Advice on test results needed

[Kriticat]

My latest test results are as follows TSH: 0.01 miU/ml (Range 0.35 - 4.45) -8.29%

FT4: 23.5 pmol/l (Range 10 - 23) 103.85%

FT3: 5.4 pmol/l (Range 3.5 - 7.5) 47.50%

I didn't test my vits and mins, they are consistent, most are ok or even optimal, but D and zinc are always low in Range no matter how much I supplement

My TSH is suppressed if I take enough T4 to make me function so I've stopped worrying about that. Until recently my FT3 and FT4 have been around 70 to 80% and I've been feeling pretty good, back to a sensible weight, reasonable amounts of energy, decent sleep etc.

I'm under a lot of stress at the moment, and have just recovered from a bad cold or flu, still very achy, less energy and not sleeping so well, but I put it down to the bug.

But now these test results... at a different lab, and later in the day than usual, but at least 22 hours after my last Levo (88)

I've always been a good converter but this looks worrying. I'm self prescribing, as none of the endos I have seen wanted to give me sufficient T4 for me to feel OK. So where do I go from here? Could the bug be affecting the result? Should I reduce T4 and add in T3? If so, how much? Thanks for any help....

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[Buddy195 Administrator]

I certainly wouldn’t want my FT4 to be over range for long, due to risks to heart health etc, so yes I would reduce Levothyroxine, perhaps by 12.5mcg per day. If this is the first time your conversion has registered as low, I would look to retest 6-8 weeks after being on a reduced dose of Levo. If FT3 remains low in the range, I would then loook to add a small dose of Liothyronine (starting at 5mcg daily). I have benefited from making low and slow changes over time.

[Maztee in reply to Buddy195]

Same as me. I put up with too much levothyroxine for too long with palpitations and episodes of feeling ill but I was hypo not hyper. The levo was the problem. Can you put all your results in a spreadsheet and compare them over time to see how things have changed then do the same going forward which may give you a clear picture? Getting all the vitamins etc optimal with the cofactors should help but you may find likeanu of us that T3 is needed especially as your under stress. My cortisol is low in the mornings and that's a sign of prolonged stress - I had to retire early because of it in the end.

Worth getting that checked with a pre 9am test too if you can and if that's low you can get a 4 or 6 point saliva cortisol test. I had to do that privately but it's worth asking your GP. There is a link between them - I've been reading this study recently ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Maztee]

I think you meant to reply to  Kriticat not myself Maztee

[Maztee in reply to Buddy195]

Oh yes sorry. Hopefully she'll see it if she wants to!

[Kriticat in reply to Maztee]

Thanks, I've had cortisol tests, both early morning and the late night saliva one... neither were optimal but nor were they particularly bad. I've started adding my results to a spreadsheet, Excel was my pet hate when I was working and I'm not enjoying it anymore now that I'm retired! But yes, I'm sure it will help to clarify what is happening.

I've tried really hard to sort out my D and zinc, D creeping up but zinc won't budge. I'm not deficient, just a long way off optimal!

Thanks for the link, I'll have a read

[Kriticat in reply to Buddy195]

Thanks Buddy195 , I'll go back to 75mcg, and retest shortly, but the reason I increased to 88 was that my FT3 level was gradually dropping. Initially that worked well, both in terms of test results and how I felt, but perhaps I now have a build up of too much T4. It's all so difficult ...