I am hypothyroid and take Levothyroxine 100 and 75mg on alternate days.
Recent test results from mid-September
Ferretin (24-366) 153 ng/ml
Folate (3.1-19.9) 11.2 ng/ml
B12 (180-915) 276 ng/L
Vitamin D (>50) 53 nmol/L
I am symptomatic and want to improve my condition.
Currently not supplementing with any of the above, but can see that although they are all within range, all of them are quite low perhaps with the exception of Folate.
I understand from this forum that supplementing my diet with the above, will improve my condition. What I don't know is what levels I should be aiming for and how long will it take to improve my health? Once I've started supplementing, how long until I retest?
Thank you
Written by
Ogbourne
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Government recommends everyone in U.K. supplement vitamin D at least daily October to April. Thyroid patients usually need to supplement continuously and at higher dose than typical
GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement and a week later add a separate vitamin B Complex
Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week
Igennus B complex popular option too. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose
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
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) and continue separate B12
Post discussing how biotin can affect test results
Retest full thyroid including thyroid antibodies 6-8 weeks after adding last supplement
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)
List of private testing options and money off codes
As always, thank you for your helpful answers to my questions.
Brand of levothyroxine is accord.
I weigh 92Gs, which is hard work keeping it from going higher. I am 55 years old.
Have ordered Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You and I will start with this supplement and after 2 weeks add Vitamin B12.
Very interesting to read about the research by Mirhosseini it al. I will aim for 100nmol/L Vitamin D which is the same target as that in the study. The calculator recommends that I take 400nmol/L for 3 months to achieve this target.
Excited to try anything that might make me feel less exhausted.
Will be speaking with my Endo this week and she has told me that she is happy for me to start to start a 3 month trial of T3.
There is a lot of advice here on HOW to start taking T3 so that your trial is a success. So if you do get a prescription, do post again to get some advice on this.
Initially my GP had agreed to write me a prescription for Liothyronine if my Endo recommended this. A few days later I was called by the surgery and told that my GP could not prescribe it and I would need to ask the Endo for private prescription. I took this prescription to the only two pharmacies in the town where I lived and both wanted approx. £1,300 for Liothyronine 10mcg po BD - 3 months. As I can't afford over £5,000 per year for this medication, I located a far cheaper supply. Although I am concerned over the quality, I have sourced Tiromel (Liothyronine Sodium) - 25mcg (100 Tablets) for £12.00 which will last me for the 3 month trial period. I checked with my Endo and she told me that they should be fine. I've bought them from unitedpharmacies-uk.md which involved a wire transfer to Bulgaria. I don't expect to receive them until next week, but then I'm raring to go!
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