Can anyone help interpret these results please? I had a hysterectomy in 2018 & haven't taken anything until very recently....started hrt gel about 2 months ago but not very consistent with taking. Gp wants me to keep going with it, but doctors comments on my tests from blue horizon was estrogen high....
Hormone tests & HRT...: Can anyone help interpret... - Thyroid UK
Hormone tests & HRT...
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diagnosed2013
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Personally I like my oestradiol around 300 to alleviate symptoms, some say top end 500 others 800 but needs to be viewed alongside progesterone levels and testosterone
I think they suggest above 200pmol/L for best bone protection
Previously they used to say no need for progesterone after a hysterectomy but opinions have changed as it helps to balance out estrogen dominance regardless and it still helps with mood and sleep
bodylogicmd.com/blog/the-be...
From these results I'd flag up the low GFR, how are your thyroid levels?
These are my thyroid levels....
These are my thyroid levels...
So these are on the low side though your TSH isn't raised suggesting a possible feedback loop issue if your pituitary isn't signalling the need for more hormone production.
Low autoimmune antibodies suggests no current attack
How are your vits and mins looking?
I've been supplementing b12 & folate
Vitsmin D a bit low....looking to get a stronger one as was only taking 1000 in oil
Just reading your other post, so B12 and folate ok, Vit D dire! Aiming for 125nmol/L
Do you take magnesium? This helps with Vit D uptake
This will tell you what you need to take to get levels up... grassrootshealth.net/projec...
Do you have a CRP result?
I think so...will just have a look
Crp & magnesium etc..
Crp & magnesium etc...
So CRP low suggests ferritin level is genuine (often rises after menopause) and your iron levels are ok along with your cholesterol levels
So would the results of the hormone tests suggest I'm post menopausal? Only I'm not sure, had a hysterectomy & on my doctors records it says I had my ovaries removed...but the hospital says I didn't 🤔....I'm puzzled as obviously I can only take oestrogen if I have had my ovaries removed...if not then I could take progesterone etc?
Yes, you are post menopausal... how hilarious... NOT! That they can't agree on what they did to you 😕
There is nothing to stop you using all three sex hormones it's just that your GP will likely refuse the progesterone if you don't have a womb... which is the bit they do seem to agree you don't have, as they see it's only purpose is to protect the lining of the uterus... but it may help with mood and sleep
Do you have any thyroid levels from 2013 when you were first diagnosed?
Yes this is it...only in last few months did I ever ask for a print out so never knew any results before
Think this is tsh when first diagnosed....
Handy... Can you pin point a time when you felt well and see any corresponding levels? It's good that you have fT4 levels to look back on at least as well as TSH
I honestly can't remember....I had my twins by emergency C-section on New Year's Day 2012 so first two years pretty much a blur lol. My doctor is putting all my symptoms down to the menopause...but I have grade 2 lumbarspinal stenosis, cervical stenosis, arthritis in my knee & my hip is going now....just feel like since 50 I'm steadily falling apart 😑...might look to source some T3 privately?
The only reason I don't have anymore thyroid results from back then was because my very nice doctor immigrated to New Zealand so never found another good one again....he was the one that sent me to the hospital with the large fibroid that I had removed & hysterectomy for that (17.5 cm) the fibroid was. I looked about 6 months pregnant!
I wouldn't suggest anyone just start on T3 only as often T4 is adequate if conversion is good or more often than not needed at a good level before adding T3, it could be that Metavive is worth a try or perhaps seeing a private GP to trial levothyroxine again?
Only ever tsh result I ever had...until this year.
...
17 Oct 2012
Shows TSH was 7.7 (0.25-5.0)
Result marked as abnormal
You should have had retest 2-3 months later
Assuming TSH still over 5 should have been started on Levo then
So doctor started me on levothyroxine 50mg & I stayed on that for 3 years ....only one other tsh test in May 2013 & that was 4. Something will check...I've added it onto here I think. I stopped taking levo as felt well & didn't think I needed it anymore....how wrong I was... .
It all gets a bit bleary after that....no more tests done for thyroid function until this year when I started to feel very unwell. Even early 2022/2023 I was back to the doctors with high blood pressure & lots of other symptoms & still not tested. I trusted my doctor back then (he unfortunately emmigrated to New Zealand just as covid hit & testing pretty much stopped I think. I've got what I think is vitiligo on my back & some on my front, 4 different docs have looked at it & I've had varying diagnosis....First one said dermatitis, that was during covid & photo of rash sent to doc.....no it's not itchy & it's not pink or raised. Its non pigmentation skin. Next doctor (same doctor but this time he actually looked at it...said vitiligo. Next doctor this year said pityriasis & then the next (August this year) said ringworm!!! No it's not itchy or raised, it's non pigmentation in rounds. Anyway....going to go to a dermatologist in the new year I think to get it properly diagnosed. Sorry for long reply....docs aren't my favourite....I've had lots of gaslighting & more.
Are you on gluten free diet yet
This may also clear up skin issues
I had psoriasis and vitiligo develop before diagnosis of Hashimoto’s
They both disappeared after going gluten free
Yes I'm gluten free & dairy...I use lactofree milk. As lactose intolerant.
Thyroid patients are often intolerant to dairy enzymes, rather than just the lactose
Worth trying dairy free rather than lactose free
Is your levothyroxine lactose free
Lactose free brands - currently Vencamil or Teva
Vencamil is lactose free and mannitol free. originally only available as 100mcg only, but 25mcg, 50mcg and 75mcg tablets became available Sept 2024
Prior to March 2023 Vencamil was called Aristo
Vencamil often very well tolerated/best option for many people
How to get Vencamil stocked at your local pharmacy
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Posts discussing Vencamil
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....
Teva makes 12.5mcg 25mcg, 50mcg, 75mcg and 100mcg
Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine.
Teva is lactose free, but contains mannitol as a filler instead of lactose, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Mannitol seems to upset many people, it changes gut biome
Helpful post about Teva
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Posts that mention Teva
healthunlocked.com/search/p...
Teva poll
This was my dose back then....
This was my dose....
So almost certainly not high enough dose
Levothyroxine doesn’t “top up” your own thyroid output, it replaces it
Even if we frequently start on only 50mcg, most people need to increase levothyroxine dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps (retesting 6-8 weeks after each increase) until eventually on, or somewhere near full replacement dose (typically 1.6mcg levothyroxine per kilo of your weight per day)
cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hypo...
bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/levot...
nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...
Adults usually start with a dose between 50 micrograms and 100 micrograms taken once a day. This may be increased gradually over a few weeks to between 100 micrograms and 200 micrograms taken once a day.
Some people need a bit less than guidelines, some a bit more
TSH should be under 2 as an absolute maximum when on levothyroxine
gponline.com/endocrinology-...
Graph showing median TSH in healthy population is 1-1.5
web.archive.org/web/2004060...
Comprehensive list of references for needing LOW TSH on levothyroxine
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....
sciencedirect.com/science/a...
The optimal daily dose in overt hypothyroidism is 1·5–1·8 μg per kg of bodyweight, rounded to the nearest 25 μg.
I don't think my doctor back then understood any of the above...I certainly didn't & only now am I questioning it as I think a lot of my symptoms are down to hormones
I don't think my doctor back then understood any of the above
And sadly many GPs and endos still don’t understand that ……we see hundreds of patients left on woefully inadequate doses of Levo for years or decades
Should I take magnesium even though my levels look OK on the test results?
Magnesium results are reliably unreliable! So adding a little isn't a bad idea 🤷♀️
OK thanks 😊
TiggerMe when you say your results level goals… doesn’t it matter the day of your cycle… and/or are you already menopausal and when you are the levels are the same any day of the month?
The joy of post meno means I'm in control of the levels 😅 and they don't fluctuate much, I check them a couple of times a year as I've been adding a little dhea for the last 18 months which has just started to slightly increased both estradiol and testosterone levels so I've tweaked them down a little, I aim for lowest dose to alleviate symptoms
I went though the menopause at about 58 and it was a breeze after suffering with thyroid disease. I decided against HRT because my mother died from breast cancer. It’s amazing how differently it affects us all
For many it comes down to how well your adrenals are able to keep levels from totally crashing so always worth testing levels first, my adrenals were already exhausted from years of low fT3, I'm happy to use HRT for the benefit of my heart, bones, muscles and to be free of the awful tinnitus so my quality of life is greatly improved.... always recommend body identical forms... I think everyone is now so much more vigilant for any form of cancer as the odds aren't great for any of us 😕
I was on the pill until I was fifty the doctor had to force me to stop taking it lol
Have you ever checked your levels?
Which levels? Hormone?
sex hormones
Yes the doctor was amazed I was still having periods at 56. My grandmother was the same she was 60 when hers stopped. I am very like her just to add I do use a cream which I buy myself to prevent vaginal dryness but that’s all
Sounds like your levels are holding up well!
So far it’s just my thyroid that gives me trouble
Perhaps it's the Graves element that has protected your sex hormone levels?
Did your Gran also have Graves?
No I think that comes from my Irish father who left when I was a baby
This was the reply from the doctor commenting on the results of my tests from. Blue Horizon. ..
This was results
Just a standard answer
Yes thought it might be the case...thank you for all your help 🙏
Can I ask about the tinnitus you have, as I have it very badly too & it's one symptom I find very debilitating....which hrt do you use to help? Or is it a combination? Thank you for your help...much appreciated. Unfortunately I feel at the moment that every doctor I see blames every symptom I have on the menopause, but can't see why low kidney function & low haemotocrit & other issues I've been having with fbc & low mcv & high rbdw on my fbc can be attributed to the menopause. Last fbc done with docs said abnormal,& to repeat & he wasn't that worried about getting them checked again. I've just had a raised faecal calprotectin result & awaiting the results of another one (6 weeks later) to check if they need to refer me to gastroenterology. So much going on. it's hard to work out where to start with things....my low ft3 is a worry as I know they won't prescribe anything for that. My doctor merely said its T4 we look at not T3....
It is tricky when they insist on looking at one thing at a time, I add all the sex hormones but it's oestrogen that helps with the tinnitus so worth sticking with the HRT then they will have to move on to the next issue.... thyroid!
Never heard of "faecal calprotectin" so keep us posted on that, I have very low neutrophils in my blood which seems common among us🤷♀️
Not sure...but think these are low. Some others I have none of...
Would you say these are low?
Yep, about the same as mine range is 2-7.5
Interesting that white blood cells seem to be lower, I wander why?
These were the fbc results....
Do you know much about fbc?
Mine ticks over around 5... think they raise when fighting infection but no time to look I'm off to the gym
....
These I never have any of....
Don't think that's necessarily bad... Medichecks explanation below
Eosinophils
27 Jul 2023
0.06 (0 - 0.4)
Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that are responsible for removing parasitic infections and regulating inflammation to mark an infected site. They also play a role in allergy and in asthma.
What might a high result mean?
Elevated levels of eosinophils can occur in response to infection, in particular in parasitic infections of the intestines, such as worms. Levels of this white blood cell rise in order to fight off the infection.
Elevated levels of eosinophils can also arise when the body induces greater inflammation than necessary, as is the case in asthma and allergic responses as well as in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Basophils
27 Jul 2023
0.03 (0-0.1)
Basophils are a type of white blood cell that protect your body from bacteria and parasites such as ticks. They also play a role in allergic reactions.
What might a low result mean?
Low levels of basophils can be caused allergic reactions and infections, when the levels of basophils have spiked in order to protect the body, and then been depleted afterwards.
Low levels of basophils are associated with hyperthyroidism.
What might a high result mean?
Elevated levels of basophils can be seen with bone marrow disorders, in which the body produces an excess number of blood cells. Levels can also raise due to autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Raised levels of basophils are also associated with hypothyroidism.
So faecal calprotectin is a stool test to check for IBD etc, if it's below 99 it usually means IBS but when it's raised it's generally means IBD so they have to then do tests to see what's going on. I've had it for many years I feel, but this last year its been much worse & food intolerances have got much worse too. I react to so many things.....medication too, I'm quite surprised I can tolerate oestrogel, luckily I seem OK with that.
Can you recommend how much estradiol I should use as the doctors comments on my blood tests said my levels were high. Do you think I should stop using the gel or just use a little bit? I was only on one pump a day but that seemed loads when it came out the pump.... I'm so confused as to which way to go with this right now. Plus they won't look at anything else, all docs put it down to is menopause. For me, not knowing for definite if they did take my ovaries out or not complicates things a little as far as getting a doctor to prescribe anything more than just the oestrogen gel.
The ranges are a bit misleading as just aimed at expected menopause levels without HRT, your level isn't high, 1 pump is a low dose so you might want to experiment with 2.... it is a lot of slime 🫤 Personally I use Lenzetto which is a spray
My GP told me that they don't like prescribing progesterone because it is the hormone that fuels breast cancer. This was quite a while ago now. I just have the oestrogen gel. Is this still the current thinking? I have a terrible sleep pattern.
There are people that use progesterone for symptom relief with mood and sleep so could be worth a try, they try to scare us with all sorts but the truth is hormones are natural compared to drugs that deal with the effects of low/ unbalanced hormone levels... progesterone for me is like a sleeping tablet... works a treat!
Worth investigating all of your levels
That's not a high oestrogen level. Needs to be over 250 for good bone health. I like mine between 400-500.
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