Blood test results - anxiety

[ci00aaj]

Hi everyone, I posted this same message in my previous post but I don't think it has been seen by anyone so creating a new post here...

I got my blood test results back this morning. Here they are –

TSH mIU/L: <0.005 (range 0.27 - 4.2)

FT3 pmol/L: 7.7 (range 3.1 – 6.8)

FT4 pmol/L: 18.2 (range 12 – 22)

Folate serum nmol/L: 12.9 (range >7)

Vitamin B12 active pmol/L: 119 (range 37.5 – 188)

Vitamin D nmol/L: 35.5 (range 50 – 250)

Ferritin ug/L: 252 (range 30 – 518)

Thyroglobulin Antibodies kIU/L: 21.1 (range 0 – 115)

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies kIU/L: 22.3 (range 0 – 34)

CRP HS mg/L: 0.308 (range <3)

In terms of medication I’m taking –

7am – 1 grain of NDT (Thyroid S) / Vitamin B / Selenium

3pm – Vitamin C / Vitamin D / Cod liver oil capsule

9pm – 1 grain NDT / Magnesium / Zinc

I’m not great at reading these but it’s clear I’m Vitamin deficient. My T3 is quite high as I assumed I needed to be at the top of the range so i dont know if the amount of T3 in my system is causing the horrible anxiety feelings…happy to listen to any advice on this. The only other thing I did notice is that when I did my last blood test in Oct 2021 the Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies number was showing 73.7 and it now showing 22.3 (and within range). Would anyone know why this might be the case?

Thank you for taking a look at these for me…still feeling up and down but happier that I’m doing something about it

[pennyannie]

Hey there again -

Always best to start a new post with new information as we rarely look back unless you reply by name to someone to do so - a new post allows all forum members to read, learn and reply.

So yes your vitamin D needs building to around 125 and your ferritin looks high - I aim for around 100 -

Your T3 is over the range which could well be causing these issues -

Do you think taking 1 grain at night to go to bed on a good idea - as I would think this was when you needed to be winding down ?

I think people who split NDT tend to take their second dose early afternoon ?

Was this a fasting blood draw and around 10/12 hours after last dose ?

[ci00aaj in reply to pennyannie]

Thanks for letting me know...thought it was odd that no one responded!I've already started taking Vitamin D again at 4000UI once a day. I don't actually take any iron supplements so not sure why the ferritin is so high.

I'm so confused over the high T3 as I used to need 3 grains of NDT (1 grain morning, afternoon, and evening) but dropped to 2 for no real reason a few years back. I'm not sure why my need for T3 is reducing again so if anyone knows I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts

The other thing confusing me is the Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies value. That was very high on my last test in 2021 and I took that to mean I had Hashimoto's. I'm not sure why it is now within range again.

I can confirm bloods were taken 12 hours after my last grain of NDT

[pennyannie in reply to ci00aaj]

So it could be that your ability to convert the T4 into T3 has improved and you are getting more T3 from less T4 :

Auto immune diseases can wax and wane throughout your life and the antibodies simply a sign of more or less immune system upset :

I'd be inclined to reduce your dose a little and if you can move your second dose into daytime hours when you likely need more support to get you through the day.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to ci00aaj]

I would think that high FT3 could cause anxiety, its a common hyper symptom and being overmedicated mimics hyperthyroid. Feeling anxious, shaky, wired, sweaty, hot. All very common when FT3 over range.

Antibodies can go up and down, there's nothing in that. As to why you're absorbing more FT3 from NDT, it could be anything, weight loss, activity levels, improved vitamins, better stomach acid and absorption. Even the seasons can affect how much hormone we need.

[Incoguto in reply to ci00aaj]

Sometimes when we take meds for longer, cells get saturated over time and suddenly there is no need to take as much anymore to maintain a good hormonal balance. I used to take 4 grains, had to drop to 3 grains and even then that was a bit much.

[FancyPants54 in reply to pennyannie]

For information I currently take my NDT at 5 or 6pm but I'm equally happy taking it at any time up to bedtime. It helps me sleep well.

[Incoguto]

It could be your ft3 being too high. I see you take 1 grain of NDT 12 hours before bloods. When you took 3 grains, did you take 1.5 grains x 2 a day the same way? If I were you, I might reduce NDT by 1/8 of grain if possible. Risky to reduce by more as both ft3 ft4 might drop more.

[ci00aaj]

Thanks for the comments all...sounds like the elevated levels of T3 are the cause of my symptoms so might drop to 1 grain in the morning and then half a grain at 3pm (i have half grain tablets). I'll then not take any for the evening. I'll see how i get on with this. Alternatively i could try half a grain morning, afternoon and evening

Can anyone advise on how long i should give this a go for, and when i should test my blood again?

Incoguto - when i was on 3 grains it was 1 in the morning (7am), 1 in the afternoon (3pm), and 1 in the evening (9pm)

[Incoguto in reply to ci00aaj]

No worries, but please don't drop by half grain, that could be way too much (19 t4 and 4.5 t3). I'd say go with max a quarter of a grain.

[FancyPants54 in reply to ci00aaj]

As Incoguto says, 1/2 a grain is too much of a drop. 1/4 grain only. You can cut your half grain tablets in half.

[ci00aaj]

Is there an optimal way of spacing out NDT? Just wondering when it is most required throughout the day. I'm just trying to figure out how I can distribute the dosage over the day

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to ci00aaj]

What time do you take NDT in the morning? I think T3 lasts around 6 hours ish. So you could take second dose of NDT 6 hours after the first. I take a T3/ T4 combi and take t3 3 times a day. Spacing out about 6 hours each dose.

[FancyPants54 in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

The T3 in NDT seems to be more like a slow release T3 because some of it is bound. It lasts longer than pure T3. 10-12 hour spacing seems to work just fine for many. 6 hours is more essential for pure T3.

[pennyannie in reply to ci00aaj]

I try dovetailing my NDT in with the circadian rhythm of the body.

[ci00aaj]

I usually take my first grain of NDT at around 7am. I guess if I cut down to 1.5 grains I could do 0.5 at approx 8am, 0.5 at 2pm and 0.5 at 8pm

[ci00aaj]

Just wanted to add, that today i've reduced my dose of NDT from 2 grains to 1.5 grains. Previously i was taking 1 grain in the morning and 1 grain in the evening. I'm now spreading the 1.5 grains over morning (8am), afternoon (2pm) and evening (8pm).

Obviously i need to give this some time to settle and monitor how i am feeling but does anyone have any recommendations on how long i should try this for before having another blood test?

[pennyannie in reply to ci00aaj]

I think 6-8 weeks the suggested time frame and remember blood tests tend to run a couple of weeks behind symptoms.

Monitor yourself on physical symptoms of blood pressure, pulse and body temperature AM and PM -

These first 2 remained constant for me but tracked my temperature rise from 35.4 to 36.6 - where it still is today some 6 years on.

Temperature changes can be quite subtle - but it may just help noting how your body responds to the medication throughout the day.