I have been on 125mcg of Levo for a year now (I am hypo with hashimotos) which kept my TSH below 1 for a long time. It has now shot up to 6.75 which is officially subclinical again. My T3 is in range but low and my T4 optimal.
tsh: 6.75mIU/l (0.35-5.5)
ft3: 2.41pmol/l (2.26 - 5.63)
ft4: 18.81 pmol/l (11.9-21.6)
What does this mean now for me? Do I need to up the meds yet again? How can avoid this? Or do I need T3 meds? Really depressing seeing as Ive been seeing functional doctors, lifestyle medicine doctors and nobody seems to get me anywhere even though I'm trying everything no gluten, dairy, antiinflam diet and exercise etc etc.
Thanks for your help in advance
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Needlehaystax
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test was 7:30am no food or levothyroxine and last dose 24hrs before. Was on mixed brands but this month I switched to full teva for both doses but I thought that would be better? I was on Teva and accord before when TSH below 2. Just had all the bio markers you mentioned tested last week and all in range.
I stopped vitamins for the 2weeks before my test last week, as didn’t want them interfering with my results but I have historically been taking:
Probiotic
Bcomplex drops high dose
Vitamin D high dose
Glutathione drops
coq10,
omega3,
Ferrous fumerate
Vit C
Cordyseps
Curcumin
Blackseed oil
Selenium
Ashwaganda
Zinc
Magnesium
Myoinisitol
I had bloods in October and T3 was still low but my TSH was around the 3 mark so shocked it’s suddenly shot up.
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You only need to stop B complex and iron supplements 5-7 days before testing
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)
thanks so much I had no idea about that. So do you think that my Teva could have actually raised my TSH ? If so mind blown that something that is meant to control my condition worsens it 🤯
also I’m taking ashwaganda purely because a functional doctor, a functional nutritionist and naturopath told me to take it to balance hormones. I had a DUTCH hormone test and my adrenals are shot to peices. I have low cortisol esp in the mornings which apparently signals stage 3/4 adrenal fatigue where they don’t work brilliantly. I also have sky high prolactin but not sure what that means. I think I was advised to take ashwaganda as part of my adrenal/hormone health - is there evidence that I should stop ashwaganda in my situ? I have heard mixed things.
All my bio markers I’ll send separately - sorry in advance for messages!
But you stopped supplementing 2 weeks before test ….too long
B12 low and this doesn’t drop fast when stop supplements
So you likely need daily separate B12 as well as daily vitamin B complex
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement
Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week
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) and continue B12 until serum B12 over 500
When you have Hashi's your hormone levels will fluctuate from time to time as follows...
An underactive thyroid often occurs when the immune system, which usually fights infection, attacks the thyroid gland. This damages the thyroid, which means it's not able to make enough of the hormone thyroxine, leading to the symptoms of an underactive thyroid.
A condition called Hashimoto's disease is the most common type of autoimmune reaction that causes an underactive thyroid.
It's not clear what causes Hashimoto's disease, but it runs in families. It's also common in people with another immune system disorder, such as type 1 diabetes and vitiligo. Ex NHS
How do you feel?
Symptoms are an important part of any thyroid diagnosis when numbers are confusing. TSH is not a reliable marker so don't be led up the garden path by that.
I suspect your T4 to T3 conversion is impaired (high FT4 with low FT3) causing the low FT3. You may need T3
You could try increasing levo to 150mcg, you have just enough room to do this, though I doubt it would make much difference. Avoid FT4 becoming over range that can have other negative health implications
Suggest you book an appointment with an endocrinologist, rather than lifestyle medicine doctors, with a view to initiating T3 treatment
Weight gain can occur when FT3 is low, T3 regulates the metabolism and if T3 is low then metabolism runs slow which doesn't burn up the calories....weight gain follows
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