hello everyone
Just had some tests back and my TSH was 3.5
my free t3 and free t4 were at the top of the range,
Which of the 3 would you say was the most important?Symtoms at the moment are sometimes find it hard to take a deep breath….feeling quite anxious
Any advice would be appreciated
Cheers
Welcome to the group. If you could complete your profile it helps members understand your thyroid journey. Click on your image icon to start.
Are you looking to get diagnosed or are you on treatment already?
Could you give exact numbers for your blood results. You also need to include the reference ranges - numbers in brackets after your result number. This is important as ranges vary from lab to lab.
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 and highest TSH which varies throughout the day. 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.
Looks like B12 deficiency, very low folate and low Vit D. These must be addressed.
SlowDragon can you comment please. I'm reading forum but too unwell to do an in depth reply.
Hi Seaside Susie. Sorry to hear your feeling unwell. Wishing you all the best and a speedy return to good health.
Get well soon. x
hope you soon feel better x
What does your doctor say? Are you taking medication? The actual results will be useful.
currently taking 150 mcg Eltroxin
TSH 6.82 range 0.27-4.2
Free thyroxine 18.5 range 12-22
Free t3 3.9 range 3.1-6.8
I was taking 125 mcg up until 3 weeks ago….but this was increased to 150mcg which is what I am currently taking
Your fT3 is a little low. TSH can take some time to come down and three weeks isn’t much time. Anxiety is a sign of too much hormone but this is unlikely to apply to you. It’s not clear, are you suffering from anxiety or just anxious about the blood test results?
TSH 6.82 range 0.27-4.2
Free thyroxine 18.5 range 12-22
Free t3 3.9 range 3.1-6.8
presumably these results are from BEFORE increasing dose?
On levothyroxine TSH should ALWAYS be below 2
Most people when adequately treated will have TSH around 1
Most important result is always Ft3 followed by Ft4
Ft4 (levothyroxine) needs to convert in cells to Ft3 (active hormone)
For good conversion rate we need GOOD vitamin levels
Test early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Aiming for Ft3 at least 50-60% through range. Usually Ft4 needs to be a little higher
Currently
FT4: 18.5 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)
Ft4 65.00% through range.
FT3: 3.9 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)
Ft3 only 21.62% through range
helpful calculator for working out percentage through range
Shows poor conversion. Hardly surprising with such low vitamin levels.
You will need to retest thyroid levels 2-3 months after increasing dose levothyroxine and meanwhile working hard on improving vitamins
thank you so much
B12 is EXTREMELY low
Are you vegetarian or vegan?
Make appointment with GP and request testing for Pernicious Anaemia BEFORE starting any B vitamins
I would imagine you have Low B12 symptoms
b12deficiency.info/signs-an...
methyl-life.com/blogs/defic...
Likely to need B12 injections via GP
if GP says test is negative for Pernicious Anaemia…..
You can start supplementing B12 daily
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement and add then a couple of weeks later add a separate vitamin B Complex
Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week
Effective B12 drops
natureprovides.com/products...
Or
B12 sublingual lozenges
uk.iherb.com/pr/jarrow-form...
cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...
B12 range in U.K. is too wide
Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Low folate and vitamin B complex
supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)
This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will also help improve B12 levels too
Difference between folate and folic acid
healthline.com/nutrition/fo...
Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
B vitamins best taken after breakfast
Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule)
Thorne currently difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay
Other options
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...
endocrinenews.endocrine.org...
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate methyl folate supplement and continue separate B12
Retest in another 2 months
vitamin D also too low
Are you currently taking any vitamin D supplements?
You can start/ increase supplementing vitamin D now ……while waiting for testing for Pernicious Anaemia
Only add one supplement at a time and then wait at least 10-14 days before adding another
GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol.
Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol
leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...
GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)
mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...
But with Hashimoto’s, improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...
vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...
Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.
Test twice yearly via NHS private testing service when supplementing
Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.
There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7.
One spray = 1000iu
amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...
It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average
Vitamin D and thyroid disease
grassrootshealth.net/blog/t...
Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7
Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine
betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...
medicalnewstoday.com/articl...
livescience.com/61866-magne...
sciencedaily.com/releases/2...
Interesting article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium
drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...
Vitamin K2 mk7
which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking
Do you always get same brand
Always take levothyroxine on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
No vitamin supplements within 2 hours Levo
Magnesium, iron, and vitamin D tablets at least 4 hours away from levothyroxine
Vitamin D mouth spray can be closer to levothyroxine
What’s your ferritin result?
Have you had coeliac blood test …..if not get tested via GP …..assuming you are not already on strictly gluten free diet
A trial of strictly gluten free diet is always worth doing
Only 5% of Hashimoto’s patients test positive for coeliac but a further 81% of Hashimoto’s patients who try gluten free diet find noticeable or significant improvement or find it’s essential
A 25 mcg jump in levo all at once is too much for me. I would definitely be getting symptoms of over medication, which I think may be contributing to your situation. However I agree with all the admin advice too.
Hi, you most probably have b12 deficiency. The symptoms are wide ranging and many are the same as hypothyroidism. Which symptoms are present varies with each person, however, anxiety is certainly a symptom. See 12d.org. There is also a b12 deficiency symptom checkers on line if you google it. The Pernicious Anemia site on Health unlocked is also a mine of Information. I would just add that b12 deficiency, where it is suspected, should be treated promptly and not to take folate until b12 is treated. This is because b12 deficiency symptoms are reversible but permanent damage will occur if untreated and folate can exacerbate neurological symptoms in cases of untreated b12 deficiency.
I’m confused - you have given two different sets of results. Which are the current ones. Are the current results from before you raised your Levo or after?
If you could clarify because three weeks is too short a time to retest.
By the way, if you log into your results page, at the top right you will see an icon which says “printable pdf” If you click on that, you’ll get all your results on a more readable format. Perhaps you could do that and post the entire results here.
I agree with all that’s been said about your vits.
Hi there,the first results I had done with medichecks..which were TSH 6.82
Free t3 3.9
Free thyroxine 18.5
So I then immediately went from taking 125mcg to 150mcg….it was then a couple of weeks later before I could get in with my surgery and get a test done with them,which then showed my TSH at 3.5,after taking 150 mcg for roughly 2 weeks.
Free thyroxine at 20.0….they wouldn’t test ft3,I’m not sure why
TSH at 3.5,after taking 150 mcg for roughly 2 weeks.
Free thyroxine at 20.0….they wouldn’t test ft3,I’m not sure why
NHS very rarely test Ft3
No point testing until 6-8 weeks minimum after any dose change in levothyroxine
TSH is slow to respond
Always test early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test for highest TSH and lowest Ft4
Unfortunately, labs make the decision about testing T3. They won’t do it if the TSH and FT4 are in range, that’s why most on this forum self test. TSH at 3.5 is still too high but you need to leave at least 6/8 weeks on a steady dose to see where your levels are. Request a full thyroid blood test in another 6 weeks. Meanwhile, try to get your vits and minerals as close to optimal as has already been suggested.
will do….thank you for your help….appreciate it
Very low TSH and High T4
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High T4, high T3, high TSH- suggestions?!
