Results

[salshep]

Hi all,

I haven't posted for a very long time but I'd appreciate thought's on my latest results please.

At present I take 100mg levo only. I used to take 12.5mg of T3 alongside but stopped this about a year ago.

If I was still taking T3, my results would make sense. But I don't understand the very low TSH on Levo only. This would imply I'm overactive but since Christmas I've put on nearly 2 stone so definitely not overactive 🤷‍♀️

TSH 0.25 range 0.35-4.94

T4 14.1 range 9-19

T3 not tested unfortunately

Thanks

SalShep

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

If your TSH has been suppressed for any length of time then it can take many months, or it may never return to normal.

It's really not possible to asses your thyroid function based on TSH & FT4, especially if you have a conversion issue. You will need to get private blood tests. 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...

There is also a new company offering walk in & mail order blood tests in Crawley, Hove and Reigate areas. Check to see if there is a blood test companies near you. onedaytests.com/products/ul...

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) 14.1 pmol/L (9 - 19) 51.0%

Your FT4 is pretty low.

Are you taking any supplements, if so what are you taking?

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?

It's ideal if you can always get the same brand of levo at every prescription. You can do this by getting GP to write the brand you prefer in the first line of the prescription. Many people find that different brands are not interchangeable.

[salshep in reply to Jaydee1507]

That's interesting about the TSH possibly never returning to normal. I didn't know that.Yes, I did follow the testing protocol.

I'm currently only taking D3, Omega 3 and turmeric. I always take the same brabd Levo, it's specified on my script fortunately.

I'm going to get private test's for full thyroid profile and vitamins. I'm heading to the USA for 3 month's at the end of May so need to make sure I'm on the correct dose before I leave

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to salshep]

Why did you stop taking T3?

It may well take longer than the end of May to get your dose optimal, just saying.

Do start a new post when you get your new blood results for members to comment.

[salshep in reply to Jaydee1507]

My husband was terminally ill in the hospital, and I stayed with him 24/7 for 10 days. I remembered my Levo but totally forgot the T3. As I didn't feel any real difference and had been struggling to source anyway, I just went with Levo only.

Will do, thanks for your help ☺️

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to salshep]

I'm so sorry to hear about your husband, that must have been very upsetting for you.

It may be that over time symptoms catch up with you so best get on top of the lab numbers ASAP.

[pennyannie]

Hello Salshep :

Sorry for your loss:

Once a Graves patient always a Graves patient.

I'm glad you were offered Block and Replace and given enough time for your immune system to calm down and your thyroid return to a more normal function.

Graves tends to wax and wane throughout ones life and generally stress and anxiety driven.

There could likely still be Graves antibodies stuck on your TSH receptor sites as there is no way of removing these and antibodies may still be circulating in your blood but not at a level to cause concern.

Best to always track on your Free T3 readings and you may find you need a slightly higher reading to feel well as your body may have adjusted to the high levels which were running back when diagnosed in 2004.

The TSH was originally introduced as a diagnostic tool to help identify a person suffering with hypothyroidism and was never intended to be used once on any form of thyroid hormone replacement as then we should be dosed and monitored on the Free T3 and Free T4 results and ranges.

You might like to read around Graves and I found the most all encompassing website to be that of Elaine Moore and her Graves and AI disease education foundation :

elaine-moore.com