Results Advice

[PrincessAnnie]

Hi I’m looking for advice on my latest blood test results please,there was an error with my TSH and they couldn’t process that so they’re sending me a new test for that,it’s going to be out of range anyway as I’m on combination treatment so I don’t know if that’ll really matter.

Test was taken at 6.30am with last dose of levothyroxine 24hrs before and last dose of T3 10 hours before ,no meds taken before test.I stopped my b complex 7 days before the test,I’ve just recently started taking a new one as I stopped the Thorne one as it’s in a capsule and I’d rather take a tablet,it’s a boots b complex,I hadn’t taken it for a while so fully expected my B12 to have gone down.

On my last results I was advised on here that my T3 wasn’t an accurate result as I hadn’t taken my last dose 8-12hrs before the test,at the time I was on the capsules and couldn’t split the dose and was advised on here to take it 24hrs before with my levothyroxine.

Since my last result I started taking 15mg of T3 with my 100mg of levothyroxine as I was given tablets again instead of the capsules,I explained to the pharmacy team at the gps that I have a nickel allergy and there’s gelatin in the capsules so they agreed to prescribe me the 20mg tablets and I was to cut them.

I stayed on that for 8 weeks then dropped my levothyroxine to 75mg and have been taking that for 9 weeks with these being the latest results,my T3 and T4 have both dropped so I’m at a bit of a loss as to what to try now,I was thinking of upping my T3 to 20 mg a day but would welcome any advice.

My ferritin has dropped again,I forgot to opt out of the doctors advice and he’s said in his report it maybe best to have a full blood count done to see whether I could be anaemic,I eat a lot of meat,chicken,I’ve not really been taking the chicken liver pate though but I made it this week so I’m hoping that will improve,he’s told me to take orange juice to absorb it better.

I’m feeling tired,not really sleeping great,irritable,really sensitive to the cold, any advice would be greatly appreciated❤️

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Since my last result I started taking 15mg of T3 with my 100mg of levothyroxine

were you taking as 3 x 5mcg doses spread through the day

What were your results on 100mcg levothyroxine and 15mcg T3

Why did you reduce levothyroxine?

On 75mcg levothyroxine

FT4: 13.3 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 only 13.00% through range

FT3: 3.32 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 only 5.95% through range

So that was 5mcg dose T3 at 10 hours before test?

Both Ft4 and Ft3 are obviously very low

Suggest you increase levothyroxine back to 100mcg

Retest in 6-8 weeks

See what results show

You may then need further increase in levothyroxine or increase in T3

Most people when adequately treated on levothyroxine plus small doses of T3 will have both Ft4 and Ft3 at least 50-60% through range

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at results on previous post for 100mcg levothyroxine plus 10mcg T3 capsules….results were very different

Which brand of levothyroxine was 100mcg and which brand 75mcg

Which brand is 20mcg T3 tablets

[PrincessAnnie in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thanks for your reply,on my last results I was taking 100mg ALMUS levothyroxine,I’ve always been on that brand,liothyronine was 10mg ROMA capsules,I’m now back on TEVA tablets,I think that’s what it says,and that’s what I’ve been taking the 15mg on.

I’ve not been splitting the dose,just taking it in the morning with my levothyroxine.

I guess I reduced the levothyroxine to see if it made any difference,I thought what’s the point if it’s not converting but judging by these results there most definitely is a point🤦‍♀️

Last dose of T3 was taken 10 hours before the test.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to PrincessAnnie]

Teva brand levothyroxine upsets many people as it contains mannitol and this can change gut biome

This does NOT apply to Teva T3

Suggest you get back on Almus 100mcg levothyroxine as first step

Almus is Accord brand

Accord is boxed as Almus via Boots 50mcg and 100mcg ....Accord  doesn’t make 25mcg tablets

only make one change at a time

4-6 weeks later try splitting T3 as 3 x 5mcg doses

Cut with sharp scalpel or pill cutter

5mcg waking, 5mcg mid afternoon and 5mcg at bedtime

Roughly equal 8 hour intervals

Many people find 5mcg T3 at bedtime improves sleep

If you find it keeps you awake try 6am, noon and 6pm instead

Retest 6 weeks after that …..day before test last 5mcg dose Approx 8-12 hours before test

Meanwhile working on improving low ferritin by increasing iron rich foods in your diet

[PrincessAnnie in reply to SlowDragon]

Sorry I forgot to ask,do you think it’s worth getting my TSH retested? Personally I don’t see the point.

[PrincessAnnie]

I’m on Almus levothyroxine,sorry perhaps I never made that clear,it was just the liothyronine I changed back to teva with when I managed to get put back on the tablets from the capsules.

I’ll do what you’ve suggested thank you🙏