Latest Thyroid test

[HelenR23]

Hi all, here are my latest thyroid tests. Bloods taken early morning before daily thyroxine. Currently on 75mg Levo(same brand as always) and 2.5mg T3 daily. Looks like I need to reduce Levo again!

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Why do you need to reduce Levo?

How are you feeling?

Free T4 (fT4) 18.6 pmol/L (12 - 22) 66.0%

Free T3 (fT3) 4.43 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 35.9%

You now need to raise your FT3 level aiming for 60-70% of range. I would keep Levo as is for the moment.

What a shame they couldn;t do some of the tests. Can they re do them?

Your B12 is very much on the low side. Are you vegan/vegetarian? Are you supplementing B12 at all?

[HelenR23 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Hi thankyou for replying. I will get ferratin and folate redone. Folate is usually on the low side and ferratin on the high side. I'm losing a lot of weight and feel quite hyper but I do have anxiety issues and gastritis. I'm not a vegetarian but I'm on gluten free diet and only eat fish, chicken and beef which are mostly organic. I am in a multi vitamin and magnesium glycinate and flax seed oil. I introduced T3 about 6 weeks ago as I wasn't converting very well. My T3 is looking better than previous results which is good. I feel like I'm a bit hyperactive but that could be high cortisol as my last 4 cortisol checks have been high. I had a Dutch test done months ago but my GP wasn't interested in taking it any further as he did a blood test in the morning which is in range but my Dutch test showed high evening cortisol!!. I'm happy to add an extra bit of T3 but I'm concerned it will increase my cortisol and anxiety. I guess I can try it for a few days and see how I react.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to HelenR23]

Have you tried different types of B vitamin, there are 3 types and certain genes determine which one will suit you. people with anxiety often need B vitamins.

Also have you tried a separate folate as that may help also. Again there are different types to try if one doesnt suit. I think that would help the anxiety symptoms.

Eating more red meat & chicken livers would also help.

When you add to the T3 do it as a separate dose a good 8 hours after the first or even at bed time if you have sleep issues.

Low T3 can cause one to feel 'hyper' and I think you will find as you increase the T3 dose that you will feel less hyper.

You might also try dairy free and see if that helps.

B12 gene types

[HelenR23 in reply to Jaydee1507]

I will go back on my B complex vits which were recommended by this group. I only stopped taking them as my anxiety was increasing but it's still high so obviously wasn't the B complex!! And yes I shall take the extra T3 before bed as I only sleep around 3hrs a night anyway. I do have lactose free skimmed milk which I've used now for 3 months. Thankyou JayDee.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to HelenR23]

Going back on the B complex sounds like a great idea.

Dairy free is not the same thing at all as lactose free. You would need to eliminate any milk containing product from your diet. It often involves reading a lot of labels as you would surprised where milk or milk proteins get slipped in including gravy!

[HelenR23 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Aah I didn't realise about the milk situation. Thankyou for the great advice .

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Exactly what vitamin supplements are you currently taking

B12 far too low

Vitamin D likely better at least over 80nmol and between 100-125nmol might be better

Levothyroxine dose looks perfect

Next step is to add 2nd 5mcg dose T3…..approx 10-12 hours after 1st dose …..

[HelenR23 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragonI've replied to JayDee above . I take mag glycinate, flax seed oil and a multi vitamin which includes B12. I will add vit D3 back in but due to gastritis I find some bits hard on the stomach. I only take 2.5mcg T3 with my 75mg levo but I do feel hyper. I do have anxiety along with gastritis so maybe that's why I'm still losing weight. I hadn't touched PPIs for months but had to restart Lansoprazole a couple of days ago but leave at least 8hrs between thyroid meds and ppi. My concern is my TSH is below range and thought that could be making me feel hyper anxious. So you feel the result is ok and I should add in extra T3. ? Thankyou for your help.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to HelenR23]

TSH is not a thyroid hormone

It’s the message from Pituitary to ask thyroid to work

TSH is almost always low when taking almost any dose T3

Adrenals try to compensate for lack of Ft3 by increasing cortisol

Cortisol levels should reduce slowly as Ft3 level increases

But initially can feel a bit hyper as high cortisol can be slow to reduce

Try separate B12 drops and separate folate if B complex doesn’t agree with you

B12 drops - absorbed in mouth, not gut

natureprovides.com/products...

Perhaps try Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg folate

Start with B12 first …..after a week add folate

[HelenR23]

That makes sense when you write it in that way. I understand about the TSH now so I won't over worry. Hopefully in time my cortisol will reduce. Great, thankyou.