First set of bloods after starting T3

[Loopnova]

Hello again everyone!

I wonder if I could get some views please on my latest blood results before speaking to the consultant next week?

I’ve now been taking T3 for 8 weeks. 5mcg twice a day. Thats along with 50mcg of levothyroxine. (It was 75 prior to starting T3)

Bloods before that (February) were:

TSH : 1.45 (0.27-4.2)

FT3 : 3.5 (3.1-6.8)

FT4 : 19.4 (12-22)

Now they’re:

TSH : 1.59 (0.27-4.2)

FT3 : 4.4 (3.1-6.8)

FT4 : 14.1 (12-22)

Also:

Vit B12 : 149 ( 37.5-188)

Vit D : 163 (50-250)

Ferritin : 232. (30-207) I’m being told that’s high but I don’t take any iron supplements.

I do feel improved but I wouldn’t say 100% still. Energy levels and mental health seem better, I feel more motivated to do things and have more energy than I did. But I still have other random unexplained symptoms. All last year doc couldn’t find anything else wrong with me.

Going by blood results, is the T3 working and is it best to stick as it is?

[pennyannie]

Hello Loopnova :

How long after taking the last dose of T3 and T4 did you take the blood test - and presume it was a fasting blood draw as per forum instructions :

Your TSH has increased showing you needing more thyroid hormones -

Your T4 dropped from around 74% down to 21% with your T3 increased from 11% to 35% :

I think you likely need your T4 dose re-instated back to 75 mcg and a further blood test in due course :

Has this high ferritin reading been investigated ?

[Loopnova in reply to pennyannie]

Yes I followed usual rules re blood tests, so it was 24hrs after last T4 and a bit less for T3 as I take that early morning and then lunchtime.

I think the consultant will be concerned about over medication at the suggestion of an increase in T4 but will see. He was so much better than my GP so it might go ok!

No, I’ve shown high ferritin before on private blood test but the last time I can see it was checked on my GP record was 2021 and it was lower then and well within range

My other symptoms are dry eyes in the morning, itchy ear canal with scabby skin, occasional skin itching various places, general muscle aches, occasional insomnia/poor quality sleep. Might have to go back to GP re all that.

Apparently I’m not showing any inflammation markers. Folate test was supposed to be done but didn’t work.

[pennyannie in reply to Loopnova]

Well T3 should have been around 10-12 hours from last dose and at it's peak in the bloods.

Well I can't see any issues regarding over medication by re-instating your T4 dose to 75 mcg - maybe I'm missing something ?

A lot of these symptoms can be attributed to non optimal thyroid hormone treatment - your doctor may give you prescriptions for topical creams for some :

Please ensure any drops or ointments you use for your eyes are Preservative Free - even those prescribed :

Your high ferritin needs investigating - if supplement B12 and vitamin D - maybe now just reduce supplementation to a slightly lower maintenance dose and obviously your folate needs to be around 20 when its next run.

I understand with Hashimoto's one needs to look at certain food intolerance with gluten, dairy and wheat being the main categories that need to be tested for - when eating them - to learn if they need to be removed from your diet :

All things Hashimoto's - Dr Izabella Wentz who writes as thyroidpharmacist.com

[Popscicle in reply to pennyannie]

Your ferritin is only marginally raised and probably not significant. Having said that if it’s just been monitored until now there’s no harm in asking to be tested for haemochromatosis- a disorder more common in men whereby too much iron is stored in the body including within organs which can interfere with function. Google will explain further!

Also I agree that you TSH is higher than you’d want and increasing thyroxine back to 75mcg sounds like a good idea.

[pennyannie in reply to Popscicle]

Hey there - think you've replied to me in error :

[Popscicle in reply to pennyannie]

Yes I’m so sorry. It was meant for loopnova!

[arTistapple in reply to Loopnova]

Apparently I am not showing any inflammation markers.

However raised ferritin, I understand, is in fact an inflammation marker. Mine started very high (much higher than yours) but has lowered over the months since starting levo. Otherwise symptom picture far from being resolved (for me).

[SlowDragon Administrator]

most people find they need to reinstate levothyroxine dose if reduced when T3 first added

Ft4 is now likely too low

Many people find they need BOTH Ft4 and Ft3 at least 60%-70% through range

Which brand of levothyroxine are you taking

Do you always get same brand

[Loopnova in reply to SlowDragon]

I take Almus/accord, which it’s always been.

I’ll discuss potentially going back up to 75 then.

[Lovecake in reply to Loopnova]

I agree with SD, that was definitely what I needed to do

[Popscicle]

I wrote you a reply re your ferritin but accidentally sent it to pennieannie! Would you mind looking thro all the replies and finding it? It will be from popsicle to pennieannie. I’m afraid I don’t know how to send it from her to you!

[pennyannie in reply to Popscicle]

Nor do I -

but Loopnova will be able to see everything that has been written as this is her post/question - and hopefully ' all is not lost ' !!

[Loopnova in reply to Popscicle]

I’ve seen it, thanks very much. I’ll look a bit further into it all.

[Popscicle in reply to Loopnova]

Great stuff!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Ferritin : 232. (30-207)

I’m being told that’s high but I don’t take any iron supplements.

How old are you

(Helpful if you add age on your profile)

Have you had CRP tested - inflammation

If CRP is raised this can increase ferritin levels

If CRP is not high and ferritin is high for your age bracket look at getting a full iron panel test

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

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

Updated reference ranges for top of ferritin range depending upon age

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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.

[Loopnova in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes my CRP was 2.3 (range said <3)

I’m 42.

According to the ranges you posted then, my ferritin is ok? I don’t even eat any iron rich foods really.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Loopnova]

So more than 40 years old but less than 50 years old…..top ferritin range is 207

So you might want to get full iron panel to rule out hemochromatosis