advice on blood results please

[Poppygriff691]

Hi Thanks for reading my post I hope you can help me .

I am 57 year old woman diagnosed with Hashimos November 2022. At the time I had hyper symptoms HR 120 at rest exhausted weak muscles aching and feeling hot . Doctor insisted it was the menopause , I had already been on HRT for 4 years and had been symptom free all of that time .but she finally agreed to test TPO antibodies ( as my daughter has Hashimoto’s ) and found antibodies TPO at 253 (<10) TSH 3.39 . Said no treatment needed. After about 6 weeks the hyper symptoms went away .I cut out gluten immediately.

Found a functional medicine doctor when I got symptoms like aching , muscles weakness and tiredness , terrible leg cramps especially at night ,unable to sleep.in March 23. Did elimination diet and ended up carnivore although I have introduced some veg now but can’t tolerate dairy . Once dairy was eliminated I have lost more weight and can’t put it back on . I am 5 ft 6 and at present 104pounds . I look and feel better about half a stone to a stone heavier than this. I do eat a lot each day, the same as my husband who is a good build .

That’s the history! Blood results from Monday this week done at Blue Horizon . I followed the protocol of stopping B complex .I currently take levothyroxine 50 mcg since August 22 and commenced T3 5 mcg once daily 19 the December 23

TSH 1.74 (0.27- 4.20 )

Free T4 15.4 (12-22)

Free T3 3 (3.1-6.8)

TPO 120 (<34)

TG 2253 ( <115)

Magnesium.0.91 (0.66-0.99)

VitaminD 94 (50-200)

CRP<0.60(<5.0)

Active B12 >150 (37.5-150)

Ferritin 228 (13-150)

Serum Folate 20.50 ( 8.83-60.8)

I do take supplements of Magnesium,Zinc ,Vitamin D and methylfolate as folate was low on my last bloods

Only ever had TPO antibodies checked previously in October 22 when they were 253 . I am a bit shocked at the TG result .

Blood results on levo and no T3 in November 23

TSH 1.66

FreeT4 14,6

FreeT3 2.80

T3 5 mcg started in 19th December 23 improvements have been sleeping a bit better and no leg cramps but other symptoms remain especially aching joints and muscles.

I am hoping you can give me some advice on medication going forward . My doctor thought I wasn’t converting t4 to T3 so that is why the t3 was introduced . Is cost me £164 for 2 months supply of the capsules !

Also worried about the high antibodies despite my diet change , meditation to reduce stress ( although the stress has gone up following seeing my results lol )

Thanks so much in advance

[greygoose]

Hi Poppygriff691, welcome to the forum .

I am a bit shocked at the TG result .

As you already know you have Hashi's - as shown by the TPO antibodie - it doesn't really matter what the TG result is. It has nothing to do with your diet or stress.

Hashi's is an autoimmune disease where the immune system slowly attacks and destroys your thyroid, mistaking it for the enemy.

During the attack, the dying cells release their stock of hormone into the blood, causing a temporary 'hyper' state with high FT4/3 and low TSH;

At the same time, traces of TPO (Thyroid Peroxidase) and Tg (Thyroglobulin), proteins necessary for the production of thyroid hormone, also leak into the blood, where they should be. So, the TPO and Tg antibodies come along to clean it up. So, as you can see, these antibodies are necessary, and not doing you any harm. So, don't worry about them.

What's worrying is your very low FT3. T3 is the active hormone needed by every single cell in your body to function correctly. It's low T3 that causes symptoms. People on thyroid hormone replacement usually need thier FT3 up at about 75% through the range, so the best thing you can do is increase your T3 to 10 mcg - either taking the other 5 mcg with the first, or later on in the day.

If that doesn't help after about two weeks, increase by 5 mcg again, and hold for six weeks before retesting.

[Poppygriff691 in reply to greygoose]

Hi

Thank you so much for your explanation, that makes me feel a bit better . I will suggest the T3 increase with my doctor and retest as you have described . Thank you 😊

[greygoose in reply to Poppygriff691]

You're welcome.