Latest Results

[Kittymimi]

Can anyone comment on these results, just feeling generally off with aches and pains pretty much all over. Any help gratefully received. Thank you.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Kittymimi

So that we can interpret them accurately, did you follow the testing protocol we advise:

* Test no later than 9am

* Nothing to eat or drink except water before the test

* Last dose of Levo 24 hours before test, last dose of T3 if taken 8-12 hours before test

* No biotin or B Complex or any supplement containing biotin for 3-7 days before test.

If so then your TSH seems quite high for such a high FT4 result, one would expect to see it lower than 1. Conversion of T4 to T3 doesn't appear to be good, suggested by high FT4 and low FT3.

Presumably you know you have Hashimoto's?

CRP suggests inflammation but this could be due to the Hashi's.

Ferritin could be falsely elevated due to inflammation but even taking that into account it may still be at a reasonable level without being raised due to inflammation.

Folate is low, it's recommended to be at least half way through range which would be about 35 plus with that range.

B12 and Vit D look OK.

[Kittymimi in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes, followed protocol and test was taken at 6am.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Your folate still needs a boost but looks significantly better than in your last post (a couple of years ago). In that post you were also advised to increase your Levo from 75mcg to 100mcg; what is your current dose?     SlowDragon also recommended you trialled a gluten free diet to see if this alleviated any of your adverse symptoms. Did you try this recommendation? If not, I would certainly try eliminating gluten for a couple of months as it does help many members (myself included).

Your CRP is still slightly elevated; do you have any other inflammatory conditions that might be affecting this? Or have you had a recent cold/ cough? My CRP reduced when on an optimal dose of thyroid medication & was aided by adopting a strictly GF diet/ eating an anti- inflammatory diet.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Buddy195]

Buddy, her previous folate range was >3.89 (result 1.91) which with Medichecks when using Eurofins County Pathlogy is 3.89-19.45. This test was done by INUVI for Medichecks and the folate range is very different at 8.83-60.8 so it is just barely in range, a slight improvement rather than significantly better surely?

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to SeasideSusie]

You are correct Susie; I hadn’t read the range correctly. That’s why it’s always good to re-read!

[Kittymimi in reply to Buddy195]

Current dose is 100mcg. I am gluten free but don’t really feel it has helped too much. I am currently getting over a cold.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

As  SeasideSusie has indicated, your conversion appears to be an issue, with your FT4 at the top of the range, yet FT3 much lower. Combination treatment (Levothyroxine plus Liothyronine) might be an option, but this can only be prescribed by an endocrinologist (both knowledgeable and willing to support this).

A list of thyroid -friendly endos (NHS and private) can be requested by contacting Thyroid UK:[e-mail]

[Kittymimi in reply to Buddy195]

Thank you.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Also worth trying dairy free diet

[Thyroid63]

I had very similar results as you - high T4 and T3 low in range- and I felt awful . I switched to NDT. My T3 is now optimal, T4 mid range and TSH suppressed (0.01) . I feel so much better. I was on 100 Levo before switching. I take 150mg Armour. Private doctor knows about thyroid - I’ve got my vit d up to 85 and take b12 - such a juggling act. No thyroid is a magic bullet , so many levels to optimise. Your NHS doctor will not do this unfortunately.

[pennyannie]

Hello Kittymimi :

The accepted conversion ratio when taking just T4 only thyroid hormone replacement is said to be 1 / 3.50 - 4.50 - T3/T4 - once the T4 is up in the top quadrant of its range.

so if I take your T4 reading of 22 and divide it by your T3 reading of 4.10 - I'm getting 5.36 - which clearly shows your conversion compromised and explains your symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Please feel free to check these numbers out for yourself, so you'll know for next time and have a better idea yourself, what and how things are progressing.

Your antibodies are highlighted as positive and over range for Hashimoto's auto immune thyroid disease - I read many find the research of Dr Izabella Wentz very helpful and you can read around o her website - thyroidpharmacist.com

Your ability to convert better the T4 into T3 ill improve once your core strength vitamins and minerals, ferritin, folate, B12 ad vitamin d are up and maintained at optimal but personally I don't think this alone will resolve the disparity between your T3 and T4 readings.

I believe the next step is to think about adding in a little T3 - Liothyronine alongside a slightly reduced dose of T4 Levothyroxine.

Currently your doctor can only prescribe T4 and you will need a referral to an NHS endocrinologist if you wish a trial of any alternative treatment option.

It has become a post code lottery as to who gets a new prescription of T3 - based, I am afraid on financial constraints rather than medial need.

Thyroid UK - the charity who support this forum do hold a list of patient to patient recommended thyroid specialists so it makes sense to try and get referred to someone on the list who has been sympathetic to the needs of his/her patients.

Just email admin at thyroiduk.org for the patient to patient list.

Obviously if you can afford to go private many more options open up and you can always ask for feedback on anyone you are thinking of seeing, so as not to waste your time and money.