Result history

[Petgirl2]

Hi everyone My results history as follows.

125mcg levo

2011, T3 0.96, T4 9.40, TSH 1.73

2012 , T3 1.04, T4 6.1, TSH 0.57

2013, T3 1.02, T4 10.5, TSH 0.62

2015, T3 0.93 , T4 8.4, TSH 0.62

2018, T3 1.30, T4 7.4, TSH 0.10

50mcg levo

2019, T3 1.07, T4 7.4, TSH 6.25, RT3 O.15

2022

total T3 1.0 ng/ml ref 0.6-1.8

FT3 2.55pg/ml ref 2.30-4.20

SHBG 83.64nmol ref 23.65-110.61

RT3 0.11ng/ml ref 0.17-0.44

TSH, 5.35

FT4, 0.97ng/dl ref 0.80-1.76

Anti-tg , 14.5 UL/ml <100.0

Anti-tiroperoxidase, 1505.0 UL/ml ref <16

Cholesterol

April 2022

Total 220mg/dl <190

VLDL 17mg/dl ref 15-45

HDL 56mg/dl ref 45-65

Triglycerides 86mg/dl ref <150

Oct 2022

Total 256

HDL 72

Triglycerides 84

Vit D

March 26.80ng/ml , Oct 37.90

March 2022

Vit b12 , 261pg/ml ref 211-911

Folic acid, 7.3ng/ml ref >5.4

Ferritin, 152.5ng/ml ref 30.0-340.0

Microalbumin , 4.64mg/l ref <19

Supplement

Zinc, b12, iodine.

Eat Brazil nuts , after selenium poisoning won't take Supplement.

Prebiotic daily

Gluten dairy free.

Very active life.

I feel better when I'm not taking levo.

Would I benefit more from t3 only meds?

From what I have been reading on here, I feel I might?

But, how to convince doctor?

Many thanks

[greygoose]

Would I benefit more from t3 only meds?

From what I have been reading on here, I feel I might?

I haven't read anything on here that would suggest you would. Just because you're a poor converter doesn't mean you should cut out T4 entirely. A lot of people need good levels of FT4 as well as FT3 to feel well. It's a matter or trial and error to find out what levels you personally need of them both. So, if you haven't already tried T3 only, you have no arguement that it's right for you.

[Petgirl2 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks Gary goose. Sorry, I should have said

T3 only meds additionally.

[greygoose in reply to Petgirl2]

Sorry, don't understand - T3 mono-therapy or T4+T3?

[Petgirl2 in reply to greygoose]

Hi I'm already on T4 , so looking at T3 as well.

I've read about low T3 and neurological problems, I have tingly head , twitchy eye cold/numb legs and feet, although warm to touch.

Also, I've read a link between low t3 and high cholesterol levels.

What's your take on these?

Many thanks. Sorry, woke up at 3am, brain not really functioning

[greygoose in reply to Petgirl2]

Yes, I agree that we need T3, and if we can't convert T3 to T4 then we need to take T3. But, from what I could gather, you were talking about taking T3 only and dropping T4. I was asking why you think you need to drop the T4.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

please add ranges on all Ft4 and Ft3 results

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

You look extremely under medicated

Levothyroxine was reduced far too much in 2018

Ridiculous to reduce dose levothyroxine from 125mcg to 50mcg

If you were over medicated in 2018 (unlikely) then dose should have been reduced a SMALL amount……eg 112.5mcg and 125mcg alternate days

On levothyroxine TSH should always be below 2. Most people when adequately treated will have Ft4 and Ft3 at least 60-70% through range. Frequently TSH will be low or suppressed

Because you are under medicated, vitamin D, B12 and folate are too low

[Petgirl2 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. I've put the ranges on the only ones I have, as I was only given the previous numbers, I didn't receive the actual result paper.

Should I ask my doctor to prescribe t3 as well as t4?

This doctor wouldn't even test t3, so I'm really back to battling tge medics again. Which, I don't think I have the energy to do anymore .

This new doctor seems really nice and if I see her with some reasons that make sense, that have come from people who actually are expert in this area, I feel she may be willing to help me going outside of the very small box they are given to work within.

With gratitude

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Petgirl2]

How much levothyroxine are you now taking

2022 

Free T4 (fT4) 0.97 pmol/L (0.8 - 1.76) 17.7%

Free T3 (fT3) 2.55 pmol/L (2.3 - 4.2) 13.2%

When were these test results done

Was test done early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Results show you are EXTREMELY under medicated

Ft4 is only 17.7% through range

You need 25mcg dose increase in levothyroxine

Retest again in 6-8 weeks

Likely to need further increase in levothyroxine after that

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo

Guidelines on dose levothyroxine by weight is 1.6mcg per kilo per day

Unless extremely petite likely to need at least 100mcg levothyroxine per day

You won’t know if you need T3 added until Ft4 is at least 70-80% through range

Obviously if on grossly inadequate dose levothyroxine, both Ft4 and Ft3 are low

[Petgirl2 in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok. Thank youYes early fasting test, 24 hrs no levo.

50mcg present dose.

So, i need to ask for more levo first?

The previous to 2018 levels are at 125mcg, but there are no ranges.

I felt terrible o the higher dose , better on lower dose, but now not so much

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Petgirl2]

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Yes request 25mcg dose increase in levothyroxine

ESSENTIAL all four vitamins are at GOOD levels

Vitamin D at least over 40ng/mL (100nmol U.K. units)

Folate and B12 were terrible in March 22

Vitamin B12 (active) 261 nmol/L (211 - 911) 

Just 7.1% through range

Low vitamin levels are directly linked to not being on high enough dose levothyroxine

Low folate

To improve low folate levels, you need a good quality daily vitamin B complex , one with folate in (not folic acid) 

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help with B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid 

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) 

currently cheapest on ebay (in U.K. at least)

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate methyl folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12

 

Low B12 symptoms 

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

methyl-life.com/blogs/defic...

With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a B12 supplement as well as a B Complex (to balance all the B vitamins) initially for first 2-4 months.

once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.

B12 drops 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

B12 sublingual lozenges 

amazon.co.uk/Jarrow-Methylc...

cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...

B12 range in U.K. and EU is too wide

Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

How other member saw how effective improving low B vitamins has been 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Having been left 4 years on extremely low dose levothyroxine it might not be easy to increase dose…..your body has shut down …..it’s common to initially feel worse as dose levothyroxine increased, because rest of endocrine system has to catch up

[Petgirl2 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much.

[Petgirl2 in reply to SlowDragon]

Been same brand for a few years now, eutirox.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

if been left on just 50mcg since 2018 you are likely to need to increase dose levothyroxine slowly

Initially 50mcg and 75mcg alternate days

After 6-8 weeks increase to 75mcg daily

Retest levels 6-8 weeks after being on 75mcg everyday

Test early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Same slow increase up from 75mcg to 100mcg likely necessary