I was diagnosed as hypothyroid at the end of last year. My GP started me on 50mcg levothyroxine. She increased this to 75mcg in March, then to 100mcg (at my request) in July. I've now been on that dose for 7 weeks and just took a private test (following the standard protocol) with MMH so that I know roughly what's coming before my scheduled NHS blood test next week. These are my latest results:
TSH: 0.38 mU/l (Range 0.27 - 4.2) 2.80%
FT4: 21.8 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22) 98.00%
FT3: 4.6 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8) 40.54%
I suspect my GP will want to drop my dose back to 75mcg, given that my FT4 looks high. However, I'm concerned that the FT3 is still low. Do I need to spend longer at the current dose to get an accurate picture? Or am I just a poor converter, and should I be looking at sourcing some T3? If so, how do I go about that? I'm sure I'll get nowhere with the NHS.
As far as symptoms go, I still have occasional palpitations, low mood, anxiety, breathlessness, tinnitus, hair loss, etc.
I'm taking Vitamin D with K, Ingennus B complex, and magnesium.
Thanks for any advice or insight.
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slblue7629
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Your results are all within range, so despite a fairly high FT4 thats OK on Levo only but if you do add T3 then you would need to drop Levo by 25mcgs.
Hows your ferritin level? Thats often a cause of hair loss.
You aren't the best converter, you can email info@thyroiduk.org for a list of T3 friendly Endo's. Pick a couple then make a new post asking for feedback by private message.
Have you been on the supplements 6 months or so and have retested and know your results are optimal?
Thanks for this. I haven't tested my vitamins since July. At that time, my results were:
Ferritin 98 (30 - 332)
Folate 45.8 (7 - 46.8)
B12 130 (37.5 - 188)
D 104 (50 - 250)
I've been taking supplements since May. Should I get my vitamins (especially ferritin) to an optimal state before trying for T3? Any suggestions for improving ferritin are welcome.
So vitamins are all optimal, by the time you get some T3 it will have been a few months. Continue the supplements as you are now and retest a year from when you started them.
Ferritin is optimal (said to be 90-100), but I wonder as you have hair loss if you should get an iron panel run as its possible to have good ferritin & poor serum iron.
Looking at previous posts your hypothyroidism is autoimmune - hashimoto’s
Have you had coeliac blood test done yet via GP
If not get that done BEFORE trialing strictly gluten free diet
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
A trial of strictly gluten free diet is always worth doing
Only 5% of Hashimoto’s patients test positive for coeliac but a further 81% of Hashimoto’s patients who try gluten free diet find noticeable or significant improvement or find it’s essential
A strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential due to gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and may slowly lower TPO antibodies
While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first as per NICE Guidelines
The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported
In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned
Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.
Similarly few months later consider trying dairy free too. Approx 50-60% find dairy free beneficial
With loads of vegan dairy alternatives these days it’s not as difficult as in the past
If Ft3 still remains low…..then like many Hashimoto’s patients you are likely to need added T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine
Here’s link for how to request Thyroid U.K.list of private Doctors emailed to you, but within the email a link to download list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologists who will prescribe T3
Ideally choose an endocrinologist to see privately initially and who also does NHS consultations
Yes, I had a coeliac test in July, and it came back negative. I haven't started gluten-free yet, but I will. I'll do anything it takes to feel well again. I like your suggestion about taking a reduced dose on some days, but I doubt I can convince my doctor - doesn't agree with cutting pills, and I don't think anyone makes a 12.5mcg size? If I find an endocrinologist to see privately, how easy is it to see the same person via the NHS? Sorry for the brain fog, but what's the process?
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Monitor my health test results
test interpretation help please 
Advice re inconsistent and above range FT4 please.
Confusing results
TSH supressed again GP & Endo keep changing my dose
