Advice re blood results and symptoms

[WestElf]

Hello, I've been following this forum for a while and this is my first time posting - I'm hoping for some reassurance and guidance. I've provided background information (including blood results from earlier in the year) in my Bio which should explain where I am up to (I hope I've included everything!).

I've just received latest blood test results back today, having been on 50mcg of Levothyroxine for 10 weeks. The blood was taken at 8.15am, fasting with no biotin and last dose of Levo 24 hours beforehand. Results are as follows:

TSH 0.33 (range 0.27-4.20mlU/L)

Free T4 16.8 (range 12.0-22.0pmol/L)

Free T3 4.5 (range 3.1-6.8pmol/L)

Anti-Thyroglobulin Abs 14 (range <115IU/mL)

Anti-Thyroidperoxidase abs <9.0 (range <34IU/mL)

Vitamin D 111 (range 50-200nmol/L)

Ferritin 61.50 (range 13-150 ug/L)

Serum Folate 16.90 (range 8.83-60.8nmol/L)

Active B12 79 (range 37.5-150pmol/L)

In terms of my symptoms, I felt hopeful during the first two weeks on Levothyroxine as I thought I felt better in myself with slight improvement in symptoms but I'm not sure now if that was just the placebo effect. For the first 6 weeks I experienced terrible bloating which has dissipated somewhat now. After about 6 weeks on 50mcg I began to notice improvement in constipation and energy levels but not in any other symptoms and in fact some symptoms seem worse.

My next appointment with the thyroid specialist is in a couple of weeks and I'm just trying to understand what's going on with symptoms and blood results ahead of time. And also to optimise my vitamins/nutrients further, as I see so much advice on this forum regarding how important that is. As you can read from my Bio, I am not certain that my symptoms are thyroid-related but I am worn out from years of suffering, trying to find out what is going on, being patient waiting for things to work (or not) and medical professionals being unable to help. I'd appreciate any help or insight - there seems to be so much expertise on this forum - I'm very glad to have found it.

[sparkly]

I will leave the more experienced to comment on thyroid. Straight away seeing your age I thought perimenopause could be rearing it's ugly head and reading your bio it definitely is.

You likely need an increase in your patch but I would definitely pursue testosterone. It was game changer for me and feel it helped with symptoms I was blaming on thyroid or just that testosterone helps along thyroid meds.

Perimenopause played havoc for me with thyroid issues as symptoms can be the same for both so you don't know what is causing what.

As if it's not bad enough going through one issue, then get dished the other to contend with too

[WestElf in reply to sparkly]

Thank you so much for replying Sparkly : ) Yes, I think you’re right. I did try the testosterone for three months a couple of years ago but I felt that it made me a little aggressive and didn’t help with anything. Looking back I think I didn’t give it long enough and the aggressiveness may just have been grumpiness.

[sparkly in reply to WestElf]

Sadly it doesn't work for everyone which is a shame. My body loves all hormones I take, I must be low on all.They say give it 6 months, could be worth trying again and just reduce dose

[WestElf]

Would anyone be able to comment on my thyroid results? I’d be very grateful for any input if possible…