latest medichecks results

[Mickeydooley]

Just received my medichecks results and would appreciate help to interpret please as there are quite a few changes since last test

CRP - 2.73

Ferritin - 104 (30-650)

Folate - 10.8 (8.83-60.8)

B12 - 75.4 ((37.5-188)

Vit d - 152 (50-250)

TSH - 0.01

FT3 - 5.2 (3.1-6.8)

FT4 - 12.8 (12-22)

TGAb - 188 (<115)

TPOAb - 12.9 (0-34)

I’m currently taking 50mcg levo, 25mcg t3 (divided into 2 doses - approx 5am and 3pm) and one metavive 111 daily.

Test was done 8am, fasted. levo 24hours prior to test and t3 on day before taken at 8am (12.5mcg), 3pm (6.25mcg) and 8pm (6.25mcg)

Curious as ferritin levels before were very high and now surprisingly low (?) but I have given blood a couple of times since last test. Not sure if that accounts for the drop.

I’d be very grateful for advice on thyroid levels please. I’ve been buying my own t3 for a while and have been taking 25mcg t3 for almost 6 months but am planning to go back to taking 20mcg. My 25mcg tablets are running out and surprisingly my gp is still writing script for 20mcg t3, so I’m going to use them up and keep taking as long as he continues to prescribe.

[DippyDame]

How do you feel on your current dose?

Blood donation reduces ferritin.

Your FT3 appears adequate

TSH and FT4 will drop when T3 is used

Why are you planning to reduce your T3 dose?

Do you have symptoms of overmedication.....fast resting heart rate, anxiety, tremors etc

I’m going to use them up and keep taking as long as he continues to prescribe.

You can't dose successfully on a supply basis....you need to take the dose that keeps you well and if 25mcg is your therapeutic dose then that's what you need!

We need thyroid hormone replacement for life....not for as long as a medic thinks fit to prescribe

Was your T4 to T3 conversion impaired?

Metavive 111 provides an unspecified amount of thyroid hormone

Why are you taking only 50mcg levo?

Did you try taking higher doses before adding T3 and the glandular?

High Tg antibodies suggest Hashi's. Are you gluten free?

Just a few thoughts

[Mickeydooley in reply to DippyDame]

It’s a long story. I had been on a t3 trial at the local hospital endo clinic. Due to suppressed TSH they continually tried to reduce my meds despite very low ft3 and ft4 levels. After three years of fighting with them I withdrew from the trial and they told me they’d have to take me off t3 if I didn’t attend the clinic every three months for checkup. I assumed the endo would advise gp to stop supplying t3 so I sourced my own t3 following recommendations here but all I could get were 25mcg tablets. I added metavive a while ago (can’t remember when exactly) on advice from a naturopathic doctor who specialises in thyroid treatment. My t3 had been over range at one point and I was advised to reduce levo from 75 to 50mcg. (Sorry my memory and timeline is all over the place!) Surprisingly the gp is still prescribing my t3 and I have built up quite a supply of 20mcg tablets whilst I’ve been taking the ones I bought (25mcg). I thought maybe I could adjust my meds possibly by increasing levo by 25mcg and taking the 20mcg tablets of t3. I know it’s not ideal but as long as the gp is prescribing my levo and t3 I thought I may as well use them instead of buying my own. My FT4 is very low in range (8%) and FT3 is only just above half way.

I’ve been feeling very tired lately, hair starting to fall out again and I have sore joints and muscles.

[DippyDame in reply to Mickeydooley]

Makes you wonder just how many thyroid patients are struggling in the " care" of medics with poor knowledge of thyroic disease!!

Am I right in thinking you are prescribed 50mcg levo plus 20mcg T3

But....

Your GP is unaware that you are taking 50mcg levo + 25mcg T3 + 1 Met 111

In your shoes I would first drop the Metavive111 because you don't know how much hormone it is providing

You say you plan to increase levo by 25mcg....so 75mcg and to add 20mcg T3.....have I understood that correctly?

So your new dose would be 75mcg levo + 20mcg T3

But...

We only change one thing at a time otherwise we don't know what is doing what!

I would increase levo first and see how that feels then test after 6/8 weeks

Only then consider changing T3....depending on these labs

The dose is unlikely to be totally right for you but it will provide an accurate baseline which you can work from to then fine tune your dose.

You may not feel 100% as you make the changes but stick it out and hopefully you will be on the road to finding your therapeutic dose

Unfortunately there is no quick fix....it needs patience

( I struggled with that but it's the only way I'm afraid!)

Your symptoms suggest you are under or wrongly medicated and medics are supposed to consider both symptoms and numbers during diagnosis.

I'm not a medic so can only talk from personal experience and acquired knowledge.

Hope it helps you make a decision.....

We're all here to help....just ask!

Good luck!

[Mickeydooley in reply to DippyDame]

My script is actually for 75mcg levo and 20mcg t3 but I’m only taking 50mcg of the levo in addition to the 25 t3 and metavive 111.

I have been monitoring my own condition for years now as gp has no idea about thyroid treatment. I reduced my levo following advice but didn’t change my script (as I knew I’d never get it back again if I needed it)

I’m a little confused about what to do next. As I’m running out of 25mcg tablets which I bought myself after being threatened with withdrawal of my t3 from endo but I have lots of 20mcg tablets from gp I will have to change down to 20mcg first. I’m aware I should only change one thing at a time but if I reduce t3 from 25 to 20mcg and (which I’ll have to do unless I buy more t3) and drop metavive and then leave 6-8 weeks before I test again before possibly increasing levo I suspect my numbers and symptoms will deteriorate and I’m a bit concerned about that.

[DippyDame in reply to Mickeydooley]

Yes, I understand you're taking 50mcg T4 + 25mcg T3 + 1x Met 111

You said, I thought maybe I could adjust my meds possibly by increasing levo by 25mcg and taking the 20mcg tablets of levo

If you read my reply again you'll see I suggested increasing T4 then testing after 6 weeks ....after that only consider changing T3....depending on these labs.

I understand you are running out of 25mcg tabs but you can cut 20mcg tabs into quarters and add one piece to a 20mcg tablet to make 25mcg!

I suggested leaving the T3 dose initially because I understand your conversion is poor and you may need that T3

It's a work in progress

You don't actually know what the Met111 is contributing in any detail....so if you want an accurate hormone level it will likely skew your lab numbers.

I would drop the Met111 but any decision is yours.

So, what I suggested was along the lines of your own thoughts.....75mcg T4 ( an increase)...but meantime I left T3 at 25mcg ( no change)

After 6 weeks on that dose test again.

I understand you're concerned about running out of 25mcg T3 tablets but that can be overcome in the short term by dividing the 20mcg tablets.... you have a supply.

I think you "ll find it more beneficial to begin by increasing your T4 to 75mcg and leaving your T3 at 25mcg.

Good luck with what you decide to do.

[Mickeydooley in reply to DippyDame]

ah! Thank you! Not thinking very clearly atm. That sounds like a good plan. Appreciate your help. 🙏🏻

[DippyDame in reply to Mickeydooley]

You're welcome....hope you feel better soon.

We're all here to help....just ask.

[Mickeydooley in reply to DippyDame]

Thank you! I will. You’ve been a great help. Feeling a lot more positive already and looking forward to getting some energy back at long last. ❤️

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Ft4 is rather low ….some people are fine with that

Others need Ft4 at least around 50% through range

Perhaps try small dose increase in levothyroxine

Folate low

B12 just about ok

Are you currently taking daily vitamin B complex?

[Mickeydooley]

Hi SD. Thanks for the reply. I’m not currently taking b complex. I had been but my b12 levels in May 2022 were over range (>150) so I stopped. Will folate increase if I take b complex? I have igennus super b complex. How much do you recommend I take?