Thanks to the advice here (and the help of Medichecks) I think I have been getting a better handle on my hypothyroidism. Here are my latest results...if anyone has any further advice I'd be grateful to hear it.
Ferritin: 153ug/L (30-650)
Folate: 18nmol/L (8.83-60.8)
Vitamin B12 - Active 89.1pmol/L (37.5-150)
Vitamin D 75.9 nmol/L (50-200)
TSH 0.454 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.2)
Free T3 4.14 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8)
Free Thyroxine 20.2 pmol/L (12-22)
Autoimmunity/antibodies all well within normal range so no point adding.
General symptoms are much better (sleeping, energy etc) but I'm still having very slow digestion.
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Was CRP included? If so what was it? It helps us to interpret ferritin result.
Folate very low, it's recommended to be at least half way through range (35 plus with that range).
B12 not bad but we always say aim for 100 plus with Active B12.
Do you take any B vitamins, eg B Complex?
Vit D not bad but it's recommended to be 100-150nmol/L by the Vit D Council, Vit D Society and Grassroots Health. Do you supplement?
TSH 0.454 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.2)
Free T3 4.14 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8)
Free Thyroxine 20.2 pmol/L (12-22)
Did you do test as we advise?
* No later than 9am
* Nothing except water before test
* Last dose of Levo 24 hours before test
* No biotin, B Complex or any supplement containing biotin for 3-7 days before test.
If so your results show poor conversion of T4 to T3 with FT4 at 82% through range and FT3 at jjust 28.11%. Apart from poor folate result your nutrient levels aren't really bad enough to say they're affecting conversion so you may benefit from the addition of some T3 to your Levo.
As you say you still have some slow digestion I don't know what impact this may have, it's not something I've looked into as I don't have a problem in this department.
Hello SS....not sure what you mean about goading??
CRP was over range at 8 probably because I had an infected tooth, now sorted.
Yes, always take the bloods exactly as Slow Dragon/you guys always recommend?
I take a BComplex containing Biotin and separate Vit D?K2 every day but had not as guidance states for a week beforehand
Last time I looked, my health authority won't prescribe T3. I have to get my bloods done privately because only once in 2 years of this journey have I ever had it tested by NHS.
Hello SS....not sure what you mean about goading??
I have no idea what that's about I'm afraid, didn't see it myself and I read through what I've written for mistakes before I submit 🤷♀️. Techy gremlin, who knows.
CRP was over range at 8 probably because I had an infected tooth, now sorted.
So that means your ferritin is very likely to be elevated due to inflammation which the CRP is showing. Maybe not massively, do you have a ferritin/CRP result from a previous test when CRP is low in range?
Folate, maybe take a separate folate supplement in addition to the B Complex for a while, try some 400mcg methylfolate, just one bottle, see what that does to your level. If it brings it up to nearer half way through range you could then drop it and just continue with the B Complex. This is the methylfolate I used when my folate dipped:
So apart from that it looks as though T3 would be beneficial and maybe the only way you'll get it is to self source.
[I'm almost too scared to submit reply now in case any other strange words appear! I have checked what I've written and at the point of submitting there's nothing that I haven't written.]
Thanks SS...the 'goading' thing was very odd and appeared right after the stuff about B12 in original response. It was a single line totally out of context and said something like 'Do you think she is goading us because we know who she is?' which also freaked me out completely! By the time you replied it had disappeared from the original. Bizarre.....
Anyway, both of us paranoid now and wherever that came from, this is definitely a genuine enquiry!
To answer your question in second response (which luckily did not contain any weird additions three months ago my CRP was 3.32 and my Ferritin was 114. So am I right in thinking that the new Ferritin was up because of the raised CRP this time out?
I have been trying to get my abysmal folate up for months now and it is rising..slowly. I sometimes do supplement with BioCare Methylfolgard instead of the BComplex but perhaps I need to do both as you suggest and test again in another three months.
The T3 as risen somewhat post the newly increased dose to 100 Levo. Am wondering since I am still symptomatic with sluggish bowel and pretty low heart rate whether I should ask for another increase to 125 which might be more in alignment with my weight on SlowDragon's mgs per kilo recommendation?
Apparently there were a few other gremlins in the works yesterday, maybe something going on with the techy side of HealthUnlocked which we have no connection with, but things seem to have settled down now 🤞
So am I right in thinking that the new Ferritin was up because of the raised CRP this time out?
Yes, I do believe your ferritin is higher due to the higher CRP. I get this. My CRP is usually around 2 - 4, it's never low due to my lung disease, and my ferritin is often around 60ish. I've recently been ill and my CRP went up to 9 and ferritin was 113, not long after that I had Covid and CRP went up to 13 but ferritin wasn't tested at that time but I expect it was even higher. So we have to be careful not to think we've got a super ferritin level when CRP is elevated, the lower the better with CRP and a low CRP should give us a truer ferritin level.
The T3 as risen somewhat post the newly increased dose to 100 Levo. Am wondering since I am still symptomatic with sluggish bowel and pretty low heart rate whether I should ask for another increase to 125 which might be more in alignment with my weight on SlowDragon's mgs per kilo recommendation?
Free T3 4.14 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) currently, previously was 3.84
Free Thyroxine 20.2 pmol/L (12-22) currently, previously was 17.4
So your FT4 has increased to 82% through range from 54% and your FT3 has increased from 28.11% from 20%.
Apart from folate your nutrient levels aren't too bad. I think if you increase your Levo again you will get to top of the range with FT4 and maybe even over range but I think your FT3 will still show very poor conversion.
Good conversion takes place when the T4:T3 ratio is 4:1 or less. Previously your conversion was 17.4 divided by 3.84 = 4.53 and currently your conversion is 20.2 divided by 4.14 = 4.88 so your conversion isn't as good now as it was before. It's still my opinion that you could benefit from adding someT3.
Gosh you've been going through the health mill lately haven't you SS? I hope you feel better very soon.
It's fascinating for me to discover this new stuff about conversion rates and indeed vits/minerals. And from what you say, it would appear best to stick with the 100, keep boosting the methylfolate and B12 and try and source some T3. I have a docs appointment soon so I'm going to ask her if there's any chance of NHS help with that. Probably not I feel but I'm already shelling out fortunes on supplements and private blood tests so perhaps she can find a way to take pity. If there's any flexibility at all from the CCG....
I am so grateful for your help with all this. You've definitely got your degree in Thyroidology Thank you!
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three months ago my CRP was 3.32 and my Ferritin was 114. So am I right in thinking that the new Ferritin was up because of the raised CRP this time out?
Thank you!
Blood test results
Help with blood test results please
Blood Test Results
