Dr Phone call to discuss bloods

[Harthill42]

Dear friends of TUK

The Dr has asked to discuss the results of my bloods test this Friday-on an arranged phone call

I would welcome some interpretation of my results please

I currently take 75 mcg of Levo. I have recently finished a trail of 100 mcg 75 on day 75 on alternate days. This was trailed after I asked my Dr to increase the dose from feedback from the forum

I currently take 12.5 mcg daily of Tiromel T3

Thanks in advance.

[pennyannie]

Hello Harthill :

Does your doctor know you are taking T3 and that it tends to lower both T4 and TSH :

There is no T3 reading here - so I can't see a sensible conversation regarding your thyroid levels -

More to the point - how are you feeling ?

I don't know - but just looking at the ranges - the bottom 2 readings there for serum ALT and plasma gamma look a bit out - but I don't know :

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Its hard to know whats happening from these results when you're taking Levo & T3 and theres no FT3 result.

Suggest you get a full panel of TSH, FT4 & FT3 privately.

What are you supplementing with and what are your most recent vitamin test results?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

No Ft3 or vitamin results

Ft4 is still extremely low

Many members on Levo plus small doses of T3 find they need Ft4 and Ft3 at least 50-60% through range

Suggest you Get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing to check Ft3 before looking at increasing Levo to 100mcg daily

Always do all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

T3 ….day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test

is this how you did your test

What vitamin supplements are you taking

[Harthill42 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks you.

Yes I did not take my Levo before the blood test and abstained from taking the T3 for a couple of days before the blood test as well.

I need to be get a full blood panel completed. FT3 and not tested

I am supplementing with Vitamin D and Selenium

[Jazzw in reply to Harthill42]

As they didn’t test FT3, you may as well have carried on having it! Ah well!

TSH can take weeks, months and sometimes years to never to respond to a change in dosage.

[Harthill42 in reply to Jazzw]

Thank you. 🙏

Obviously I didn't think of that

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Harthill42]

and abstained from taking the T3 for a couple of days before the blood test as well.

There’s no point testing if not going to test correctly

last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

T3 ….day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test

How much vitamin D are you taking

Is it tablets or mouth spray

Test twice yearly when supplementing

Can test via NHS private testing service

vitamindtest.org.uk

test folate, B12 and ferritin at least annually

[sparkly]

I would ask for repeat liver test in 3 months if gp doesn't request it. Your raised ALT and GGT could indicate fatty liver which is quite common with thyroid issues. I've just reversed mine.

[Harthill42 in reply to sparkly]

Thank you I shall this through.

I am very interested to hear how you reversed yours?

[elaar in reply to Harthill42]

Do you have Diabetes? They could be slightly elevated due to that.

[Harthill42 in reply to elaar]

No fortunately 🙏

[sparkly in reply to Harthill42]

Hi, I still can't say 100% I've totally reversed it without a scan but my endo says I have. It's taken about 2 years through lifestyle changes of diet, exercise and minimal alcohol. They started slowly reducing in 22 but in January 23 I started just simple weight training in the garden, I increased my calories, high protein meals and started eating carbs and drink plenty of water and reduced alcohol.

My ALT's slowly started reducing and had normal results for over a year now. What is more amazing is all my other iffy bloods are now normal too. My high and low cholesterols, raised CRP, GFR and I likely had insulin resistance. I've now been able to lose weight which was impossible for last 15 years. This is the healthiest I've been in years and I now go to the gym and weight train. I walk daily and just recently finished an 8 week health and fitness challenge at my gym.

No one ever explained to me how detrimental having an iffy liver was. I was referred to hepatology but was discharged straight away. With no real advice on what to do apart from avoid alcohol.

[elaar in reply to sparkly]

One thing we soon realise from researching this horrible disease, is how it seems to be the poor liver that gets the full brunt of insufficient T3, whether it's Lipid profile, bile acid, iron homeostasis, the cause of many gut issues etc.

[Harthill42 in reply to elaar]

Thank you for your response

I shall post the reason and outcome of the call on this thread/ post.

[sparkly in reply to elaar]

Thanks for that information. I truly believe I've had thyroid issues all my life and having some kind of cellular resistance has caused no end of issues for me.