Thoughts on bloods please :)

[GreenTealSeal]

Hello!

Here are my bloods after taking 75mcg levo, I’m doing mostly better but wondering if it is worth asking for another increase?

Should I try 87.5mcg or 100mcg?

For ref I am 5”5 and around 53kg.

Thank you so much! (Results below)

Tsh 2.63 (0.27-4.2)

Ft4 19.9 (11-21.2)

T3 not tested.

Serum vit b 12 632 (197-771)

folate 6.3 (3-20)

Vit d 143 (50-150)

ferritin 43 (13-150)

Last dose levo taken 24 hours before test and fasted

[pennyannie]

Hello GreenTealSeal :

Glad to read you are feeling improved and think you will be able to build on this better once you get your ferritin up and maintained at least over 70 :

Folate also looks a little low -

I now aim to maintain my ferritin at around 100 : folate 20 : active B12 75++ ( serum B12 500++ ) and vitamin D at around 100 :

Are you supplementing any of these and did you remember to stop the supplements around a week before having the blood tested ?

Generally speaking we tend to feel at our best when the TSH is down at around 1 - possible even lower.

There is no Free T3 reading so it's difficult to know how well your body is utilising the T4 as this is basically a storage hormone that your body needs to convert into T3 - which is the active hormone and which runs all your bodily functions including your inner central heating system and your metabolism.

It is essential to be dosed of your Free T3 and Free T4 readings and we generally feel best when the T4 is up in the top quadrant of it's range converting to a god good level of T3 at around a 1/4 ratio T3/T4:

[elkewilliams]

As no T3 was tested I wonder how good your conversion from T4 to T3 is?

Most people seem to feel better with a TSH under 1.

Ferritin definitely on the low side I would think.

Can you present ongoing symptoms to your GP to support your wish for increase in Levothyroxine. There may be resistance if s/he only goes by test results.

I think it is money well spent to do private tests to see what your T3 is like.

My GP can order T3 testing as much as she likes, the lab will not do it unless they see abnormal readings in TSH and T4, so private testing is my only way.

You will probably have to fight for this until you feel well and not just within reference range ‘normal’.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You need to work on improving low ferritin levels by increasing iron rich foods in your diet

Low folate

What vitamin supplements are you taking

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance

Difference between folate and folic acid

healthline.com/nutrition/fo...

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 folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg)

Post discussing how biotin can affect test results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...