Advice on recent blood tests

[Wired123]

Hi Friends,

Please see below my recent test results. I am doing well and despite my weight not changing for over a year, I have lost fat and put on muscle - so in a way the car weighs the same but has a bigger engine and less padding in the seats! I'm losing fat all over except my belly which is annoying.

I'm concerned at the slight dip in FT3 levels despite no change in medication or diet. I am exercising more (lifting heavier weights) and work has been quite stressful recently.

Currently I take 2 x 10mcg on waking alongside my 150mcg T4, then another 5 mcg T3 an hour after lunch. Would it be worth adding in a bit more T3 (maybe a night time dose?).

The FT3 is around the middle of the range so enough scope to add in some more, only blocker would be the already suppressed TSH - though I understand it's irrelevant when you're Hashi's anyway and also once you're on T3, TSH again is not useful.

Or should I stick with it for 3 more months and re-test? Tempted to increase the T3 to ramp up the weight loss as it's not fast enough for my liking!

[Jodypody]

Hello. Thought I’d stick my neck out as I’ve been where you have getting frustrated with wanting to shift. If you’re happy and settled and sleeping well with no symptoms then leave well alone. I know it’s tempting to increase but the reality is it will potentially tip you into weight gain territory (I know, how unfair!!) Fact is you are shrinking as you said. Forget the scales and judge by your clothes. Weight lifting is still king in my book. You’ll always need to lift stuff you’re not going tonne called on to run 5k in your life. Stick to what you’re doing and be consistent. You’ll turn around in another couple of months or so and notice another change, or not. Fitness especially weight training have smaller and smaller gains as we get older (I have no clue how old you are, I’m 54 for context) but it’s the best in my book. Well done and keep going!!

[Wired123 in reply to Jodypody]

interesting way of putting it, you’ll never need to run 5k but will need to lift weights.

I do think we all need a bit of cardio as it works you out in a different way, but weights helps even when you’re not exercising as all that new muscle is mopping up sugar and reducing my insulin as we all tend to be a little insulin resistant when hypothyroid.

[Jodypody in reply to Wired123]

Yeah I think you may have missed the point a little 😂. Yes we need to do our cardio sessions and I do but my point was mainly you need the capacity to lift stuff in life. Moving the sofa to hoover behind etc.

[radd]

Wired123,

It all sounds great 👍.

Re labs there is room for a dose increase but if this dose has alleviated symptoms and allowing you to weight lift, be clear it is your right amount. 

If you are doing some pretty strenuous exercise and gaining muscle, you have enough T3, as too much or too little result in muscle loss. If you start matching T3 to bulking more muscle you will need to add more protein in to your diet.

However, you then risk overstepping your T3 sweet spot and excess working against you by turning into inactive metabolites. 

Are you building rest days into your regime? I have never done body building but previously cycling and ashtanga yoga and the importance of rest always came home to me when every time I went on holiday and rested, I lost weight.

If this were me, I would stay with what’s working, build in rest days and give the belly fat more time. If you’ve had kids belly fat could be your weak spot or maybe something like oestrogens or cortisol’s a bit high, both of which encourage accumulation of belly fat. You said work was a bit stressful.

Cherish what you’ve achieved and be patient 👏😊

[Wired123 in reply to radd]

thanks Radd, knowledgeable as ever!

Prob worth pointing out I‘’m make so never given birth to any kids!

Yes I’m building in rest days as I just about manage to go 3 x per week for an hour each time. Am aiming for 4x but work gets in the way.

I’m awaiting cortisol results but generally I’m low-ish so that might not be the reason, perhaps just genetically I store more fat in the belly.

Agree on losing weight when on hol but that may just be muscle and fluid loss when not exercising, though perhaps it could be reduced inflammation from reducing exercise.

Re your protein comment, I have increased my protein a lot and typically eat 3 servings of protein plus a protein shake so I hit about 100g of protein daily. Which has also helped with appetite and binge eating as protein keeps you satiated.