Opinion on my readings

[retrieverk9]

Hi everyone, its been a while since I was last in touch with you all. I was diagnosed with hypothyroid in 2017 and it was only through joining Thyroid UK & Health Unlocked that I discovered I had Hashimotos. I have not been looking after my condition very well over the last 3 years, I have allowed life to get in the way & not been putting myself first. I currently take 50mg of Levothyroxine each morning. These are my latest private blood results & I wondered if you could tell me what you think & help me get back on track

TSH 6.01 miu/L

Free T3 3.7 pmol/L

Free Thyroxine 14.3 pmol/L

Thyroglobulin Antibodies 301 kiu/L

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies 247 kiu/L

Folate - Serum 8.2 nmol/L

Vitamin B12 - Active 94.7 pmol/L

[GlowCoach Administrator]

Please add reference range for each test.

What time of day was this test taken and when did you last take Levo before this?

Do you also have a test result for ferritin & D3?

[retrieverk9 in reply to GlowCoach]

Hi, Yes sure, I hadn't taken Levo for 48hrs & bloods were taken 09:00hrs. sorry, here are the ranges.

Ferritin 157ug/l - R 30 - 332

TSH 6.01 miu/L - R 0.27 - 4.2

Free T3 3.7 pmol/L - R 3.1 - 6.8

Free Thyroxine 14.3 pmol/L - R 12 - 22

Thyroglobulin Antibodies 301 kiu/L - R 0 - 115

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies 247 kiu/L - R 0 - 34

Folate - Serum 8.2 nmol/L - R 7 - 35

Vitamin B12 - Active 94.7 pmol/L - R 37.5 - 187.5

Vitamin D 42 - R 50 - 200

[tattybogle]

48hrs is too long , should be 24hrs , so fT4 /fT3 will be a bit higher than that really , and TSH may be a little lower , but not much .

but even though those results are not totally accurate, your TSH is showing you need to increase levo dose

show these results to GP and request dose increase to 75mcg ,

[retrieverk9 in reply to tattybogle]

Thanks, I'll try to get an appt with GP tomorrow & discuss all this with them. I don't have a great deal of faith in GP's when it comes to Thyroid issues, they havent been very helpful to me, and I just feel that they give you Levo and leave you to it, at least that has been my experience. Hey ho we will see what they say, thank you for your advice

[tattybogle in reply to retrieverk9]

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu.... my-list-of-references-recommending-gps-keep-tsh-lower-in-range

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... explanation-of-what-*high-tsh-is-telling-us-when-our-ft4-level-is-normal-on-levothyroxine-the-shoe-size-analogy.-*-over-2.5-3-ish

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

Retest thyroid levels again 6-8 weeks after getting increase in dose levothyroxine to 75mcg daily

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

Next test do early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Meanwhile work on improving low vitamin D and low folate

[retrieverk9 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, my Levo brand has changed in the last 3 months, it is Veto... & I dislike it, it's like swallowing chalk. I've started taking Vit D 3000u a day, I'll work on the folate. I do take magnesium & K2 MK7 every night. I really appreciate all the help you give on here, thank you

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to retrieverk9]

I'm intrigued as never heard of Vito but if it's chalky I'd imagine it's lactose free?

Could it be Teva? Many don't get along with it due to mannitol and or acacia issues

[retrieverk9 in reply to TiggerMe]

Oh yes, thats it Teva..... Vito daa !!!

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to retrieverk9]

Worth filling out one of these... yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

and make sure your GP states NO TEVA on your prescription or even better if you need LF ask for Vencamil to be named 😏

[tge1230 in reply to retrieverk9]

I didn't get on with Teva as they gave me heart palpitations (trip to A&E 🙄) and a feeling of constant anxiety.

[helvella Administrator in reply to tge1230]

Please, EVERYONE WHO HAS ISSUES WITH MEDICINES, put in Yellow Card reports:

🟨 Making Yellow Card Reports 🟨

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

Low vitamin D

Vitamin D 42 - R 50 - 200

NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required

panmerseyapc.nhs.uk/media/2...

GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol.

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

But, improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly when supplementing

Can test via NHS private testing service

vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.

There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7.

One spray = 1000iu

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average

Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7

Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Recipe ideas

bbc.co.uk/food/articles/mag...

Interesting article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium

drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

Folate - Serum 8.2 nmol/L - R 7 - 35

Couple of weeks after starting vitamin D look at adding a daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help maintain B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid

healthline.com/nutrition/fo...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

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 2 per day and/or may need separate methyl folate couple times a week

Post discussing different B complex

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

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)