Last lot of results help,

[Polo22]

These are confusing me started T3 while ago, initially pre T3 cholesterol was 5.6, 8/9 weeks after starting T3 went to 4. 49

previous results healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Polo22]

Did this wrong the above results , 10/10/23, previou results of above July 23 healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Polo22 in reply to Polo22]

July 10 results

results

[Polo22 in reply to Polo22]

October 10th results

results

[SlowDragon Administrator]

previous Thyroid results 8 weeks after starting T3

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

How much Levothyroxine and T3 are you currently taking

How much were you taking at previous test

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

Both Ft4 and Ft3 have dropped considerably in current test

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous results 3 months ago

FT4: 22.5 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 slightly over range at 105.00%

FT3: 5.51 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 65.14% through range

Now

FT4: 17.9 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 only 59.00% through range

FT3: 4.55 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 only 39.19% through range

[Polo22 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes followed protocols , I stop B12 complex 6/7 days before test, no other biotin, but continue with seperate folate. Timings same as last time take 1/4 tab T3 with T4 early morning, between 4- 6, still taking 2 doses early morning and late afternoon early evening, It might have been a little longer than 12 hours possibly but the exact same last time. Had Covid again late June. Had tried reducing T4 a little , currently prescribed 150mcg daily dropped a 50mcg 1 day a week, then after few weeks dropped another 50mcg , so been taking 150mcg 5 times a week and 100mcg other 2 days. Thought dropping 100mcg over course of a week would be OK, was I wrong? Bloody Dr's been trying to get me to drop px dose again , he usually wants to drop to 125 mcg which would be 875 mcg pw but Accord don't do the 25mcg , so I have been taking 950mcg pw. Diet hasn't changed, possibly a little less , often don't feel hungry have fair bit of indigestion, reflux but I know we often conflate this with having too much acid rather than low acid. Bit peeved about HBA1c staying up and cholesterol going back up 😢. I feel bloody decrepit , everything hurts bones, joints , muscles, making the effort to try and get more done, and not doze off but wonder if sometimes that's a mistake. Sleep and energy did start to improve after starting T3 but just recently dipping a bit. Still SI B12 x2 weekly, minimum. Have bought some Omegas and collagen and take some vit A drops (when I remember) and zinc that has some copper HELP

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Polo22]

What dose is T3….2 x 5mcg ?

Suggest you increase T3 to 3 doses per day

Try waking, mid afternoon and bedtime

If bedtime dose keeps you awake….try waking, noon and 6pm Approx

Definitely refuse to reduce levothyroxine any further

[Polo22 in reply to SlowDragon]

Currently I cut up 25mcg tabs into quarters , one in morning with T4 and one late afternoon 3.30 /4.30 occasionally almost forgot and have taken 5/5,30. I have partly avoided GP and partly not been able to get an appointment. Want to try and get bloods for RA , ask him to investigate CRP which keeps rising, at times cortisol gets rather high, wanted to try and get all my eggs in a line so to speak before facing him, I am tired of having to argue with people who are talking out of their terminal end of their alimentary canal. 🤬

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Polo22]

So presumably your T3 is self sourced as is 25mcg tablet

T3 almost always results in suppressed TSH

Does GP know you have added T3

You may need to see endocrinologist

A) to keep your Levo on NHS

B) try to get NHS to prescribe T3

Roughly where in U.K. are you

List of thyroid specialists and endocrinologists who will prescribe T3

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Polo22 in reply to SlowDragon]

I replied to this but it disappeared, I am in Liverpool, my practice doesn't px T3, there are some in Liverpool that do. I mentioned many times about Endo to no avail. I have actually asked twice for a referral to Endo in last 12 months or so refused.

[Polo22 in reply to SlowDragon]

He knows I self inject B12, nearly collapsed when I said. So I will definitely tell him about T3 just wanted to get settled bit more with it before I do

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Polo22]

Well even if GP would refer you on NHS it’s over a year wait for consultation

There’s one on list who is NHS and private in your area

Initially book private consultation then transfer to seeing them on NHS

[DippyDame]

What is your current dose....T4 and T3?

You are possibly undermedicated...

How do you feel?

Before T3 cholesterol = 5.6

8/9 weeks on T3 it dropped to 4.49

This is exactly what you would expect....and good news

Cholesterol rises when undermedicated!

Your antibodies are low suggesting negative for thyroid autoimmune disease aka Hashimoto's.....also good

Folate is low but other nutrients are ok.

Once medicated ( particularly with aded T3) TSH will fall so don't worry about the low TSH....it is not a reliable marker after diagnosis anyway.

T3 can also lower FT4....depending on size of dose.

The most important results are FT3 followed by FT4.

Your FT4 has room to increase...this could (by conversion) raise FT3.

So, depending on how you feel ...

Good- maintain current dose

Or, symptomatic ....

Increase levo by 25mcg

Test again in 6/8 weeks.

But first, to be accurate, we need to know how much hormone you are taking

[Polo22 in reply to DippyDame]

replied but it took ages , cat just sat and pooped in front of me and it stunk, little cow

[DippyDame in reply to Polo22]

You need to increase!

Sleep and energy did start to improve after starting T3 but just recently dipping a bit

That is a sign that the body appreciated the added T3 but now feels it needs more....it's a normal reaction

For good health T3 needs to flood nearly every cell in the body by way of a constant and adequate supply. T3 needs to reach the nuclei of the cells to become active it attaches to the T3 receptors in the various cells and gets to work!

Low cellular T3 = poor health!

Meantime, I'd suggest you stay on 100mcg Levo and add 3x5mcg T3

The added T3 may reduce the FT4...that is normal. It's. just how the body works

Test again after being on a steady dose for 6/8 weeks... the result will point the way forward.

You may need to increase your T3/ reduce Levo but it's one step at a time!

Post new results for advice

[Polo22 in reply to DippyDame]

@SlowDragon , Thanks both you and SlowDragon have suggested an increase, I did wonder. So for now then I'll stop worrying carry on with current T4 and add another 1/4 of T3 at bedtime. Then see how things go

[DippyDame in reply to Polo22]

Tagging SlowDragon .

You need to click on the person's name in the drop down list that appears....it will turn blue...and then alert the person.

Try not to worry this can be resolved!

[greygoose]

Two things you have said in reply to others has confused me:

1. Diet hasn't changed, possibly a little less , often don't feel hungry have fair bit of indigestion, reflux but I know we often conflate this with having too much acid rather than low acid.

Did you mean that the othe way round? Hypos tend to have low stomach acid rather than high. But, the symptoms are the same so doctors always assume you have high acid.

Have bought some Omegas and collagen and take some vit A drops (when I remember) and zinc that has some copper HELP

Why the collagen?

Be careful of the vit A. We don't want too much of that because it's fat soluble and there for excess is stored in fat, not excreted.

Have you had either your zinc or copper tested? These two need to be kept balanced, true, but hypos are usually high in one and low in the other. Very often low in zinc, high in copper, so taking extra copper on top will make you feel bad.

[Polo22 in reply to greygoose]

I'm confusing myself too, I meant considering I am bit of a porkie, I don't eat huge amounts. Fairly healthy diet, I like a treat obs, but treats are treats not for everyday. I don't eat processed foods, ready meals etc , like veg like salad , lean chicken , fajitas etc all done from scratch. So I don't eat rubbish but have been having a hard time eating enough . I meant what you said, about acid, if mentioned to GP wants to px PPI's Gaviscon etc and won't listen that it's a hypo symptom. The collagen, vit A and others are following genetic testing via BH. I apparently have wonky genes, I don't convert beta carotene to A, and it suggested supplementing to address this. I have a genetic predisposition to tendon and cartilage injuries, and osteoporosis due to lower production of collagen , my Mum has really severe osteoporosis and I have busted ACL and PCL few times and still having a problem with tendons so seemed sensible to follow advice to supplement and Vit C to aid production. Can't find some of the other info but it was al based on my wonkiness and suggestions for supplementing, I'm not taking the full recommended doses and not every day keep forgetting ,

[greygoose in reply to Polo22]

OK, I don't doubt your diet is good, but when you have low stomach acid, you don't absorb nutrients. Doctors don't understand that.

Do keep a check on the vit A, though.

I think collagen is a good thing to take but I didn't know it helped with bones. Are you taking magnesium? Because that is very important for bones, and most people are deficient. And that is ok to take without testing because excess is excreted.

[Polo22 in reply to greygoose]

Yes I have been taking Magnesium , very low when first tested but of course GP knows better, he wasn't happy when I pointed out initially that all my life had really low blood pressure and only recently it has started have they decided it's a problem, but that low magnesium can cause hypertension , as usual didn't listen.

[greygoose in reply to Polo22]

When I first told my doctor I was taking magnesium, he laughed so hard I thought he was having a fit! He said, well, take it if you want to, it won't do you any good but it won't do you any harm. I wanted to do him some harm! How dare they laugh at patients like that! But, they just haven't a clue! I'm sure I've been magnesium deficient - and B12 deficient - all my life, but they're just not interested. I've also had hypertension most of my life, I didn't know there was a connection, just felt better when I took magnesium.

[Polo22 in reply to greygoose]

Oh Yeah, been to that Rodeo, found that out on one of my little mystery tours down a rabbit hole. Sometimes being wired differently has it's uses. Everyone I have mentioned it too glazes over or if a medic reacts a bit like that, I think I give out too much information 🤔🤣. Apparently Magnesium deficiency affects a huge percentage of world population to varying degrees, it really is scary that medical training doesn't cover nutrition, it would be like a mechanic not being trained to understand internal combustion and how to fine tune the fuel/air mix or timeing .

[greygoose in reply to Polo22]

Exactly! They pretend to look after our health but know nothing about the two most important basics of life: hormones and nutrients. It's an absolute scandal!