Help and advice with my thyroid results.

[Maisie87]

Hi,

I'm looking for some help and guidance based upon my recent Thyroid / TSH results.

I'm having debilitating pains in my legs, hips and lower back. Stiffness in the hands and fatigue.

My result are as follows;

TSH 0.145

Range 0.27 - 4.2

FREE T3 3.9

RANGE 3.1-6.8

FREE T4 18.1

RANGE 12-22

They were done on the 22/9/23

I'm currently taking 87.5mcg levo plus 2.5mcg of T3 which I've just increased a few days ago, just out of curiosity to see if it made any difference to the pain in my legs and it did take the edge off but now it's creeping back 😢

I previously on the 26/07/23 did a blood test to check ferritin which was;

64ug/I range 15-150ug

Vit b12

538pg/ml range 191-663pg/ml

Serum folate

13.6ng/ml range 3.89-26.8/ml

Vitamin D

72.2nmol/L range 50-175

I would be most grateful for your help 🙏

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

On T3 - day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day with last dose 8-12 hours before test

is this how you did your test …..obviously impossible to split 2.5mcg any smaller

FT4: 18.1 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 is 61.00% through range

FT3: 3.9 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 is very low at only 21.62% through range

2.5mcg is a tiny dose of T3

Looking like you will need to increase by some way

Suggest you increase slowly to 3 x 2.5mcg - spread through the day

Wait 6 weeks then retest

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

What vitamin supplements are you taking

[Maisie87 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, I'm currently having to split 20mcg table into a quarter 5mcg and then trying to half that as I can't get a script for anything smaller than that, I did my test as you say but I left also T3 24hrs as well 🙈 I take it the same brand eltroxin for years and boots are pretty good like that 😊 if I upt my T3 will my TSH be even more suppressed? As my GP has already questioned me about it and they pretty much don't have a clue when it comes to T3 lol.As for vits I'm taking super B complex, better you vit D 3000.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Maisie87]

Almost everyone on any adequate dose of T3 will have very low or suppressed TSH …..it’s just what happens when you take T3

If you’re prescribed T3 you’re presumably under care of endocrinologist, they should understand this

GP shouldn’t meddle

Many (most?) people on levothyroxine plus small doses of T3 find they need both Ft4 and Ft3 at least 50-70% through range

Remember to stop vitamin B complex week before all blood tests. Instead take separate folate and separate B12 instead

Suggest you increase vitamin D to 4000iu daily

Are you taking any magnesium supplements?

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...

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.

There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7.

One spray = 1000iu

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average

[Maisie87 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, I only seen endocrinologist once or twice and he signed me off and just said my doctor can deal with me 🙈 so I've pretty much been on my own I get more help from you guys than my own GP.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

looking at previous post from 2 years ago you have significantly improved vitamin levels and Ft4

Now time to improve low Ft3

Also Vitamins are ok ….but could still be better

Vitamin D nearer 100nmol

Folate near top of range

B12 at least over 550

Ferritin over 70

Are you now back on strictly gluten free diet and/or dairy free diet

[Maisie87 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi I stopped gf as at the moment I just couldn't afford it 😔 and no I'm not dairy free but I am considering trying to go back to it and try dairy free.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Maisie87]

Lots of foods are naturally GF

Admittedly GF bread is quite expensive. But it freezes well

[Maisie87 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yeah will do that 👍 also can you please look at my other resultsThyroglobulin 16.7 range 0-115

Thyroid peroxidase

Antibodies 21.3 range 0-34

[Cherries73]

My mum has recently been diagnosed with a condition called Polymyalgia which gave her terrible pains in her legs, hips, hands shoulders and back. Fortunately, polymyalgia is temporary but can last up to a couple of years. They put her on prednisone and within one week, her pain had completely gone. I’ve had an underactive thyroid for the last 10 years, and I’ve never suffered debilitating pain it’s worth mentioning it to your doctor and ask for a blood test to see how your inflammation levels are.

Good luck

[Maisie87 in reply to Cherries73]

Hi Cherries,

Thanks for your thoughts on this. My inflammatory marker 0.93 which is relitavly low (I have been told). So I'm at a bit of a loss.

[Cherries73]

well that’s good news that means you can rule out any inflammatory diseases I guess. How long have you been having this? because if it’s not long then maybe you have a virus which can cause muscle aches, I honestly don’t think it will be your thyroid but if it carries on then I think you need to go and see the doctor I hope you’re feeling back to normal soon 🙏