Due to stroke 18 April (clot) my mental cognition/compression is faulty!! Would appreciate some help/feedback re:thyroid test results.

[DizzyD]

Hi all, it's difficult finding the words in my muddled brain post stroke to write this post so please bear with me if I get mixed up with words. Prior to stroke my levo dose was 75/50 alternate days with addition of 30mcg of EFRA daily. When I was hospitalised with stroke I did not manage to take EFRA because it was not prescribed by NHS and I have not taken it since stopping it in hospital.

On 1st May I had private thyroid test levo dose was 75/50 alternate days. Here are the results:

THS 0.351. 0.27 - 4.2

FT4 16.0 12 - 22

FT3 3.3 3.1 - 6.8

Upon receiving these results I increased levo to 75mcg daily. Please note I did not reintroduce EFRA (was off it for 12 days prior to test) because it's recommended that retest is done after only one change of medication which was the addition of 25mcg of levo.. The above test results clearly indicate that I should have introduced some T3 rather than T4 but my brain was not working that well post stroke. Lol it's working a bit better now but not that great.

So here are my resent test results levo dose 75mcg daily

THS 4.17 0.27 - 4.2

FT4 17 12 - 22

FT3 3.9 3.1 - 6.8

I have hypo symptoms and do believe brain fog could also be compounding my mental cognition. Also I am having AFib attacks which can be attributed to low T3. What can I do to improve my thyroid numbers?

I don't have a thyroid...had thyroidectomy 1992

Really would appreciate some advice.

Sincere thanks you

[GlowCoach Administrator]

I'm not clear about your doses of what prior to this test.

If you stopped Erfa 12 days before the test then its not an accurate test.

Your FT3 is too low and TSH too high. Could you thinkabout adding a small amount of T3?

How are vitamins looking?

What supplements do you take?

[DizzyD in reply to GlowCoach]

Thank yo Jaydee. I didn't stop EFRA 12 days before recent thyroid test done 22 July. I stopped it after I had stroke on 18 April, an had thyroid test on May 1st.. Results for this test (firstt example above) then I increased levo to 75mcg daily results 2nd test results above.

Yes my TSH is too high so if I could add a small dose of t3 which will lower TSH. Question is will the T3 push T4 up? I do not want my T4 at top of range. I really need to add t3 to see if it helps with AFib episodes.

FERRITIN 112 30-332

Folate 20.4 7 - 35

B12 150 37.5 - 188

VitD 126 50 - 250 Numbers not optimal but sometimes I forget to take them. Over past few days I have taken daily and will try and stick to this.

Before resent test I stopped bcomplex and b12 week before test.

I take B complex, Vit D, K2, magnesium, vit C, iron, b12 drops, pro biotics + co Q10.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

was test early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Assuming yes

Free T4 (fT4) 17 pmol/L (12 - 22) 

Ft4 only 50.0% through range

suggest you increase dose Levo first to 87.5mcg daily

(Or 100mcg one day and 75mcg next day…..averages out at 87.5mcg)

Get weekly pill dispenser to help remember which on which days

What brand levothyroxine are you currently using

And test vitamin levels

Are you taking any other medications?

[DizzyD in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragonMy test was done 8am 24 hours after last levo dose. No biotin for over a week.

Current brand of levo Wockhardt 25mcg + accord 50mcg.

Vitamin levels ok apart from D3 which is below half range so I have increased dose now.

The only other medication I am taking is a anticoagulant Dibigatran. Prescribed statins and Lonsoprozol but I do not take them.

Thank you for suggesting I increase levo because it's only 50% through range. Personally I would rather add some T3 at this point because t3 it is very low. Depending on next retest results I may increase levo if I need to.

Sincere thanks you for help and support.

[pennyannie]

Hello DizzyD :

Sorry to read this :

If you were well and established on the 1/2 grain dose of Efra + 50/75 mcg T4 dose prior to the stroke -

I 'd be inclined to reinstate the dose as was prior to April :

Your results on these 2 sets of bloods are not very different - but for the TSH having jumped up to the top of the range -

I think adding back in the Efra will kick start your metabolism and see your T3 increase which it badly needs to do to support your brain and bodily functions.

[DizzyD in reply to pennyannie]

Hi pennyannie thank you for your reply.

I have ran out of EFRA but I do have supply of T3. If I decide to take very small dose (1/4 of 25ml) T3 and 75mcg levo daily will the T3 also push up my T4 levels?

I aware the t3 will lower my TSH but I don't want T4 to rise too much.

Hope you don't mind but I have another question for you. Here goes! If I decide to add the t3 to thyroid dose of levo would it be ok to take T3 only mid afternoon in order to avoid afternoon slumps?

Lol my brain and body really does need some T3.

Prior to April stroke my thyroid levels were really messed up since June 2023 due to Amiodarone medication prescribed for AFib April 2023. The drug plays havoc with thyroid via conversion and my T4 went over range even after reduction of levo so I stopped taking it August last year. The drug has an extremely long half life due to its high iodine content so since then I have not been able to establish decent thyroid levels...it's been horrendous really, then I had the stroke and I am lucky to alive.

Anyway, it's nearly a year since I stopped the Amiodarone and I believe the half life of drug has now cleared from my system. Eureka! Hence I so keen to sort out my thyroid medication issue.

I am not prescribed any AFib medication at all due to severe side effects so I need T3 because low t3 can trigger AFib and I have been having quite a few AFib episodes over past few months.

Sorry for the lengthy reply.

Just need to look at a solution instead of the problem!!!

[pennyannie in reply to DizzyD]

Hey there -

No problem - have you taken synthetic T3 before as I found it much more powerful than that found in NDT ?

We have another forum member at least, trying to get over the long term consequences of this drug so I'll send out for someone on the drug who was on NDT who will know better than me :   waveylines

My guess is you need some form of T3 and if it's synthetic so be it - and yes the T3 should lower your T4 reading a little :

you were with 4 mcg T3 from the NDT - so probably the smallest chop you can make will be quartering the 25mcg tablet - giving you T3 x 6.25 mcg.

Why do you not want to take it with the T4 so to aid the conversion of the T4 ?

[DizzyD]

Very helpful reply pennyannie. You are opening up my mind.If you don't mind me asking what brand of NDT do you take?

To be honest I am afraid to take synthetic T3 but I do have 100 thyroid S 60mg. I might have to use these instead of synthetic ones. As I was only taking half grain that means I have 200 doses!!!

Whoops my mistake, so taking T4 an T3 together helps conversation of the T4?

Where is this other forum you referred to?

[pennyannie in reply to DizzyD]

I 've been taking Thyroid S for around 6 years -

I had some issues, as have others, with batches prefixed 22 -

but now on a 23 prefixed batch and near enough back to how I used to feel prior to its reformulation .

Well, yes, that's as I understand things as when on T4 alone I was with a T3 at around 25% with a T4 at 100% through the range :

and now taking NDT - my T3 and T4 have literally changed places and now my T3 is 90/110% with my T4 at around 25/30% through the range :

So, as I see it, since there is T3 and T4 in each grain which in its natural state is pig thyroid -presume one needs the other to fully utilise and convert both T3 and T4 thyroid hormones.

I'm with Graves Disease post RAI thyroid ablation 2005 so presume I haven't a thyroid as it was burnt out in situ by this toxic substance some years ago.

[DizzyD in reply to pennyannie]

Hello pennyannie once again thak you for informative imput..

Hope you dont mind me asking you to private msg me supplier of your thyroid S.

Reason i,m asking is the ones i have got which i started to take yesterday 1/2 grain and 75mcg levo, does not have any prefixed batch number on the pkt. They just in a resealable small foiled silver backed pkt that has a clear window. Small card inside, writing states "Thyroid Extract 60 mg" . I would sooner buy some from your supplier if thats ok with you.

At this point i am now taking small amount of NDT strickly for t3 content. Due to amiodarone issue (long half life affecting conversion of thyroid meds) waveylines an myself are experiencing, I dont know if hormones are getting into my cells or not. I live in hope that they are.

I have heart problems afib and mitral stenosis and waiting for treatment in Sheffield. If all goes well in the future i plan to revert to dosing solely with NDT.

Thank you for link to waveylines posts. We have been in touch since last year, both affected by amiodarone but since my stroke i have failef to communicate with her as often as i once did.

Sincere thanks pennyannie.

[pennyannie in reply to DizzyD]

Okey doke :

Just went to PM you and we corresponded a year ago -

let me know if you can't find my previous PM -

It reads as though you have the small packet of Thyroid S with just 100 tablets in it but there should still be a batch number - no worries let me know :

[DizzyD in reply to pennyannie]

Lol after sending you last post i went and viewed my old msgs to see if i could find supplier info as to where i bought the thyroid S and i came across our previous messages. I bought them from supplier info you sent me. Did not use them because i bought some Erfa off someone who later messaged me.So is it still the initial ssupplier info you sent me? If it is thumbs up!!!

[pennyannie in reply to DizzyD]

Yes - just sent you a further PM -

That package you have should detail the batch number :

[DizzyD in reply to pennyannie]

No batch number at all. Perhaps the batch number was separate on invoice which i dont have any more.

[Jo5454]

Hi DizzyD, sorry to read of your difficult times and really hope you can get the help you need to go forwards with yr recovery.I can't help with your question, but am just wondering if you were ever tested for homocysteine in relation to your stroke or heart problems?

Seems the test is included by some cardiologists/stroke units but have no idea how widespread? It's something, an amino acid, that can build up if we don't have adequate b12/folate/b6/b2 levels or have issues with processing/methylation them.

Raised levels of homocysteine are being linked to risk of cardiovascular issues & strokes. Seems it could be potentially one of the easier things to address with vitamins.

Food for the Brain foundation has more info on it as they've recently brought out a home pinprick test for it. Seems its something worth keeping levels down/eye on...take care.

[DizzyD in reply to Jo5454]

Thank you Jo....interesting info. Will ask stroke dr when he calls me again in few weeks.My stroke was caused by clot in heart which went to brain, due to afib which was quite severe day before stroke.

Will get the finger prick test because i have recently started taking b12 drops. Also take complex supps.

[Jo5454]

You're more than welcome. Gosh what a time you've been having.xI've done that test and it's only a few drops on a piece of card, no phial to fill,so easier than some! £50. Seems its def an area that's worth keeping a check on.

Have u been short on b12 in the past or had any of the related symptoms?