blood results

[Clauds123]

Hi, I have had my blood results back from blue horizon. The only one they said was low was the TSH at 0.06. I was expecting this as I’ve been self sourcing T3 . Little worried about what my endo will say when he reruns bloods next month, as he’s not keen to raise my levo above 50.

Results are below, if anyone in the know spots anything of concern other than the TSH please let me know !

Vitamin D - result 135 (range 50-200)

Magnesium - result 0.85 (range 0.66 - 0.99)

CRP - result 0.67 (range <5.0)

Ferritin - result 59.1 (range 13 - 150)

Serum Folate - result 21.0 (range 8.83 - 60.8)

Active B12 - result 129 (range 37.5 - 150)

TSH - result 0.06 (range 0.27 - 4.20)

Free T4 - result 15.8 (normal range 12.0 - 22.0)

Free T3 - result 4.4 (normal range 3.1 - 6.8)

T4 Total - result 94.7 (range 66.1 - 181)

Anti-Thyroglobulin - result 15 (range <115)

Anti-Thyroidperoxidase abs - result 10.3 (range <34)

Cortisol - result 457 (range 73.8 - 507)

many thanks!

[beh1]

Here’s the key question: how are you feeling? I know I would feel rough on that FT3 level, but if you feel good, stick with it. My TSH is lower but my frees are well within range so my endo is fine with it. Don’t be bullied.

[Clauds123 in reply to beh1]

Thanks. Rough because it’s high or low?

[greygoose]

Your ferritin and folate are a bit low. I would be concerned about those.

But a low TSH when taking T3 is of no concern whatsoever. It's low because you don't need it. And, if your endo gets stroppy, just tell him that if he treated your hypo correctly, you wouldn't need to self-medicate! Keeping a patient on a starter dose and refusing to increase it is borderline negligence!

[SovietSong]

Do you have any symptoms? Those frees are very low T4 38% and T3 35%.My TSH was 0.09 before I started to add a little T3 and yet I feel the best I have in a couple of years.If we dose by TSH we will never get well again.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

That’s a tiny dose of levothyroxine

Why was dose levothyroxine not increased BEFORE adding T3

How much T3 are you taking

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)

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

is this how you did your test

How much do you weigh in kilo

Typically dose levothyroxine is increased slowly up in 25mcg steps until you are on approximately 1.6mcg per kilo of your weight per day

If Ft3 remains low……only then consider slight reduction in Levo before adding small dose T3 ….typically 5mcg initially….usually increase slowly to 3 x 5mcg T3

Suggest you negotiate a 25mcg increase in Levo and say you will reduce T3

[Clauds123 in reply to SlowDragon]

As I said the endo wasn’t keen to raise Levo dose as my T4 always been “boarder line” but my T3 low on bloods so I self sourced. They suggested 5mcg T3/day but I am taking 10mcg all in one dose on waking at same time as Levo. Feel fine, will see endo again following further bloods next month.

Did at home blood test exactly as advised on here.

I weigh 58.05 kilos.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Clauds123]

So guidelines suggest if ONLY on Levo guidance suggest approximately 92mcg per day

Endo should know this (probably diabetes specialist)

Taking any dose of T3 will significantly reduce TSH, especially if taking more than 5mcg in one go

Did at home blood test exactly as advised on here.

So day before test did you split as 2 x 5mcg …..with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test

[Clauds123 in reply to SlowDragon]

T3 wasn’t split and both that and Levo were taken 24 hours before blood test. ..

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Clauds123]

Then Ft3 result is false low result

Last dose T3 should be 8-12 hours before test

[Clauds123 in reply to SlowDragon]

Right ok, I’ll remember that when endo reruns them. And I’ll start splitting t3 dose. Thanks