Hi everyone
Hope you’re all keeping well.I’ve just had bloods done,and noticed my T3 could probably be a bit higher.
Not feeling so good lately and wondering if an increase would help.
Back in 2018 I was taking NDT and felt amazing.I stopped taking after a few years because it was starting to get expensive.
At the moment I’m currently taking 150 mcg of Levothyroxine.
I’ve attached my latest bloods…any help would be much appreciated.Meds were taken 24 before test
Well, the blood test results you've posted show your B12 is low!
Are you doing anything about B12?
If you want to add your thyroid hormone tests, best do so in a reply to your own post.
I’ve been back to the doctors 3 times in the last few months…..my nhs b12 test is up around 700 serum.
Don’t understand why my active b12 is so low
I'm afraid, nor do I.
I hope someone else has a good idea.
One is serum, the other is active. I had this problem a while back, my active result came via Blue Horizon and was above the top of the range of 150 and I wasn’t supplementing nor was expecting an active result because they’ve always done serum, they have switched apparently. They sent me another test kit just for serum and that came back with my usual under par serum. I still don’t know how the active could be off the scale with the serum down in my boots!
Strange one that….my serum was normal around 700,but my active is low.Don’t know what’s going on really
It looks as though you may not be storing B12, as total serum B12 is stored B12 and available active B12 for the cells to use. You have active B12 for the cells to use, but it is suggestive of being deficient if usage of B12 daily is greater than daily intake. I believe I have this problem too, and that it will be common on the forum.
I think we all need to take a daily B complex as all the B vits work together e.g Vit B2 is needed to change folate and vit B6 into forms the body can use, as well as to help absorb iron. We need folate for vit B12 to work, so lack of B2 would also negatively affect B12.
oily1601 It would follow that Oily1601 may need a B complex if not already taking one. If have a problem with lack of Vit B2, or a genetic mutation re.B2 it might negatively affect being able to make active B12. I did a general google for the information and one of the sites was: mountsinai.org.
Edit: Have just read that Slow Dragon is pointing out your B12 and folate far too low. I answered your question re. B12 without looking at your vitamin results. You desperately need to raise your B12 first with methylcobalamin before supplementing folate and the other B vitamins. See SlowDragon's advice.
I will do that…thank you for your advice
B12 is very deficient
Folate far too low
Are you vegetarian or vegan
Get GP to test for Pernicious Anaemia
Likely to need B12 injections
Post discussing start B12 injections
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Low B12 symptoms
b12deficiency.info/signs-an...
methyl-life.com/blogs/defic...
NICE guidelines on B12 and testing
healthunlocked.com/redirect...
If you don’t get B12 injections
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate daily 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
Highly effective B12 drops
natureprovides.com/products...
Or
B12 sublingual lozenges
uk.iherb.com/pr/jarrow-form...
cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...
B12 range in U.K. is too wide
Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Low folate
supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)
This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too
Difference between folate and folic acid
healthline.com/nutrition/fo...
Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid supplements
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
B vitamins best taken after breakfast
Igennus B complex popular option. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose
Post discussing different B complex
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
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 5-7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...
endocrinenews.endocrine.org...
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
We need your thyroid hormone results please!
Have you established impaired T4 to T3 conversion?
If NDT helped you were most likely benefitting from the T3 content
How much NDT were you taking?
1 grain/60mcg NDT contains 38mcg T4 + 9 mcg T3
Your essential nutrients are all low...they support thyroid function and conversion.....
Follow SlowDragon's advice
FT3 is very low at 27.13% through the reference range....should be roughly approaching 75%.
For good health every cell in the body must be flooded with T3 by way of a constant and adequate supply....it is one of the most important hormones in the body
Your T4 to T3 conversion isn't great
Optimising nutrients may help but you may need some T3
First step
Get next dose increase in Levo up to 162.5mcg daily
And work on improving extremely low B vitamins
What was ferritin result?
Thank you
So ferritin looks ok
What was CRP result?
Most important to work on improving your very low B12
Thanks for the quick reply SlowDragon…I will work on my B12 and see how that goes.
So ferritin is probably fine
CRP is test for inflammation
If CRP was high …..ferritin can be falsely high because ferritin rises with inflammation. This can mask low iron levels
Ok…thank you so much for your help
would you add more T3?
Cost of T3 - more help please..!
T3 two times a day or more?
Mentally better on more levo, more energy on more t3
More T3 + T4 blood results and even more confused
