Abnormal Serum C Reactive Protein Levels???

[Bluemaxx]

Hello, does anyone know how to deal with inflammation which I understand is the problem I am having. Just got my blood test results back and everything was 'normal' except my Serum C reactive Protein levels which was 12 (range 0-5). My TSH was 1.16 (range 0.27 - 4.2). I have Hashimotos and take T3 and T4 and didn't take my pills the morning of the test. Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Just testing TSH is completely inadequate

TSH is typically very low or below range on levothyroxine plus T3

with high CRP then GP should repeat test

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

How much T3

 

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

what vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test 

On T3 …day before test split T3 into 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day and last dose approx 8-12 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65 

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

[Bluemaxx in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thanks for answering! The doctor ordered T3 and T4 to be tested as well but they didn't do them. I just had blood drawn today for a private check of thyroid hormones and vitamins so I will post again when I have them. I am currently taking 25mcg of liothyronine every day and 50mcg of levothyroxine 5 days a week. I also have hair loss issues after Covid and it hasn't completely grown back yet (about half) in the last 18 months. For vitamins I am taking B12, folate daily and Vitamin D (occasionally). Thanks for the tip about how to dose before a test - that's really important in order to get a good reading.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bluemaxx]

That’s a very low dose levothyroxine and especially with 2 days zero levothyroxine

Was test done early morning and normally we say 24 hours after last dose levothyroxine………but in this case perhaps 48 hours after last dose levothyroxine

Most people when adequately treated on levothyroxine plus small dose T3 find they need both Ft4 and Ft3 at least 50-60% through range

Frequently levothyroxine dose is reduced too much after starting T3

How much levothyroxine were you taking BEFORE adding T3

[Bluemaxx in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi again - I was taking 100mcg levothyroxine per day but the endocrinologist I saw fairly early on said that he was happy for me to start T3 as well so I lowered the dose of levothyroxine, first to 75mcg per day but my GP said I was overdosing and lowered me to 50 mcg per day. I thought that the T3 was the equivalent of three times as much levothyroxine so that would be 75mcg plus the 50mcg so the equivalent of 125 mcg levothyroxine per day which was more than I was originally taking. To be honest I have been worried that I have been overdosing as my weight is 130 pounds. When I took the test I took the 50 mcg levothyroxine and half a 25mcg of liothyronine as usual but I didn't take the other half of the liothyronine on the morning of the test until after my blood was drawn . Thank you again for responding.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bluemaxx]

first to 75mcg per day but my GP said I was overdosing and lowered me to 50 mcg per day. 

GP probably, inappropriately only looking at TSH

TSH is frequently very low or below range on Levothyroxine plus T3…… when on adequate dose

Likely to need increase in dose of Levothyroxine after test results

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bluemaxx]

last dose Levothyroxine should have been 24 hours before test

Last 6mcg - 1/4 tablet T3 approx 8-12 hours before test

Is that timing you did?

[Lynneypin]

I had a CRP of 75 and the gp retested at weekly intervals. It fell quite quickly (to 6 within a month). He said it was often a response to a short term infection. If it remains elevated it needs further investigation.

[thyroid_eesti]

Bluemaxx I don't have any advice as such but can tell you my own experience in case you can relate to it. In the past I have also had high Serum-CRP results reported through regular blood testing and it always correlated with a bout of inflamed guts/bloating, which is one my 'tells' when my dosage is off. If my dose is right I don't get those gut issues and in turn inflammation is in range during testing.

Do you suffer with bloating or general digestion issues relating to your Hashimotos?

[RoseF3 in reply to thyroid_eesti]

This is interesting as I suffer with digestive issues which I notice when my dose isn’t right - it will right itself for a few weeks when I increase or decrease but will play up again when my other symptoms kick back in. My CRP is usually raised when they test it. I was starting to wonder if I needed testing for other ‘gut’ issues but this puts my mind at rest that it’s most likely hormonal!

[thyroid_eesti in reply to RoseF3]

It would be great if you could be tested when your guts are feeling good but I know we don't always have control over when we get tested or how we feel on any given day!

[RoseF3 in reply to thyroid_eesti]

Yes, I never seem to get tested when they’re good but hopefully one day I will succeed and it will prove this!

[Bluemaxx in reply to RoseF3]

Hi and thanks for answering. I seem to have had inflammation issues since I was diagnosed with Hashimotos. I have had gut issues - SIBO and malabsorption issues - but was gluten free for about 4 years which solved those problem I think - as the symptoms disappeared. I'm not sure if my dosage is right. The GP asked the lab to do T3 and T4 but they only did TSH which used to be suppressed but is now a bit higher which may be because I didn't take my T3 the morning of the test. My last Medichecks test done about a year ago had my Free T3 at 3.4 (range 3.1-6.8) and TSH .47 (range 2.7 - 4.) and Free Thyroxine 3.5 (12-22) which seems bad. I just had blood drawn today to test all my thyroid hormones and vitamin levels.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bluemaxx]

Last Medichecks test shows you were under medicated and needed dose increase in Levothyroxine

TSH is not affected by timings of dose Levothyroxine or T3

TSH is affected by time of day….higher early morning

[Bluemaxx in reply to thyroid_eesti]

Hi, thanks for answering - I do suffer from some gut issues but I take digestive enzymes when I eat meat so that helps. Plus I was gluten free for about 4 years.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bluemaxx]

we usually need to stay gluten free indefinitely

Possibly dairy free too

[Bluemaxx in reply to thyroid_eesti]

Hi and thanks for answering! I did have gut issues but thought they were sorted out as I went gluten free for about 4 years. I also had SIBO which was treated about three years ago and I take digestive enzymes when I eat meat.