Hello lovely people. Thyroid removed 2020. Please can you tell me what you think re results i dont think i can convert my t4, and dont know if its worth upping my levothyroxine. I am on 100mcg 5days 125mcg 2 days.April 2023
T3 3.1 (3.1-6.8)
T4 20.9 (12-22)
TSH 1.22 (0.27-4.2)
Cholesterol 6.7mmol
HDL 2.8
NON HDL 4.66
Triglycerides 1.8
Glyceted Haemoglobin 34mmol
VIT D 104 mmol they advised stop supplinenting?
Medichecks Dec 22
My last ferritin 69.9 ug/l (13-150)
Folate 13 6 ug/l (range>3.89)
B12 144 (37.150)
CRP HS 1. 20 (0-5)
Is there any advice please all bloods drawn 24 hours after last dose at 9am. Stopped b complex week before.
Taking vit d k2 mark 7
Magnesium
NAC
Pharma nord selenium +zink
Thank you very much.
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Soaping
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Yes, you're right - you are not converting well the T4 - which is basically inert and a prohormone into T3 the active hormone that runs all your bodily functions, including your physical, mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual well being, your inner central heating system and your metabolism.
A fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you on a daily basis with trace elements of T1. T2 and calcitonin plus a measure of T3 at around 10 mcg plus a measure of T4 at around 100 mcg - with T3 known to be around 4 times more powerful than T4.
The accepted conversion ratio when taking T4 - only is said to be 1 / 3.50 - 4.50 - T3/T4 and we generally feel at our best when the T4 is in the top quadrant of it's range at around 80 % as then this should, in theory, convert to a good level of T3 running at around 60-70% through is range.
So your T4 is coming in at around 90 % but your T3 is at 0 % - 11!!
and if we divide your T4 by your T3 your conversion is coming in at 6.74 - showing your conversion way out of the ratio and you must be feeling quite unwell and horrible.
Some people can get by on T4 only - which obviously is not you :
Some people find that by adding in a little T3 - Liothyronine they can rebalance their T3/T4 hormone balance to restore their health and well being.
Others can't tolerate T4 and need to take T3 - Liothyronine only :
Whilst others find their health restored better taking Natural Desiccated Thyroid which contains all the same known hormones as that of the human gland and derived from pg thyroid dried and ground down into tablets, referred to as grains.
Currently your doctor, if in the UK, can only prescribe T4 - Levothyroxine.
You will need a referral to an endocrinologist who will assess your need for an alternative treatment option and I'm afraid in many areas of the country it is a post code lottery and it would seem CCG/ICB financial restraints are observed and over rule patient medical need.
I now self medicate as my symptoms were exacerbated by fighting the system but I am much improved and now 5 + years into taking NDT.
I do need to keep my core strength vitamins and mineral optimal and aim for a ferritin of around 100 : folate around 20 : active B12 75++ ( serum B12 500 ++ ) and vitamin D at around 100:
P.S. Just starting to read your previous questions - I see you have Graves Disease - you might like to start reading up, as you most likely will need to be yor own best advocate as Graves is a poorly understood and badly treated auto immune disease.
Are you eyes involved ?
The most well rounded of all the research I found is that of Elaine Moore's Graves and Auto Immune Disease Education website - elaine-moore.com
Hello Pennyannie, Thank you for your reply. No I have never had trouble with my eyes. Was diagnosed with nodules that were suspicious so advised to have thyroid removed😔 they didnt mention graves disease and my antibodies were normal. I am trying so hard to get my t3 up with suppliments. I live in Wirral and I dont think anyone is going to help me here. Im getting by I try to eat healthy dont smoke, rarely drink. But i cant loose weight but it has stayed steady, hair a bit thinner. Xx
Ah, sorry - I jumped to conclusions reading hyperthyroid - and then got distracted by a delivery and have been trying to read the small print on How to Operate a new digital CD/Radio - without much success - the CDs play and I've found Radio 3 - but as for programming anything and using the remote - all on hold until someone 50 years my junior is bribed to come and sort me out.
Thyroid UK the charity who support this forum hold a list of NHS/Private endos and thyroid specialists so first thing Monday suggest you ask Admin at thyroiduk.org for a copy.
I would also put up a new question asking for recommendations of a NHS/Private Endo / Thyroid specialist, stating your area, and see what comes back - the replies will be through Private Messages - ( PMs ) as we are not allowed to openly talk about anyone on this open part of the forum.
I would than ask for a referral to an endo that has been recommended.
If all this fails you can DIY - I have as have many - it's totally unacceptable but when push comes to shove - we do have a few options but you need to be comfortable with this last choice.
Another book that gave me the confidence to try and improve my own health as certainly the NHS were not interested is - Your Thyroid and How To Keep It Healthy - written by a doctor - a relatively easy read as he wrote this for patients to enable them to advocate better for themselves.
Ha ha,good luck with the CD/Radio, youngsters would work it out in a flash. Thank you for te information. I would rather go under someone who could help me tha go it alone, hormones are fiddly buggers xx
Of course I totally agree but I couldn't find anyone down here in Cornwall and too unwell to travel further afield and we would all like to be ' in the system ' rather than fending and paying for ourselves.
The NHS have a duty of care - and yes, the first step is through the correct channels - discuss these results with your doctor - if these are private blood tests, s/he, is not obliged to accept them but it may just force their hand to get you referred to an endocrinologist - and depending on your CCG/ ICB area you may find you will get some help.
It's a post code lottery - you might be in an area that is writing new prescriptions for Liothyronine - T3 - I don't know :
If you go into openprescribing.net and maybe you'll then need to go into analyse - but you can see by Surgery and CCG/ICB area how active either are in prescribing alternative options to T4 - and enter the drug as Liothyronine for T3 and Armour for NDT :
Your T3 is very low. I have no thyroid either and my FT3 has always got to be above 6 to feel well. At least 4 plus for most. I had been taking NDT for years but since last year have tried to go onto Levo. I had read lots on the amount to take without a thyroid and many books state 150mcg per day. You are only on 107mcg per day. I also noticed on my levo instructions it states for thyroid less patients to take 150mcg per day too.
Well that is what i may have to try do but you know thats a long hard road. So trying other options first see if i can get my t4 to convert. Going to try milk thistle next? X
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