I've been reading the forum for several months now, having been chronically ill since Easter.
My story - I have been prescribed thyroxine for 25 years and have been mostly very stable. I have previously tested positive for antibodies so I assumed it was Hashis.
Last Sept I suffered shingles, close unexpected bereavement (sister) and major professional pressure... all at the same time. I struggled to shake the shingles which made a resurgence in December (& again in April btw) and still under major work stress.
Come Easter weekend I got what I thought was a flu and have never been well since... whilst improved somewhat.
I have had long spells bedbound feeling awful. Dizziness, nausea, major fatigue, flank pain, alternating loose/slow bowels, headaches, completely fuzzy brain ... to name a few! I have managed to get back to reduced working hours but it is a struggle to keep the fine balance to meet my responsibilities.
I have had umpteen tests and scans all coming back normal, bar a positive ANA test in June that didn't point to anything specific. Other than that, only my thyroid stuff had been out - unfortunately T3 wasn't tested until I started reading this forum and requested it. In December my GP thought I was over medicated as T4 very slightly above range and Tsh below range. (I now think this may have been start of poor conversion?)
I have been working in eating well, getting Vit D up, etc , as advised in this forum.
I have a private endo appointment on Saturday and he has agreed, in principle, to do a 3 to 6 month trial of t3 and t4 - I am a bit nervous to be honest but I really need to get better! Worried I will lose the headway I've managed to make. He will need a little convincing probably as he had stated that I was perhaps OVER medicated. My case will be chronic illness and stress has affected my ability to convert.
Do you guys think this is reflected in my (limited) results?
29 May
T4 20.8 (12 - 22)
TSH 0.16 (0.27 - 4.20)
T3 4.7 (3.1 - 6.8)
5 Aug
T4 19.8
TSH 0.19
T3 3.9
30 Oct
T4 20.8
TSH 0.04
T3 4.3
Vit D 149 (0 - 50)
I have older iron numbers from April, amongst others... but would be interested to read your initial impressions?
I followed your testing protocols for Aug and Oct.
Thank you in advance of any guidance. I don't want to convince him to give the trial if its going to make me worse.
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Mazza44
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Adding a small amount of T3 would be a good idea but don't let them drop your T4 dose before as adding T3 will drop your fT4, titrate T3 slowly to allow your body to adjust so no more than 5mcg increments
That first one was a bit of a bounce back... I think my adherence to taking the T4 wasn't great when I was floored end of March.
APR
T4 19.6
TSH 5.78
(no t3 to compare)
Dec 23
T4 23.5 (above range)
TSH 0.21
(no t3 to compare)
(all same lab ranges)
I will look up B12 follate and ferritin which were done around May. My ferritin was well over range though and I was told that this was an indication of inflammation. So I'm not sure how to read that.
My ferritin was well over range though and I was told that this was an indication of inflammation.
Well, it might be. But then again, it might not. It could just be that you have too much iron in storage. Therefore, they should have tested an inflammation marker, such as CRP, at the same time.
You probably do have inflammation but the test should be done to make sure.
Well, your inflammation isn't high, so your high ferritin level is due to high ferritin. Although your serum iron is low. Frankly, I don't know what to make of that. Maybe write a new post asking just about that?
Igennus B complex popular option. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose and may need separate methyl folate couple times a week
Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 5-7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg)
Post discussing how biotin can affect test results
In addition to looking at your thyroid, you should also consider Long Covid given that the "flu" you suffered was almost certainly Covid-19. This doesn't show up on conventional blood tests, but it does cause the symptoms you mention.
I'm sorry I can't give you any advise what did interest me on your post was, has your stress/illness affected your ability to convert, can this actually happen ? as I have had so much grief and stress over the ladt few years.
It was the endo that told me that chronic illness can affect conversion, causing the T4 to rise and back up (looking like you're 'over'). That's why I think it started around December after 3 months of head and neck shingles and my first 'higher' T4 reading.
I've repeatedly read in the thyroid community from patients and practitioners that stress can cause major issues with thyroid function and conversion of T4 - T3. I personally think that's what caused the initial issues with my thyroid.
I hope you get back to some form of good health soon. Good luck. 👍
Hello as you say there’s good reason to suggest that grief, sadness and work stress triggered a big immune response. Therefore alongside the advice about medication / diet etc perhaps some therapeutic support might be something to consider if you haven’t already. Adding in yoga and breathing exercises will help calm the mind and body and process what’s been an awful time for you on all levels . I can share more details of this approach if you want to PM me. (Someone mentioned the possibility of long covid and this is what is being recommended by specialist NHS clinics.)
Gabor Mates interview on radio 4 on the podcast Young Again talks v interestingly about mind-body link and about immune response to grief / distress Tried to paste it here but for some reason it doesn’t allow me to!
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