Comments please on recent blood tests. Thank you very much

[lh22]

Hello everyone,

I did some blood tests this week, and here are the readings. I' m on 75mcg thyroxine a day, and take supplements for B12, vitamin D&K2. I have been on T4 for about 3 years. I've been on higher doses of T4 (up to 150mcg) but it only lowered my TSH without making a significant difference to my T4 or T3, so I lowered my dose. Whatever dose I take, my FT4 stays pretty much around 1. FT3 has gone up and down from time to time, the highest being 4.2 on 75-100mcg (per day) T4 and TSH of 1.6. I have thalasemmia trait, so my Hb and iron is always a little low.

TSH 1.43 (0.3 - 4.2)

FT4 1.03 (0.9 - 1.7)

FT3 2.03 (2 - 4.4)

B12 824.8 (197 - 771)

Vitamin D (25OH) 61.5 (30 - 100)

Folate 14.7 (3.9 - 26.8)

HbA1C 5.5 (4.6 - 6.2)

Serum Iron 29 (23 - 165)

UIBC 260 (135 - 392)

TIBC 289 (228 - 428)

transferrin saturation 10.03 (15-35)

Serum ferritin 64.8 (8 -140)

SGOT 23 (up to 35)

SGPT 42 (up to 40)

HDL 50.7 >45

LDL 88.98 (<150)

Triglycerides 123 (40 - 157)

Total cholesterol 164 (150 - 220)

Hb 11.3 (12-18)

CRP 5 (<5)

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How do you feel

Your results suggest you might benefit from higher dose

What’s the highest dose levothyroxine you have ever tried

Currently

FT4: 1.03 pmol/l (Range 0.9 - 1.7)

Ft4 only 16.25% through range

FT3: 2.03 pmol/l (Range 2 - 4.4)

Ft3 worse at only 1.25% through range

Most people when adequately treated will have both Ft4 and Ft3 at least 50% through range…..or higher

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo

[lh22 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hello SlowDragon,

Thanks for the reply.

Highest dose I tried was 150mcg about 4 months ago but it didn't change my FT4 or FT3, but brought down my TSH to 0.3. So I reduced the dose. I weigh 70kg. Do you think the iron level affects FT4/FT3 or conversion?

Feel much better - it's been a 3 year journey to get here. Have more consistent energy throughout the day. Brain fog has mostly gone, along with most other symptoms. Still need regular meals and snacks otherwise energy crashes/headaches (still have some blood sugar related issues but they are reducing each week, thankfully). Also have fatigue the day after a tiring/very active day so still can't do as much activity as I used to do, but I seem to be to be able to do more and more each week.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to lh22]

Astonishing you’re functioning at all with such low Ft4 and especially such low Ft3

Suggest you retest again in another 6-8 weeks

[lh22 in reply to SlowDragon]

I've read that sometimes as you get better and inflammation reduces, your cells absorb more T3, hence less in your blood? Also, you need less levothyroxine as your thyroid starts to function better too 🤷

Do you have any suggestions as to improving iron levels quickly?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to lh22]

For good vitamin absorption we need good thyroid levels and vice versa

Low iron and ferritin are common hypothyroid issues

[lh22 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, that's what I've heard too. But my vit D and B12 have increased quickly in the last few months. So I'm a bit puzzled.... Will retest again in a few weeks