Help with results

[Dakie]

First time posting and would like help with results please!Was diagnosed with underactive Thyroid, June 21, here are my original results

TSH- 5.49 mu/l

FT4- 12.5 pmol/l

TPO Antibodies- 56 ku/l

VIT D3- 50 nmol/l

VIT B12- 210 ng/l

FOLATE- 6.5 ug/l

FERRITIN- 77ug/

I was prescribed Levothyroxin 25 mg

Was re- tested, July 21, results

TSH- 2.36 mu/l

FT4- 14.0 pmol/l

Jump to Feb 22, still on 25 mg Thyroxine,

Results

TSH- 4.00 mu/l

VIT B12- 202 ngl/l

FOLATE- 5.5 ug/l

FERRITIN- 50 ug/l

I had a private test for T3 in Feb 22 the result was 4.3 pmol/l

Initially I did manage to loose quite a lot of weight, have slowed down now so alls good, but, I am losing lots of hair, very dry patches on skin, nails very brittle and ridged, I have a few other niggly health problems that I never experience prior to my thyroid problem but won't go into those as this post is long enough!, generally feeling very under par.

Any help would be much appreciated,

Thankyou

[greygoose]

Hi Dakie, welcome to the forum.

Can you add the ranges to those results, please? Ranges are absolutely essential because they vary from lab to lab. But, it's obvious to see that you are under-medicated because your TSH is over 4, so not surprising you have symptoms like hair-loss. Has your levo dose never been increased? 25 mcg is only half of a normal starter dose, and should have been increased to 50 six weeks after starting it. Your doctor is being very negligent!

If doing private tests, You need to do FT4 and FT3 at the same time, in order to see how well you convert T4 to T3.

Your nutrients all look very low but, as I said, we do need the ranges.

[Dakie in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for getting back so quickly!, now I hope I have the ranges right,( not quite sure)TSH- 0.27-4.20 mu/l

FT4- 10.8-25.5 pmol/l

FT3- 3.1- 6.8

FT3 was private and have just realised had ' Free Thyroxine' checked also at the same time results- 14.0 pmol/l, range -12.0-22.0

My medication has never been changed always 25mg

[greygoose in reply to Dakie]

Thank you. But we do need the ranges for the nutrients, too.

Well, as would be expected, you are very under-medicated. It's really time to put your foot down with your doctor and get an increase in dose. Nobody can survive on just 25 mcg levo, it's totally unreasonable.

[Dakie in reply to greygoose]

Back again!VIT D3- 50- 174nmol/l

VIT B12- 180-999 ng/l

FERRITIN- 13- 150ug/l

FOLATE- no range, just says normal

[greygoose]

VIT B12 220 (180-999 ng/l)

Much too low. Should be over 550.

Folate is also much too low. Should be at least in double figures.

I would advise taking 1000 mcg sublingual methylcobalamin (B12) with a B complex containing at least 400 mcg mythylfolate - Thorne Basic B is a good one.

FERRITIN 50 (13- 150ug/l)

Much too low, should be around 100. But, get a complete iron panel done before supplementing - your GP should be able to do that.

VIT D3 50 (50- 174nmol/l)

Right at the bottom of the range! Should be around 100.

So, all your nutrients are low, and this is probably due to low stomach acid, caused by low T3. But as low B12 also causes low stomach acid, it's a bit of a vicious circle.

[Dakie in reply to greygoose]

Thank you so much for this, will definitely get a complete iron panel done, is it best to increase levo by 25 mg increments?, just so I know when having a chat with my GP!.

[greygoose in reply to Dakie]

In the beginning, yes. But, as your results get higher, after several increases, it might be a good idea to increase more slowly. But, certainly for you, right now, a 25 mcg increase is a must.

[Dakie in reply to greygoose]

Thank you

[greygoose in reply to Dakie]

You're welcome.