results help

[TheresaGreen1967]

Hello, can someone help me understand these results I got today? I want to start a ndt and need help to start the right dosage. Thank you

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Welcome to the group. If you could complete your profile it helps members understand your thyroid journey. Click on your image icon to start.

What time of day was this test?

Free T4 (fT4) 9.2 pmol/L (12 - 22) -28.0%

Free T3 (fT3) 4 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 24.3%

Have you started treatment on Levo already or are you undiagnosed please?

When hypo we get low stomach acid which means we cannot absorb vitamins well from our food, regardless of a great diet. For thyroid hormone to work well we need OPTIMAL levels of vitamins. Have you recently or could you ask your GP to test levels of ferritin, folate, B12 & D3? Private tests are available, see link for companies offering private blood tests & discount codes, some offer a blood draw service at an extra cost. thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

Do you know if you had positive thyroid antibodies? Many with autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's benefit from a gluten free diet. A smaller percentage of those also need to remove dairy from their diet to feel well. These are intolerances and will not show up on any blood test.

Are you aware that NDT is quite expensive and probably the most difficult option to source. The NHS is highly unlikely to prescribe NDT although some private Endo's will.

[TheresaGreen1967 in reply to Jaydee1507]

hello, yes I am undiagnosed. I had a private test including iron b12 ferritin vit d. Everything was normal except my thyroid.

[TheresaGreen1967 in reply to TheresaGreen1967]

sorry also I have not started any medication yet.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to TheresaGreen1967]

Can you upload the vitamin results too? You can do that by replying to this comment and clicking the image icon on the bottom right of reply box.

Would also be good to see the autoimmunity section with your antibody results.

Have you spoken to your GP about this test and your concerns that you have a thyroid issue yet?

[TheresaGreen1967 in reply to Jaydee1507]

thank you

Results

[TheresaGreen1967 in reply to TheresaGreen1967]

Thank you

Results

[TheresaGreen1967 in reply to TheresaGreen1967]

thank you

Results

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to TheresaGreen1967]

I would recommend making an appointment with your GP to discuss these test results. They may well want to repeat the test.

Are you taking any supplements at the moment?

Your folate is a little on the low side. Aim for 60-70% of that range.

Recommend taking an active/methyl (should say on label) B complex which contains 400mcgs folate (also B12). This B complex has all the right vitamins at a not unreasonable cost for 90 days supply. amazon.co.uk/Liposomal-Soft...

Ferritin should be around 90 - 100 for best use of thyroid hormone. Suggest increasing iron rich foods in diet and eating them often. Chicken livers, pate, red meat etc

[greygoose]

The dose you start on doesn't just depend on your blood test levels. It mainly depends on whether you are switiching from levo and/or T3, or if you've never been on thyroid hormone replacement before.

If you are on levo at the moment, then you are grossly under-medicated and could be that increasing your levo til you reach the right dose is all you need - as Jaydee says, NDT is not the easiest option.

If you are self-diagnosing and starting from scratch, it would be best to start on 1/4 60 mg tablet and increase by 1/4 after about two weeks, if all goes well. With any hormone, you need to start low and increase slowly for the best results.

[pennyannie]

Hello Theresa and welcome to the forum:

Your T4 is under the range and suggest you talk this through with your doctor.

T4 - Levothyroxine works very well for around 85% of those who take it and is the easiest thyroid hormone treatment to manage for the patient - if once diagnosed you are not happy on T4 monotherapy and symptoms persist, that is when we look to other treatment options.

No thyroid hormone replacement works well until your core strength vitamins and minerals are optimal and having been on NDT for around 5 years I know now I feel at my best when my ferritin is around 100 ;folate at around 20 ; active B12 - 75 ++ ) serum B12 - 500 ++ )and vitamin D up at around 100.

Can't see a ferritin reading ??

[pennyannie in reply to pennyannie]

Just spotted your Ferritin reading and this needs to be up and over 70 before any thyroid hormone replacement option works well: