Dizziness update

[Mandica]

Hi everyone

Thank you all so much for replying to my earlier post in relation to dizziness and taking thyroxine.

I just thought I’d update my post .. for anyone experiencing similar or stuck in a similar situation.

As suggested by all members I had my blood test (please see results)… not sure what results to post.

I made an appointment to see a private endocrinologist- as my doctor doesn’t test for T3 and so far is refusing to prescribe T3…

My Endocrinologist- recommended liquid thyroxine at my first appointment - thinking I could of become sensitive to caking agents in tablet form 100mg thyroxine but liquid form also made me feel dizzy and strange - even on a very reduced dose 1.0 ml every 3 days… A further appointment to my Endocrinologist - recommended T3 - by this time I was doubtful anything would work and was thinking the worst about my health - feeling terrible all symptoms of under active thyroid returning fast & on top of dizziness - fuzzy head - strange blurred vision -memory loss - extreme fatigue, headache - neck ache - feeling really poorly but still continuing to go to work and wondering how much longer I could keep this up…

Fast forward to today - 3 weeks in of taking T3 and increasing the amount slowly to half a tablet yesterday … this has made a huge difference I feel wonderful for the first time in 4 months of suffering, all symptoms have stopped and I now feel normal - what a relief … I just want to say without my private appointment to my endocrinologist I would still be suffering today - I’ve spent a fortune on medical private appointments so far and it’s so frustrating contacting my doctor and getting him to listen .. even to the private endocrinologists recommendations - unfortunately I feel the NHS is under such a strain and doctors don’t fully understand our complicated thyroid issues..

I just wanted to share my journey in case anyone out there is in a similar situation.

im so grateful to be feeling better

Thank you all for your wonderful advice and support .

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Mandica

What else was tested.?The results posted are just your white blood cell count and they are fine, white blood cells would be raised if you were fighting an infection.

[Mandica in reply to SeasideSusie]

thank you for your reply - I was fighting a water infection in December but not at the point when I had bloods done.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Mandica]

As I said, your white blood cell count is fine, they are an indicator of infection when raised so yours show no sign of infection. But what else was tested?

[Mandica in reply to SeasideSusie]

hi - I’m having difficulty posting images of my test results - let me try again sorry if this is repeated.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Mandica]

You can add images to each reply you make - not just the starting post.

[Mandica in reply to SeasideSusie]

hi sorry it’s taken me so long to add this list from blood work done in April 2023.. this is after I discovered that thyroxine was making me dizzy so reduced to taking every 3 or 4 day - 25 µg at the time as I could not tolerate any further increase. Even with a 25 µg of thyroxine, this made my vision a little blurry and give me headache.

Folate, serum =, 22.4 (8.83-60.8).

Vitamin B. 12 = 85 (37.5-188)

Vitamin D = 81 (50-250)

TSH, = 80.09 (0.27-12.2).

Free T3 = 2.1 (3.1-6.8).

Free thyroxine = 4.5 (12- 22)

Iron =, 18.8 (10-30)

TIBC =, 65 (10-30)

UIBC = 45.7 (13-56)

Transferrin saturation = 29 (25-45).

Ferritin = 121 (30-150).

Total protein = 75 (60-80).

Albumin = 44 (35-50).

Globulin = 31 (19-35).

Creatine kinase = 405 (25-200).

Haemoglobin = 139 (115-165)

Haematocrit = 0.406 (0.37-047).

Red cell count = 4.62 (3.8-5.8).

MCV = 87.9 (80-100).

MCH = 30 (27-32),

MCHC =, 342 (320-360)

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Mandica]

Mandica

It looks as though these results are before you started on your new treatment regime so the thyroid results aren't relevant so I'll go through the other tests but suggest that you test thyroid 6-8 weeks after starting T3. If you're feeling better it would seem that you are already feeling some benefit from the T3.

Folate isn't too bad, it's recommended to be at least half way through range so that would be 35 plus with that range.

B12 is OK, below 70 suggests testing for B12 deficiency and we suggest aiming for 100+ so yours again isn't too bad but there's room for a bit of improvement.

Maybe consider supplementing with a good bioavailable B Complex that contains methylfolate and methylcobalamin (not folic acid and cyanocobalamin). Good brands recommended and used by members are Thorne Basic B and from Amazon there are a couple of liposomal B Complex softgels - Yipmai and Pink Tribe. If you do supplement then leave the B Complex off for 3-7 days before any blood test as it can give false results.

Vit D again isn't too bad although the level recommended by the Vit D Council, Vit D Society and Grassroots Health is 100-150nmol/L. You may be able to make Vit D naturally from the sun during the summer months so to see if you need to supplement during the winter it's best to test around the end of October/beginning of November.

Iron panel

Was CRP included, this helps interpret the ferritin result. CRP is an inflammation marker and is raised when inflammation is present. If CRP is raised then ferritin is usually raised and this rises with inflammation.

Ferritin = 121 (30-150).

Appears good but we'd need to know CRP to know if this is a true ferritin level.

Iron =, 18.8 (10-30)

TIBC =, 65 (10-30)

UIBC = 45.7 (13-56)

Transferrin saturation = 29 (25-45).

Optimal iron panel levels according to rt3-adrenals.org/Iron_test_... are:

Serum iron (measures the amount of iron in your blood): 55 to 70% of the range, higher end for men - yours is 44% so not optimal but not dire.

Transferrin Saturation (measures the percentage of transferrin that is attached to iron): optimal is 35 to 45%, higher end for men - yours is 29% so again not quite optimal but not too bad.

Total Iron Binding Capacity [TIBC] (tells how much transferrin (a protein) is free to carry iron through your blood): Low in range indicates lack of capacity for additional iron, High in range indicates body's need for supplemental iron - yours is a long way over range which is unusual with your serum iron and saturation levels.

Unsaturated iron-binding capacity [UIBC]: This test measures how much transferrin isn’t attached to iron but I have no information about optimal levels for this.

Haemoglobin = 139 (115-165)

Haematocrit = 0.406 (0.37-047).

Red cell count = 4.62 (3.8-5.8).

MCV = 87.9 (80-100).

MCH = 30 (27-32),

MCHC =, 342 (320-360)

All these are nicely within range and show no sign of anaemia.

Total protein = 75 (60-80).

Albumin = 44 (35-50).

Globulin = 31 (19-35).

These are within range and don't suggest any problems. They're very similar to mine so they could be common levels.

Creatine kinase = 405 (25-200).

I have no knowledge of this test so it's best to discuss this elevated level with your medical practioner.

Has your endo or GP seen these results and made any comment?

[Mandica in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi Seaside Susie .. thank you for your looking over my blood results… and yes the thyroid bloods was after I had to stop thanking my thyroxine medication 4 months ago.

The increased dose of T3 has started to work this week I’m so pleased.

I do take multivitamins so have taken on board what you are saying and have ordered some more today.. thank you so much for all your advice. 😊

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Mandica

To add an image in a reply, click on the last icon in the row (rectangle with mountains in) and from wherever you have stored your images you click on the one you want to add it to the reply.

I use a PC and get what you can see in the screenshot I've added, if you use any other device I don't know how it works but I expect it's similar.

You can only add one image in a reply.

[Mandica in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi - I did exactly that 3 times but they have not been added - I’ll write them out later - thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Mandica]

There's been a bit of a gremlin lately with adding images in replies, for some reason it seems to open a new reply box rather then put the image in the reply box you're using. Not to worry though, just type them in when you can.

[jrbarnes]

That's good news. What is your dose of Levo and T3 now?

[Mandica in reply to jrbarnes]

hi Jrbarnes ..

I was taking 100mg levothyroxine in March 2023 - I have taken this for around 20 years no problem then in March this year realised that it was making me feel horrid and dizzy - I now take 1ml liquid dose every 3-4 days.. this is all I can tolerate.

Three weeks ago, I started taking T3 Thbon Henning - 3 weeks ago and I’ve slowly increased to half a tablet per day which is made an amazing difference to how I’m feeling.

previously / five years ago, I was on armour thyroid for around five years and then discovered this also was making me feel dizzy and I had to stop taking it and go back onto thyroxine, which at the time I could tolerate.

I’m just wondering why I can tolerate things for so long and then suddenly they’re making me really poorly I wondered if anybody else has experienced similar.

[jrbarnes in reply to Mandica]

I was also on Levo for about 6 years and then everything started to go downhill. Still not sure why. For the past 3.5 years I've been experimenting with T3, NDT, and T4/T3 combos. I experienced a lot of dizziness until I started taking Thorne iron on alternating days. I would almost fall over in the shower when closing my eyes. I haven't had dizziness since doing the iron supplements but I still haven't found the best combo of thyroid meds either.

[Mandica in reply to jrbarnes]

thanks for your response - so sorry you are experiencing similar dizziness - thyroid seems to be a minefield - please can I ask why you considered to take Thorne iron … was your iron low in any blood tests…

I would try anything that helped along the way.

Good you’re getting T3. and NDT prescribed from your doctor, it’s not an easy task.

[jrbarnes in reply to Mandica]

My ferritin levels were below 50 with normal total iron levels to start. I was undereating due to low appetite so I had to double my calories and gained 20lbs very quickly. Suddenly my Levo dose was much too low and my periods became heavy and then my ferritin and total iron levels were bottom of range and I became so dizzy I couldn't walk straight and the fatigue was crushing. It pushed my ho-hum ferritin levels of 47 down to 19. The thorne iron quickly corrected it.

[Mandica in reply to jrbarnes]

Hi jbarnes - sorry for the late response but good you found what was contributing to your dizziness - hope you find the right combination with thyroid medication - having a good doctor who is patient and understands thyroid issues is a miracle so good luck with that one 👍