hello, this is my first post - I’ve done a lot of lurking and learning here for a few months whilst waiting for blood test results. It’s kept me sane dipping in to this amazing space and given me confidence to get help and create structure around my health - which is amazing given where I was 6 months ago - so thank you 🙏
just got results back from Blue Horizon( see below ) and I would appreciate any comments. GP started me on trial 25mcg Teva Levo in March. I responded well for initial 2 weeks then slumped. Docs agreed increase to 50mcg with same pattern. Now just starting on 75mcg to see how that goes before NHS re-testing in Sept. Meanwhile I booked a test to see FT3, antibodies, vits (and RT3 which I now understand may not be very useful) … RT3, Selenium and Folate are out of range I followed guidance on here re optimum blood testing
I’m generally happy with how I’m feeling on the levo - much better energy wise and less anxious - however l’ve noticed when I do get dips in mood and energy they are quite severe with no warning or consistency - which confuses me as I almost feel like a different person for a couple of days and have to hibernate again. I liken it to having an electrical plug suddenly pulled from its socket (mid afternoon) and someone puts a sack of wet concrete on my head (in the night ) so waking up is awful.
anyway … any suggestions on how to view my latest results would be very much appreciated.
Initial TSH March
6.32 mu/L Range: 0.27 - 4.2 mu/L
TSH May 5.25 mu/L Range: 0.27 - 4.2 mu/L
TSH July 2.180 mu/L Range: 0.27 - 4.2 mu/L
FT4 March 14.2 pmol/L Range: 11.1 - 22 pmol/L
FT4 May 13.9 pmol/L Range: 11.1 - 22 pmol/L
FT4 July 15.20 pmol/LRange: 12- 22 pmol/L
FT3 July 3.8 pmol/LRange: 3.1-6.8 pmol/L
RT3 July 49 ng/dL Range 8-31 ng/dL
Ferritin 43.79 ug/L range 13-150 ug/L
Serum Folate 31.80 ng/ml range 3.89-26.80 ng/ml
Vitamin B12 474.9 pg/ml range 197-771 pg/ml
Selenium 2.74 umol/L range 0.75-1.46 umol/L
Vitamin D 72 nmol/L (>50 is sufficient)
zinc 13 u/L range 9.8-29.5 u/L
Magnesium 0.85 mno l/L range 0.7-1.0
Thyroid Perixidase antibody <4 range 0.24
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hi HealthStarDust it’s their Thyroid Check Adv +RT3. I didn’t actually mean to book that one! got in a muddle between links on my phone ( bad eyes and sausage fingers).
Now I’m even more complexed! I wonder if it’s the same Blue Horizon I am thinking of as the ones I see are graded in metals as in gold platimum etc bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk... 🤔
And, super well done on your progress. It’s not easy.
Great work lurking and learning! Super post. Welcome and hello 😊
That’s the first selenium result I’ve seen, do you supplement? It seems over range (unless I’m reading it wrong). Was there guidance with your results?
It looks to me like you are making good progress but have more to go in terms of treating your symptoms, very well described by the way! I didn’t feel right till my TSH went under 1 with FT4 in the top of range and FT3 higher in the range. Take it slow though, I’m currently coming down from over doing it, easy to miss optimal as you chase feeling better.
Others will be along with sage advice and links for you.
Thanks for encouragement and swift response. love what you said about taking it slow and ‘chasing feeling better’ - don’t want to miss the sweet spot … Yes, Selenium was flagged as over range - I started supplementing selenium in March when I read (somewhere) that it supports immune system. Guidance on results is below ( I’ve been taking 200 ug per day but will be stopping).
“The selenium level is high. If you are taking supplements, it is important not to exceed a daily dose of 400 mcg. Remember too that you will take in selenium from the diet. Excess selenium can cause fingernail loss, rashes, fatigue, irritability, and weight loss amongst other things. It is particularly important to be wary about selenium supplementation if you are hypothyroid or have had, or are at risk for, skin cancer - as people in these groups are possibly more sensitive to the effects of high levels of selenium in the body. High selenium intake may also increase the risk of developing diabetes.”
I did the lurking and learning for around 6 months or so, so you're in good company. It's good to see that you're making progress and you're feeling better than when you started. I dont think you're a good converter from ft4 to ft3. Also, your b12 and ferratin could be better. Both would help with fatigue.
FT4 July 15.20 pmol/LRange: 12- 22 pmol/L - 32% through range
FT3 July 3.8 pmol/LRange: 3.1-6.8 pmol/L - 18.92% through range
RT3 July 49 ng/dL Range 8-31 ng/dL
As you now know there's no real point in testing rT3. The only reason rT3 would be connected to thyroid is if there is an excess of unconverted T4. You can see from your results that your FT4 is low in range and has a long way to go to reach optimal, and you are converting T4 to T3 but they're not yet in balance, this may improve as you reach your optimal dose and with a better ferritin level.
Other reasons that contribute to increased Reverse T3 levels include:
· Chronic fatigue
· Acute illness and injury
· Chronic disease
· Increased cortisol (stress)
· Low cortisol (adrenal fatigue)
· Low iron
· Lyme disease
· Chronic inflammation
Also selenium deficiency, excess physical, mental and environmental stresses. Also Beta-blocker long-term use such as propranolol, metoprolol, etc. Physical injury is a common cause of increased RT3, also illnesses like the flu. Starvation/severe calorie restriction is known to raise RT3. Diabetes when poorly treated is known to increase RT3. Cirrhosis of the liver. Fatty liver disease. Any other liver stress Renal Failure. A fever of unknown cause. Detoxing of high heavy metals.
Ferritin 43.79 ug/L range 13-150 ug/L
Have been taking : iron either Better You spray or Feraglobin
Did you do a full iron panel test to include serum iron, saturation percentage, total iron binding capacity plus ferritin before supplementing iron? We shouldn't supplement iron based on low ferritin alone. This is because if we already have good levels of serum iron and saturation then taking iron supplements can take these too high and lead to iron overload/toxicity. This is why we should do an iron panel before supplementing. If iron panel shows good levels then we should try to raise ferritin level through diet by eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week due to it's high Vit A content, also liver pate, black pudding, and including lots of iron rich foods in your diet
This is slightly over range and has probably been bumped up by the B Complex you take.
How much methylfolate does your supplement contain?
Did you remember to leave off your B Complex for 3-7 days before this test, this is because it contains biotin and this gives false results for any blood test unless we leave it off for a few days beforehand.
Vitamin B12 474.9 pg/ml range 197-771 pg/ml
just bought Viridian B12 capsules 1000 ug - (wondering whether that’s a appropriate ?)
According to an extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok:
"We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 pg/ml to at least 450 pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550".
"For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml."
Does your supplement contain methylcobalamin (rather than cyanocobalamin)?
I would retest when you've finished one bottle of your B12 supplement, you might find that is enough to bring your level high enough, then just continue with the B Complex (which you should also take when taking B12 as it keeps all the B vitamins balanced).
Vitamin D 72 nmol/L (>50 is sufficient)
The Vit D Society, Vit D Council and Grassroots Health all recommend a level of 100-150nmol/L with a recent blog post on Grassroots Health recommending at least 125nmol/L.
To reach the recommended level you would need to supplement with 3,700iu D3 daily according to the Vit D Council:
Nearest to buy is 4,000iu, cheapest way is to buy 5,000iu and take 6 days a week rather than 7.
Remember D3's important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7.
zinc 13 u/L range 9.8-29.5 u/L
I've read that zinc should be around mid-range.
Zinc and copper should be balanced. We Hypos tend to have one low and the other high, so it's best to test both so we know what we should supplement.
Magnesium 0.85 mno l/L range 0.7-1.0
Testing magnesium is unreliable. About 99% of magnesium is stored in bone, muscles and soft tissues, leaving about 1% in the blood. So testing what's in the blood isn't giving an accurate picture of our magnesium status.
A red cell magnesium test is said to be the better indicator of magnesium status, not the standard serum magnesium test. The red cell test is expensive and requires phlebotomy which is why it's not included in these bundles.
If you want to read the science, this information is from this article:
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