Help with blood results please

[KittyKat234]

Good afternoon everyone.

I hope you are all doing as well as can be expected!

Just been to the Endo recently, and they've come back with these latest results. Not quite sure what to make of them! I've done a bit of research and it seems to say that it might be subclinical hypothyroidism now?? Would be grateful for your expertise! 🙏

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

I'm going to ignore the TSH as you are bouncing around with Graves and Hashimoto's and TSH isn't much use... How are you feeling? Are you still on propranolol?

I shall tag in pennyannie

Free T4 (fT4) 18.8 pmol/L (10.8 - 25.5) 54.4%

Free T3 (fT3) 5.1 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 54.1%

T4:T3 Ratio 3.686 

[KittyKat234 in reply to TiggerMe]

Thanks for the reply Tigger, and tagging pennyannie. I stopped the carbim over a month ago, and Im feeling OK ish. The palpitations seem to be creeping in again, so I seem to be taking it more often in the evenings now. (But not every night. ) I do seem be a little less alert tho. Definately feel like brain fog has set in! The endo, has suggested a restart carbim. (1 tab every Mon/weds/Friday.....

[pennyannie]

Hey there again :

What did the endo suggest - and was s/he aware that you have been adjusting the AT drug yourself -

I'm guessing you have stopped the Carbimazole and taking the Propranolol as and when you feel the need - please advise what thyroid drugs you are now taking ?

The T3 and T4 are now in range but your TSH has fallen back down the range -

so maybe you need a little of the AT drug to keep these antibodies in check for longer as mentioned previously by asiatic :

[KittyKat234 in reply to pennyannie]

Hi Pennyannie, and thanks for replying. I stopped the carbim, over 6 weeks ago, as I had suddenly gained weight and thought i was going hypo... The endo has suggested taking one 5mg tab three times a week. The palpitations seem to be creeping in again now, so I take the propanalol on an ad hoc basis.

[pennyannie in reply to KittyKat234]

Ok then - yes, you need to restart the AT drug at a low dose and would go with asiatic's suggestion :

[KittyKat234 in reply to pennyannie]

Thanks Penny...I dont know what Id do without you guys!!

[asiatic]

I would agree with your endo to restart the carbimazole but not 3 days a week. With a short half life it would be better to take a low dose daily eg 2.5 mg which according to Elaine Moore still has a therapeutic effect.

[helvella Administrator in reply to asiatic]

Couldn't agree more!

Furthermore, three days a week inevitably has a double-day gap! Hence, not just 48 hours from every other day but 72 hours between doses once a week. It is madness.

I'd still disagree with it, but alternate day dosing would make marginally more sense - 3 doses one week, four the next!

helvella - Splitting Carbimazole Doses

A short discussion about Carbimazole primarily focussed on splitting doses but containing some other information.

Last updated 14/09/2024

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[KittyKat234 in reply to helvella]

Thanks for reply... I think Ill do what you suggest. 3 tabs on week one, and 4 tabs the next. Makes perfect sense to avoid the troughs you mention in your article. 😉

[KittyKat234 in reply to helvella]

Hi Helvella. Ive been reading your blog about Carbimazole, and am thinking that if I only take 3 tabs a week, and 4 in the next week, am I not exposing myself to the 'escape' situation?

"By taking it as a single dose, your thyroid can "escape" the effect of the Carbimazole and release more thyroid hormone. By splitting, you maintain a more even level."

[KittyKat234 in reply to asiatic]

I was kinda thinking the same! Id get a more even dosage across all 7 days, as opposed to the peaks and troughs of a 3 day regime....