Latest test results

[Calceolaria]

Hi, Slow Dragon kindly suggested I submit my latest test results , given that I continue with episodic fatigue. ( also heat/sweats). I’ve had a number of blood tests over the past 6 months all apparently normal but of course only TSH tested in respect of my diagnosis of hypothyroidism, prescribed currently at 75 mcgs levothyroxine, probably at this titration for maybe 8 months, same brand, non Teva.

I sent to Medichecks just for the basic thyroid test - the more expensive one about 4 months ago, I couldn’t get enough blood out and I was reluctant to pay that again!

Anyway, the basic result this week is

TSH - 0.64, range 0.27 - 4.2

Free T3 - 4.9, range 3.1 - 6.8

Free Thyroxine 20.7, range 12 -22.

I’m not particularly stupid but I confess that something stands in the way of my understanding of how all this works!

Medichecks say everything ok. Is it?

Thanks in advance.

Ah, you mention hormone treatment. My doc prescribed low dose Vagirux pessary x 2 weekly re frequent utis, which has been very successful

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Was test done early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drinking water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

FT4: 20.7 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 87.00% through range

FT3: 4.9 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 48.65% through range

post from 8 months ago

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

Showed low vitamin D and very high thyroid antibodies

How much vitamin D are you currently taking

Are you also taking magnesium

Both magnesium and vitamin D should be at least 4 hours away from levothyroxine

Have you retested vitamin D since

If not test here

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £31 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Are you now on absolutely strictly gluten free diet

Have you also tried dairy free diet too

[Calceolaria in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, of course I follow the testing protocol as advised. I take oral spray Better Health D3, 3,000, which has K2. I tend not to take it on days I have been in sun. I will have it checked on the NHS site you have highlighted, thanks.

My Free T has increased over the past 8 months, as has T3. Should it have? Will it continue to increase and if so, does this mean additional problems in the future?

I am not gluten free and I’m not dairy free. I take no milk until about 11am and only in tea or coffee. Where then does adequate calcium fit in if some vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage etc have to be cooked to death? What would gluten and dairy free do? Sorry to be dim. My doc keeps saying I’m now just like everyone else who doesn’t have an under active thyroid because I’m on the med! That’s the only conversation I’ve had with him about it!

Many thanks.

Also take low dose Vagirux pessary x 2 weekly which has been very successful treating frequent UTIs.

Can I mention that my skin seem to be getting much more wrinkled, quite quickly recently! I’m not young by any means but it’s something I’ve noticed.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Calceolaria]

In previous post that I linked to in reply above we discussed that you had previously found gluten free diet helpful …..as do high percentage of thyroid Patients

Links about Bone health

important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7

Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Interesting article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium

drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Calceolaria]

Thyroid levels

As you tested correctly this shows poor conversion rate

High Ft4 and low Ft3

Very common on just levothyroxine

You might find Ft3 improves a little if you reduce levothyroxine (Ft4) a tiny amount

Aiming to keep Ft4 at steady 70% through range….perhaps reduce to 67mcg once a week

Retest in 6-8 weeks see where Ft4 is then

If Ft3 has also reduced then likely to need addition of T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo

[Calceolaria in reply to SlowDragon]

About 72 kilos. I am overweight at 5’2”.

I did find gluten free helpful on the O blood type diet some years ago, though that was about weight loss and just feeling really good. I did half-heartedly attempt it again after my last post and I suppose I need to move away from trying to live as I have been doing recently and give it a proper go.

I do have pill cutter. I’ll certainly give that a try and retest in six weeks. Thanks.

Does having a poor conversion rate mean I have less useful thyroxine ? Why might I have a poor conversion rate? Diet? Levothyroxine itself?

Thanks again for your invaluable help.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Calceolaria]

Are you absolutely sure you took last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

I don’t think you should reduce dose

75mcg is low dose especially if you weigh 72 kilo

Guidelines suggested likely to need 115mcg per day

72kg x 1.6mcg per kilo per day

A natural correctly working thyroid makes 80% Ft4 and 20% Ft3

Many, many people have high Ft4 and low Ft3 if only on just levothyroxine (Ft4)

Improving low vitamin levels can improve conversion , gluten free and/or dairy free may help absorption

But ultimately you may need addition of T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine if you can’t tolerate higher dose levothyroxine

Have you tried taking slightly higher dose….eg 75mcg and 100mcg alternate days

[thyr01d in reply to Calceolaria]

Hi Calceolaria, yes selenium is necessary your for thyroid function, and, in answer to your question about calcium, it's in foods like sunflower seeds and parsley if you are going dairy free. You are not being at all dim, there is so much to learn, some people feel much better being either or both dairy and gluten free. I will leave others more knowledgeable to answer your questions about T3.

[Calceolaria]

I absolutely did take my levo at least 24 hrs before test, maybe even 26/7 hrs.

I will try tweaking the levo up as you suggest.

How much magnesium should I take? Is the oil spray appropriate?

I’ll get my D checked. I read all your links etc thank you and need to think them through properly. I still find it confusing that a year ago I was borderline, then six weeks later high enough to be needing meds, then TSH drops significantly on only 75 mcgs. I’m not sure if that matters but it feels like it might.

Sorry for firing questions and I sincerely thank you for your help.

Is selenium useful in converting issues?