latest bloods after 6 weeks swapping to Erfa from Levo

[Starseed56]

hello helpful community

after six weeks of feel like utter * switching from Levothyroxine to Erfa I’ve had more bloods done.

TSH 4.51 (0.27-4.2) previous test result 3/8 was 2.97

T3. 3.6 ( 3.1-6.8) previous test result was 3.3

T4. 10.2 (12-22) previous test result was 17.4

The 3/8 test was before I switched.

Clearly I’m under replaced at the moment. I started on 1.5 tablets of 30mg Erfa. I posted two weeks ago when feeling so very rough and concluded without much help from the private doctor but with encouragement from this site, to up the dose to 2x 30mg. I have definitely felt a slight improvement the last week or so but I’ve a good way to go. Before I speak with the doctor Friday I was curious to get some feedback from here. Clearly I’m still under replaced looks like I need to go to 3 tablets but wouldn’t it make more sense to go to 60mg tablets? And maybe take 1.5 x 60mg, would that correspond to 3 x 30mg? Still awaiting ferritin result. Serum iron is over parameter at 29 (7-26 is range) don’t know what that means and my nhs gp hasn’t contacted me regarding this 🫣 despite the lab highlighting it.

B12 - 469 (189-883)

Serum folate is 8.4 (3.10-20)

Vitamin d looks too high at 200 so I’ve quit that for now.

Thanks Starseed56💜

[Lalatoot]

Whether or not to switch to 60mcg tablets depends on cost and dosing.If the 60mcg tabs are significantly cheaper then that would make sense.

If however you want exact dosing and ease of handling tabs then the less splitting you do the better it is. So stick with 30mcg tabs.

It is up to you.

[Starseed56 in reply to Lalatoot]

Thanks for explaining that. I wish it were simpler! I’ll find out re cost. Splitting is a pain and probably loses a few precious pieces, I agree as I began on 1.5 x 30mg. I guess if I end up needing 3 then I could get 30mg and 60mg - again I wish it were simpler! 💜

[Brightness14 in reply to Starseed56]

You may need 1.5 x 60 with results like yours. When I started on NDT I raised up every 10 days that worked fine. I would keep some 30's but buy 60's in the future. Do you split your dose in two. I took mine at 6am and 1.30pm that way the body gets some all day.

[Starseed56 in reply to Brightness14]

Thanks brightness ✨ yes I’ve split my dose now as advised by many here and it helps. One in the night as sleep is awful and other 12 hours later approx trying to fit magnesium in between with that 4 hour absorption window! I feel like I’m knowing more than the expensive doctor these days but at the moment I need her for the prescription. She was happy to put me on 1.5 x 30mg and leave me on it for two months til I took action and raised it to 2 x 30mg as I felt so *!

This site really encourages us to take hold of our health which is empowering. Clearly am not in the right dose yet but hopefully heading there, still a game of juggling to get it optimum. 💜

[Brightness14 in reply to Starseed56]

Your dose is low but you know that. This site is brilliant in helping with so many good knowledgeable people on it. Good Luck

[pennyannie]

Hey there again :

You readings are very low and you are undermedicated - but you know this :

What has happened to the ferritin reading as this needs to be at least over 70 for any thyroid hormone replacement to work well.

An iron result is flagged maybe you need to chase up yor doctor as to what this means and have it put in contect with the rest of the iron results including the ferritin ?

[Starseed56 in reply to pennyannie]

Hi Pennyannie the gp left it off my other tests 🙄 so I requested it last week and now have the result which is 28 (range 5-204) so way too low on my iron stores! I’ll be mentioning this to the private doctor tmrw. I had hoped since I’ve been eating some red meat the last 10 months it would’ve improved, it was 27 last October (was veggie for nearly 40 years). It all shows me why everything’s such a struggle.

I’m really feeling angry at how the nhs can neglect us thyroid patients. Ever since the endo department discharged me back to GP care donkeys years ago I suspect it’s been deteriorating but I was told your bloods are fine 🤨🤨. Finally and probably since the misinformation out there regarding the covid jab which I personally find quite dangerous to health, I’ve been mistrusting other things medical and that’s how I’m now sorting this myself and with the help of this site.

I asked the receptionist why the GP hasn’t contacted me about the flagged iron result (serum iron level) she didn’t know, so I replied I’ll mention to my private doctor tomorrow then and get back to you!! So we battle our health and the system !! 💜

[pennyannie]

Ok then - building up ferritin takes for ages - but so necessary.

When hypothyroid we have a slowed metabolism and likely low stomach acid so struggle to breakdown digest and absorb key nutrients through our food -

and if this is you - as it was me - it still took me over a year to build up my ferritin from 22 to over 70 with supplements and eating liver twice a week .

First we need to know the implications of this flagged iron result -

Do you have online access to your medical records as then at least you can show the private doctor what this flaged item is, and maybe it's nothing to worry about, as we don't know.

If all ok you need to start supplementing an iron bisgycinate which is ' kinder ' on the stomach than that which the NHS prescribe should you be offered a NHS prescription.

I took ' Gentile Iron ' by Solgar but other brands are avalable :

[Starseed56 in reply to pennyannie]

The flagged iron was the serum iron level which was 29.1 (parameters 7-26)

I need to get in line access. Had at my old surgery but haven’t set it up since moving. 🙏💜

[pennyannie in reply to Starseed56]

Ok - so maybe this private doctor can answer the question and if ok - start supplementing - there have been few posts on here about another iron supplement - branded as 3 Arrows I think - maybe start a new question - asking for recommendations of an ion supplement and see what comes back :

Good luck tomorrow - keep us in the loop:

[Starseed56 in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you! Slow dragon posted loads of links I’ll work thru too when I’ve got the low down tmrw! 💜