I am subclinical underactive hypothyroid since March 2021. I am not on any medication as the blood results have always been within NHS range. I still go through extreme fatigue which is why i am here to understand if I should be medicated for thyroid.
Please see the results below . Just to mention I am regularly taking vitamin b 12, Vit D, 400 mg iron. Blood test was done at 8 am in the morning. I was not tested for thyroid antibodies this time.
TSH level = 1.05 mIU/L (0.35 - 4.94)
free T4 level = 11.5 pmol/L (9.0 - 19.1)
Serum free T3 level = 5.1 pmol/L (2.4 - 6.0)
Serum total 25-OH vit D level = 56 nmol/L (50 - 200)
Did you remember to stop any biotin containing supplements 3-5 days before the test?
What time of day was this test? Highest TSH is at 9am or earlier.
Your TSH is below 2 and a fair way from being above range so its highly unlikely any doctor would think about offering you replacement hormones on this result. If you have positive antibodies inparticular you should continue retesting every 3-4 months.
Your vit D & folate are on the low side.
Vitamin D should be around 100 - 150. Buy one that includes vit K2 to help it go to your bones. Many people like the Better You range of motuth sprays with K2 included. Some are available in oil or you can take it with an oily meal for better absorption. Use this calculator to work out how much to take to get your level to 100-150. wildatlantichealth.com/vita...
Folate - aim for a level of 20. Recommend taking an active/methyl (should say on label) B complex which contains 400mcgs folate (also B12). This B complex has all the right vitamins at a not unreasonable cost for 90 days supply. amazon.co.uk/Liposomal-Soft...
Ferritin should be around 90 - 100 for best use of thyroid hormone. Suggest increasing iron rich foods in diet and eating them often. Chicken livers, pate, red meat etc
Many thanks for your input. Yes, the test was done at around 7:55/8:00 am in the morning. And i had stopped taking all the supplements atleast a week before the test.
For some reason, i am not able to absorb iron though I was taking 400 mg which had 40 mg elemental iron in it but it still came out quite low.
Do you think my FT3 and FT4 results are okay? I read another post talking about central hypo a couple of days ago which was a first for me.
Iron is notoriously slow to raise. If you are taking iron then drink some orange juice or anything containing vit C with it to help it absorb better.
Your FT3 is good but likely the thyroid putting out extra to make up for a lowish FT4.
Central hypo is certainly an issue for some but I would expect to see a lower still FT4 if not below range.
In your earlier posts you meantion digestive issues. Have you you thought about food intolerances or dietary changes to help that? Nutritionists can be good at helping to pinpoint problems.
I read another post talking about central hypo a couple of days ago which was a first for me.
Your TSH is euthyroid (i.e. no thyroid problems) but your FT4 is low. However, your FT3 is pretty high, so that would compensate for the low FT4 where your TSH is concerned. That does not suggest central hypo. What it suggests is that your thyroid is failing for some reason and is therefore making excessive T3 at the expense of the T4 to keep you healthy.
You said: I was not tested for thyroid antibodies this time. Which suggests that you have been in the past. What were the results? Do you have Hashi's? That would explain those results.
At the moment, I would say you don't need thyroid hormone replacement, but you probably will in the future, so you need to keep a close eye on things.
Is there anything that can be done to balance T3 amd T4?
Absolutely nothing at this point. We just have to wait and see which way they go. You cannot restore a failing thyroid to health. The only thing you can do for your general health is to optimise sub-optimal nutrients by taking the ones you need plus their co-factors.
Hi Pabaoo , I'm doing some shameless early morning plugging of this thyroid research petition ~ (it's asking the govt to give some of the £84Million CMA fine from the price hike of Liothyronine T3 to thyroid research) .
Please consider signing and SHARING this petition if you haven't already done so .. if you have signed already THANKYOU
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.