Blood test results.....comments please

[aptucxet]

I have hashimotos and underactive thyroid. My latest test results are

TSH .248 (.450 - 4.50)

FT3 2.4 (2.0 - 4.4)

FT4 1.68 (.82 - 1.77)

Past 6 weeks taking 100 mcgs of T4.

With TSH too low and Ft3 not at top of range......planning on reducing T4 to 75 mcgs and adding 12.5 of T3 for the next 6 weeks and then checking blood again. Would like to know if this is a good plan? thank you very much. Blood draws before 9 a m .....no biotin for 4 days prior....no T4 until after the blood draw.

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

sounds sensible to me but bear in mind that taking T3 may supress your TSH further so best to consider your symptoms as bloods only tell you so much.

How do you feel?

[aptucxet in reply to Regenallotment]

Weak, achy muscles.....fatigue, etc. I was hoping that reducing the T4 from 100 to 75 mcgs might keep the TSH from going lower? I do wonder what the issue is with TSH being on the low side......since it is just a substance that tells your thyroid to produce more T4 T3. So complicated!

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to aptucxet]

Yeah I hear you. My understanding is that once we are on thyroid replacement the TSH can become an unreliable measure. I will get the laptop out and figure out your % through range and come back to you. My aches and fatigue definitely improved with a small introduction of T3. 🌱

[Jefner in reply to Regenallotment]

I am a little worried now when you say T3 supresses TSH levels. My current TSH is really low now and with the tiny increase I have recently started it's obviously going to knock it down even further?

TSH L0.23 0.27 - 4.20 mIU/L. Really don't understand what having a very low TSH means and is it something to worry about

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to Jefner]

Ignore TSH then, when you take T3 the TSH becomes suppressed and tells you nothing. Like I said to the OP (original poster) it’s more important to look at symptoms and FT3 and FT4.

[Jefner in reply to Regenallotment]

arr ok thanks, never really understod about that tbh

[aptucxet]

Thank you I appreciate that very much

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to aptucxet]

Here you go

FT4: 1.68 pmol/l (Range 0.82 - 1.77) 90.53%

FT3: 2.4 pmol/l (Range 2 - 4.4) 16.67%

So yes, if it were me I would try a drop in T4 but maybe not a whole 25mcg every day, maybe spread a smaller drop over the week. See how it goes and test again in 6 weeks (although my prescriber prefers 12 weeks between changes).

With adding T3, take care not to add it all at once, start small, maybe 2.5mcg and increase after a few days to another 2.5mcg in the afternoon, then switch to 5 mcg in the morning etc. It can take some getting used to.

[aptucxet in reply to Regenallotment]

Sounds like good advice......I have T3 .......25 mcg tablets........which I can cut into 4 pieces (the size of tiny crumbs!) .......so can start out with small doses. I would not be able to cut them into smaller pieces, however. Thank you again for doing the mathematics 👍