relocating to and do not know how T3 is 'seen ' in Spain though you are still under an endocrinologist in Spain so presume s/he know it's value is likely vital if one has no thyroid function.
I’ve had my last endo appointment here in Spain and he said T3 used to be available but no more. So couldn’t offer me any. I’m moving to Essex / Suffolk border at the end of this week and will visit my GP to see what’s available there.
I think your ferritin has dropped quite a lot from last time hasn't it ?Was there an inflammation marker - ( CRP ) last time around when it was around 150 ?
In March my ferritin was 151 and in august 67. Unfortunately the endo didn’t request it in my October test. I don’t know if there was an inflammation marker, is that something that would have been requested by the endo in the blood request form?
Thanks a million for your guidance, I know we are all different and have to find what works for us. I’m envious of those that function very well on 100mg of Levo from day one and never have a problem, like several of my friends. 😳
I'm not disagreeing, yes the increase in your vitamins and minerals has improved your conversion of T4 into T3 and once your vitamin D is up at a half decent level you will see the benefits again.
When I researched low ferritin everywhere suggested it needed to be at least over 70 for any thyroid hormone replacement to work well.
Ferritin levels can appear inflated if inflammation is high and this is is generally on a blood test detailed as CRP : I don't know if this was on any print out - though do remember asking this question before.
Folic acid and folate are one and the same - B9 - difference being folic acid is synthetic whereas folate is a coenzyme - that's the sum total of my knowledge on that score.
We are all different and no two people are the same but I doubt all your friends are with a thyroidectomy !!
You will get there, it just takes time, but you're in the right place to get help and support.
pennyannie I know you weren’t disagreeing 😊 … I will concentrate on by ferritin and folate levels too and se how things progress. I don’t think I’ve ever seen CRP on my blood results but maybe it’s called something else here in Spain.
Indeed I am in the right place to get support, I rely so much on this forum and it’s contributors often so much more knowledgeable than the endocrinologist I was seeing ! I am sincerely grateful for that support. 😊
Hi, I was just reading your post and was wondering which supplements you are taking and where from please? I'm sure I'm going to need a lot of help in that department!
hi joanneE1 well I’ve had an awful lot of help from the lovely and very well informed people in this forum. I’m quite new to all this having only been without my thyroid for 14 months!
I’m taking
Magnesium bioglycinate
Better you Vit D + K2
High strength B12
B complex
I also need to address my ferritin level so will be looking for something to do that in the near future.
What you need will very much depend on you as an individual so as recommended by this forum, check you important vitamin levels and then see what you need to reach optimum levels.
8 weeks so far and yes I take magnesium daily too.
I will increase to 5 sprays 👍
Yes I have room to increase levo but I’m taking it slowly as it makes me feel faint if I increase dose. I’m happily on 88mg but last 8 weeks have increased to 100mg on four days of the week. I’m pleased with results which show in my thyroid results… my plan will be to add another day until I’m on 100mg daily. I think getting my vits optimum will be the key to me tolerating the Levo.
I will change to Thorne basic B once I’m back in the Uk. Which will be next week.
I’ve been taking Vitabay B12 5000ug at 1 tablet a day that dissolve in mouth - this has proved very successful with increasing my B12 in just 8 weeks.
I too thought folic acid range looked odd and it was a different range from last test… but that’s what it said in the results 🤷🏻♀️ I plan to get retested in 8 weeks time. Which lab would you recommend to test my vitamin levels as well as thyroid. That’s assuming my new GP in the Uk doesn’t offer T3 testing which from what I read on this forum is highly likely.
I’m not on gluten free diet - should I be?
I have an intolerance to some dairy like milk and cream but do eat cheese … so not entirely dairy free. Is there a relevance to diet?
I do think my thyroid results are looking so much better than they were Do you think T3 is still too low? I’m hoping it will continue to improve a little …
Thank you so much for your help, it’s really appreciated.
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