So looks like the correct dose, but I do need to work on my vitamin levels - thanks guys.
The endocrinologist has offered NAD, so worth looking at?
Hello and thanks in advance for your guidance on my recent blood tests. I am fortunate enough (although the secretary hates it) to have the email of my endocrinologist who is quite positive about me contributing towards finding the best dosage for me. Before I email back to discuss I'm interested in your thoughts. I am still waiting on FT3 and Ferritin, which were taken but no one seems to have a record. I will continue to chase.
I generally feel better on 75mg and just wondering if it's right or marginally high dosage? I'm 60kg, but hoping I will get back to my normal weight of 55kg which I've been for over 20 years. Only increased weight since around 2022.
April 2024 (10 weeks on 75mg Levothyroxine). Gluten Free Diet. No other supplements
22 August 2023 - 4 months on 50mg Levothyroxine (took until January for them to get in touch and finally put my levo to 75) Bloods at Hospital). Upped to 75mg
TSH 3.37 mIU/L (0.35 - 5.50)
Free T4 (fT4) 10.4 pmol/L (7.86 - 14.41)
17 May 2023 - preseribed 50mg Levo (bloods at hospital)
April/May 2023 finally diagnosed after several private blood tests. GP was waiting for TSH to go over 10. Lucky for me my cortisol was rock-bottom so I was referred for Addisons. Endo immediately diagnosed AI thyroiditis.
Serum ferritin level is the biochemical test, which most reliably correlates with relative total body iron stores. In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.
Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing.
It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron
Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
Thank you for your incredible patience while you have been awaiting the outcome of our ferritin reference range review. We conducted this with Inuvi lab, which has now changed the reference ranges to the following:
Females 18 ≤ age < 40. 30 to 180
Females 40 ≤ age < 50. 30 to 207
Females 50 ≤ age < 60. 30 to 264l
Females Age ≥ 60. 30 to 332
Males 18 ≤ age < 40 30 to 442
Males Age ≥ 40 30 to 518
The lower limits of 30 are by the NICE threshold of <30 for iron deficiency. Our review of Medichecks data has determined the upper limits. This retrospective study used a large dataset of blood test results from 25,425 healthy participants aged 18 to 97 over seven years. This is the most extensive study on ferritin reference ranges, and we hope to achieve journal publication so that these ranges can be applied more widely.
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement
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
Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay
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
Without FT3 its not possible to say if you are taking enough replacement hormone.
What time of day was the test and when did you last take Levo before the test? Recommended timing is 24hrs to show stable blood levels.
We need OPTIMAL levels of all key vitamins for our thyroid hormone to work well.
If you are already taking vit D then you need to increase your dose. Vitamin D should be around 100 - 150. Buy one that includes vit K2 to help it go to your bones. Some are available in oil or you can take it with an oily meal for better absorption. Many members like the ‘Better You’ range of mouth sprays that contain both bit D & K2. Use this calculator to work out how much to take to get your level to 100-150.grassrootshealth.net/projec...
B12 - do you have symptoms of B12 deficiency? The reference range for B12 is very wide and cut off point too low. theb12society.com/signs-and...
If you do then you should discuss this with your doctor for further tests for Pernicious Anaemia.
If not, then start with a methyl B12 sublingual spray or lozenge for a week, then add a good B complex. Once you run out of the separate B12 just continue with the B complex.
Thanks everyone. The T3 results are now back and the endocrinologist has said stay on same dose, but has also said he's open to NDA- anyone else prefer NDA to levothyroxine?
I generally feel ok now on 75, but am very much in menopause and haven't had a cycle for 3 years despite being only 48. However, I think overexercising in lockdown is what trigged both thyroid and menopause decline.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
What next??
advice on blood results
Thyroid blood results, can anyone interpret? I have included DRs notes
Should I stop T4 and take T3 only medication?
