Blood tests advice please

[HotelHurricaine]

Hello,

I wondered if you might advise on recent blood tests? Recently introduced T3 and not felt any improvements yet (I know 5mcg is small dose).

May 15th 2024:

FT 17.6 (12-22)

FT3 4.8 (3.1-6.8)

Blood tests were taken 24 hrs after last levo and 4 hrs after 1/2 dose of T3 (as recommended to me on here as a compromise as endo adamant about testing 4 hrs after taking T3).

Introduced 5mcg T3 in Feb '24.

Currently on 150 mcg Levo & 5mcg T3.

Supplementing w 3 Arrows Heme x2 / day, 7000 D3/K2, Thorne B Complex, Magnesium 400 mcg, all optimal levels when last tested in December '23.

Endo has today suggested I increase T3 to 10mcg and levo to 175 on weekends only and not see him again for 4 months "to let levels settle".

I thought we were supposed to check bloods 6-8 weeks after every dose change so am a little confused. Do we sometimes need 4 months for levels to settle?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Endo has today suggested I increase T3 to 10mcg and levo to 175 on weekends only and not see him again for 4 months "to let levels settle".

Sounds like a good plan

Which brand Levo are you taking

Do you always get same brand

I thought we were supposed to check bloods 6-8 weeks after every dose change so am a little confused. Do we sometimes need 4 months for levels to settle?

You could test privately including vitamin levels 8 weeks after changing dose …..but yes generally as we get dose fine tuned …..don’t rush to change…..wait 12-20 weeks to see how things settle

Supplementing w 3 Arrows Heme x2 / day, 7000 D3/K2, Thorne B Complex, Magnesium 400 mcg, all optimal levels when last tested in December '23.

Retest full iron panel 3-4 times a year when on iron supplements. Especially when on Three Arrows…..levels can increase dramatically

Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test

Stop iron supplements 5-7 days before testing

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

Remember to stop vitamin B complex 5-7 days before ALL blood tests as biotin can falsely affect test results

[HotelHurricaine in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon thats reassuring. I will test iron panel, vitamins and thyroid in 8 weeks privately - well it's all private at this point!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Very helpful profile

👏👍😊

Are you still strictly gluten free

Have you considered/tried dairy free as well

[HotelHurricaine in reply to SlowDragon]

I am still strictly gluten free - I know I should try dairy free ...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to HotelHurricaine]

Yes I resisted trying dairy free for years

Finally took the plunge summer 2022 and has been amazing

I would never go back

Lots of dairy free alternatives these days

[HotelHurricaine in reply to SlowDragon]

In what ways has it been amazing? I need some persuading here!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to HotelHurricaine]

Slow, but steady reduction in mucin

Generally feeling significantly better

More on my profile

Best “milk” in my opinion - Plenish oat (not the Barista version)

Lots of vegan ice creams are delicious

Vegan dark chocolate…..

Forest Feast dark sour cherries delicious

Eating out choices can be a bit limiting……but can always find something on the menu

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your post 6 months ago

I have also noticed much higher ferritin and folate since last tests in July, which may also be contributing to higher T3.

I am going to reduce heme supplement from 3/day to 1/day as ferritin has gone up quite quickly from 86 to 135 since October tests.

Have you retested full iron panel since this

you say now

Supplementing w 3 Arrows Heme x2 / day

Definitely retest iron and ferritin

[HotelHurricaine in reply to SlowDragon]

I reduced to 2 per day after that post but have not retested since. Yes I will re-test. Thank you.

[HotelHurricaine in reply to SlowDragon]

SlowDragon This was done by endo on May 15th '24 - is it important to have ferritin too?

blood tests

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to HotelHurricaine]

so you almost certainly need to stop iron supplements completely

Iron right at top of range

Retest including ferritin in 6-8 weeks

[HotelHurricaine]

Thank you @slowdragon will do.