Advice on blood results please- why no improvement in T3?

[Newmummy82]

hi everyone,

advice welcome for my recent Medichecks test please.

I introduced 6.5mcg of T3 in September and took my levo down to 75/100 on alternate days, I hoped this would increase my % of T3 as I am a poor converter and have two copies of faulty DIO2 gene. I also hoped this increase in T3 would help to bring my cholesterol down which has been creeping up over the last couple of years.

Well my T3 is actually down slightly and my cholesterol is up again!

I have attached my results for T3 and T4 as well as total cholestorol and LDL. HDL is up very slightly from last test and Triglycerides are back in normal range.

I feel better since introducing T3 but I’m disappointed it’s not had more of an impact on my bloods.

Now I’m thinking to increase the T3 to 12.5mcg a day and potentially increase T4 to 100 every day? Or maybe just increase the T3 and keep T4 on 75/100?

My vitamin D is still bouncing around at bottom of range so I’m going to increase to 3000iu a day as I’m currently taking 2000iu, I assume that’s safe?

I also had reduced Haemocrit being just under range and I’ve no idea what that means and if I should be worried? So advice welcome there

Thank you in advance!

[Newmummy82]

realised it didn’t up load my other results so pleas e find here,

T3

[Newmummy82 in reply to Newmummy82]

won’t let me up load any more pictures for some reason!

T4 - 15.2 range 12-22

Total cholesterol - 5.5 range 0-5

thanks!

[GlowCoach Administrator]

You've left it quite a while to retest. 6-8 weeks is the usual interval when adjusting dose.

Did you do the test as per the protocol recommended here? Recommended blood test protocol: Test at 9am (or as close as possible), fasting, last levo dose 24hrs before the blood draw, last T3 dose 8-12 hours before blood draw & no biotin containing supplements for 3-7 days (Biotin can interfere with thyroid blood results as it is used in the testing process)? Testing like this gives consistency in your results and will show stable blood levels of hormone. Taking Levo/T3 just prior to blood draw can show a falsely elevated result and your GP/Endo might change your dose incorrectly as a result.

Free T4 (fT4) 15.2 pmol/L (12 - 22) 32.0%

Free T3 (fT3) 4.3 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 32.4%

So if you tested as recommended above then you are very under replaced. Only adjust one thing at a time and then retest in 6-8 weeks. Its really not surprising you have raised cholesterol but its not hugely raised.

6.5mcgs T3 is a relatively low dose.

Vitamin D should be around 100 - 150. Buy one that includes vit K2 to help it go to your bones. Some are available in oil or you can take it with an oily meal for better absorption. Use this calculator to work out how much to take to get your level to 100-150. wildatlantichealth.com/vita...

What were your other vitamin results?

[Newmummy82 in reply to GlowCoach]

other vitamin results were;

Folate - 45 range 8.8 -60

B12 - 73 range 37.5 - 188

Iron looks like it’s going down a bit transferratin is down to 24 , range 25-45

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to Newmummy82]

What are you taking for B12 and when did you stop it before the test? It's looking low.

Do you have any other iron results? I only really know ferritin and not transferretin. If it's going down then a full iron panel might be in order.

[Newmummy82 in reply to GlowCoach]

not supplemented B12 for months and thinking it is definely too low. Going to buy a good b vitamin complex.

Other iron results -

Iron 14.6 range 10 - 30

Ferritin 106 range 30-150

UIBC 45 range 13 -56

TIBC 60 range 41 - 81

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to Newmummy82]

B complex, great idea.

I'll ask radd or humanbean to look at your iron results.

[Newmummy82]

hi, yes I did leave it a long time. I felt so much better on the T3 that I assumed all was good.

I followed the testing protocol. Tested at 7.40am before any meds. 👍

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to Newmummy82]

Perhaps increase the T3 by another 6.25mcgs then and do retest a bit sooner. You look fairly under medicated to me.

You likely will also need to increase levo but all in good time.

[Thyroidconfusion]

I wouldn't worry too much about the LDL level. The key cholesterol ratio is between triglycerides/HDL. If that is below 0.9 then statistically you are fine. The actual stats re LDL are that people with high LDL live longer and healthier lives as long as the Tri/HDL ratio is good. LDL is a critical part of your immune system. Triglyceride levels are driven by carbohydrate intake. To reduce triglycerides reduce carb intake.

[Newmummy82 in reply to Thyroidconfusion]

thanks for the info. My HDL and Triglycerides were in normal range. HDL was 1.45 which was just in range and Triglycerides was 1.48 range 0 - 2.3 so if my maths is right that’s a ratio slightly over what you recommended at 0.97.