Since my menopause I feel like my T3 is needing upped. Any advice on my recent blood tests?

[Anuba]

My t.s.h was sitting at about 7.9 and I'm not feeling at my optimal. Usually my T.s.h is in between 2.5 -4.5 ish.

Since menopause and getting older I feel I definitely need an upped dose!

Any advice from those with t3 experience.

My T4 is low at 4ish and my t3 is high because of my treatment at 8ish.

Am I right to think that.s.h at 7.9 is going to make me feel hypothyroid.

I have conversion problems well documented been t3 only since 12 years and no problems up till last year or so.

Thanks

[Buddy195 Administrator]

TSH should always be under 2, so yes likely you will need an increase in thyroid medication. Can you share your results (with ranges in brackets) for TSH, FT3 and FT4?

[Anuba in reply to Buddy195]

Thanks for your response. I've put a screenshot of the results and ranges on this reply. I had only taking my morning dose and hour before test.

Thyroid test results

[greygoose]

TSH itself doesn't make you feel anything, it doesn't cause symptoms. But a hugely over-range FT3 like yours most definitely could. Remember, hypo and 'hyper'/over-medicated symptoms can be the same.

But if your FT3 is that high, that high TSH is a mystery, one would expect it to be suppressed. So, one has to suspect interference of the assay. Anti-TSH antibodies or something. So, the best thing to do is to retest in a different lab to see if it comes back the same, because that is just not right.

[Anuba]

Hi thanks for your response. Because I'm on T3 only medication I've always had a higher t3 ammount on tests and I took my t3 medication only an hour before blood . Its always sort of been around that even when I've been a better range t.s.h.

I'm not on Thyroxine but 20mg t3 in morning and 10 in evening so my t4 will be on lower side and my t3 on higher as my body gets straight t3 and doesn't need to convert t4 to t3.

But yeah I'm a bit confused about why my t.s.h isn't lower while t3 is 8ish. I have hashimotos.

[greygoose in reply to Anuba]

But, if you took your T3, your FT3 isn't really 8ish, is it. And we can't guess the level, so that test was actually a waste of time.

In any case, the fact of being on T3 mono-therapy has no effect on the level of your FT3. It's the size of your dose that does that. And I cannot imagine that 30 mcg would tak your FT3 that high. So, the problem has always been taking your dose before the blood draw. Are you self-treating? Because if not, that's a dangerous thing to do. The doctor is going to want to reduce your T3 when it probably isn't necessary.

Yes, it is strange that your TSH is so high, but it's probably something to do with the testing methods. As I said, it should be retested in a different lab to find out if that really is the level or if something went wrong with the test - which does happen.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You took 20mcg T3 an hour before test

Not surprising Ft3 was high

ALWAYS test with last 10mcg dose T3 8-12 hours before test

30mcg T3 is low dose if on T3 only

Retest thyroid and vitamins

Test early morning ideally before 9am, only drink water between waking and test

What vitamin supplements are you taking

When did you last test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

As you have Hashimoto’s are you on gluten and/or dairy free diet

[Anuba in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for reply.Yes. But they never ever tell me not to take it or when to take it so that's good to know thanks.

I'm been prescribed vit D and iron pills a few weeks ago as was low so ill retest after.

My b12 and folate is good.

I was on dairy free but eating cheese and eggs again as advised just now

I eat little gluten.

[Marz]

What was your VitD test result ? How much were you prescribed ? Docs rarely prescribe enough. Did your Doc explain it's fat soluble ?

[Anuba]

Sorry for answering late. Vit d was 20. They gave me six weeks of strong tabs of 15.000 unit I take once a week. No they didn't say.

[Marz in reply to Anuba]

With such a low VitD result a daily dose of 5,000 iu's would be more appropriate. 15,000 iu's weekly works out to be a far less daily dose. I have also read that bolus dosing is not as effective as daily doses...

When taking high doses of VitD it is suggested you take Magnesium and VitK2-MK7. Happy to explain if you are not aware although it is written about on the forum almost daily.

Needs to be taken with GOOD fats to aid absorption. I take it in a Gel capsule containing olive oil.

When responding to a post do click the REPLY blue button so the person is alerted 🌞

grassrootshealth.net

Good link above to learn more about VitD

[Anuba in reply to Marz]

Thankyou for your advise I'll definitely take this on board.V interesting

Thanks

[Marz in reply to Anuba]

Have just seen your latest post - oh dear - hope you soon feel better. I see on your Bio you mention anaemia - are you still anaemic ? - as that can make you feel grotty. It's possible you increased T3 dose too much and too quickly.

I am T3 only...

[Anuba in reply to Marz]

Thankyou.I'm on the lower side but not terrible. I take a supplement now. My bloods ferritin was checked and passable. I'm afraid it wasn't just feeling grotty at the hospital was very bad and they kept me in 18hrs. Or did u just mean in general No I hadn't started my higher dose. I was still on the dose I'd taken for the last nine years.

[Marz in reply to Anuba]

Having good levels of Ferritin - Folate - B12 and VitD are very important when it comes to thyroid hormones being processed in the body efficiently. Do you have results for the above ? What are you prescribed for the anaemia ? How is your Blood pressure ? I only ask as I have had a difficult week with raised BP....and feel T3 was the culprit 🤔