Hi, I am having problems copying over my results on my phone so started another post so I could add a photo of them instead.
Thank you to the people who replied to my last post and sorry I don't know how to add them to that one.
I've been off thyroxine for almost 4 months and was on 200micrograms. I feel better off them but still far from feeling my normal self.
I have been taking t3 for a couple of days and do actually feel like it is making a difference. I haven't got much and would love to stay on it and if anyone could pm me with any help with that it would be great.
I am attaching the results I got from medicheck a few days ago. Any advice would be really appreciated.
Thanks
The results were really faint so I hope it works
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Thyroid stimulating hormone = 12.8 range 0.27-4.20
Free thyroxine = 12.6 range 12.00-22.00
Total thyroxine t4 = 76.7 range 59.00-154.00
Free t3 = 5.16 range 3.10-6.80
That is an amazingly high TSH considering where your FT3 is. Was this test done whilst you were off all meds, or were you taking T3 at the time? If so, when did you take your last dose of T3 and how much?
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Thyroglobulin antibody = 563.000 range 0-115.00
Thyroid peroxidase antibody = 330.00 range 0-34.00
Your high antibodies mean that you are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it.
As antibodies wax and wane, fluctuations in symptoms and test results can occur, you can swing from hypo to hyper and back to hypo. When antibodies attack, they dump a load of thyroid hormone into the blood which can cause hyper type symptoms and test results. This is temporary and things settle down again and you can go back to a hypo state. Dose adjustments in your thyroid meds can help during these swings. Unfortunately, many doctors eiher don' know this or don't attach much importance to it so many Hashi's patients have no knowledge either.
You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here. Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks. You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.
Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.
You really need to speak to your GP about this. You are folate deficient with an extremely low B12. Do you have any signs of B12 deficiency b12deficiency.info/signs-an...
Please go over to the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum here on Health Unlocked for further advice from the knowledgeable members there. You may need testing for Pernicious Anaemia, you may need B12 injections, you certainly need supplementing for the under range folate and very low B12. Whatever they advise, discuss with your GP and ask him why he has neglected these results.
Ideally, for us Hypos we need B12 at the very top of range (even 900-1000) and folate at least half way through it's range.
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CPR high sensitivity = 3.1 range 0.0-5.0
This is OK, it is a marker for inflammation and you are within range.
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Ferritin = 48.8 range 13.00-150.00
The recommended level for ferritin is half way through it's range, and it must be a minimum of 70 for thyroid hormone to work.
You could take iron supplements, but I doubt your GP will prescribe any with that level. You could buy your own but you would need to keep an eye on the level by testing as too much iron is as bad as too little. If you do take iron tablets, then take each one with 1000mg Vit C to aid absorption and help prevent constipation, and take them four hours away from thyroid meds and two hours away from any other medication and supplements as it affects their absorption.
The easiest way to raise ferritin is to eat liver regularly, maximum 200g per week because of the high Vit A content. I raised mine from 35 to 91 by eating 140-150g a week and I'm still eating it regularly to keep it there.
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All vitamins and minerals need to be optimal for thyroid hormone to work.
Have you had Vit D tested? That is important too. You can get that done with a fingerprick test from City Assays vitamindtest.org.uk/index.html
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Unipharma Greek T3 is virtually impossible to get now. Turkish Tiromel is still available but I don't have any contacts for that. Perhaps make a new post asking members to PM you with details of their supplier.
Thank you so much for the information. The last dose of t3 I took was this morning, just quarter of a table. They are 25 in strength. I had my t3 ready but didn't start taking it until after I'd sent my test off so it wouldn't mess with the results. I feel like I need to learn a lot more about it all, it's so confusing. If my free t3 is in range should I not take the t3 tablets?
I meant were you taking T3 when that test was done but you've answered that now
With FT3 that level without taking any is quite surprising considering your TSH. There's not much room for it to increase really so personally I would either leave it at a quarter of a tablet but certainly no more than half a tablet, and retest in 6 weeks time.
I'm not surprised considering your level. Pop over to the PA forum for their expert advice.
Recommended level for Vit D is 100-150nmol/L according to the Vit D Council. Pop back with your result for suggestions if you need to supplement, as there are important cofactors needed too.
Is that correct? Very difficult to read. I am dubious about that TSH. It doesn't make any sense because your FT3 is well over-range. And funny it should be the same number as the FT4... I wonder if someone screwed up?
Your B12 is too low! 143 (142-???) You should really be checked for Pernicious Anemia. I suggest you pop over to the pernicious anemia forum with those results, and follow their advice. They know more about it than we do.
Can't read the folate very well, but it's below range. And, I can't really read the ferritin, but that looks low, as well.
How much T3 are you taking? And did you take it just before the test?
I don't take any t3 until after I'd sent the tests off. I have started with just quarter of a tablet to begin with, it's only been a few days so don't know if I should up it yet, the tablets are 25. Thanks for replying
Best to increase every two weeks, by a quarter tablet.
Anyway, just ignore the TSH, for the time being. See how it is in the next test. Could have been an error of manipulation, or something. The FT3 is the most important number.
No, I haven't taken any supplements for at least a few month. Im wondering if I should go back on the thyroxine but I hadn't really wanted to because I felt rubbish on it
Okay, I just wanted to check if you'd been taking biotin (often included in B Complex supplements). It can cause results to be distorted under some circumstances.
But obviously it isn't relevant since you haven't taken supplements.
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Regarding your thyroid tests - I'm like the others who have answered - perplexed by the surprisingly high TSH given that the Free T4 and Free T3 are actually not bad.
The only possibility that comes to mind for me is that it might be caused by you just beginning to go into a Hashi's flare up at the time of the blood test.
Free T4 and Free T3 are usually fairly quick to respond (i.e. increase) when antibody activity increases, and TSH is a bit slower. So your TSH may be on the way down while your Free T4 and Free T3 are on the way up.
Please don't take what I've just said as accurate, it is simply a guess.
If you want to understand what Hashimoto's Thyroiditis involves, you could read the third post in this thread that I wrote for someone else :
I will have a look. All my doctor ever seems to say (I haven't been in ages) is im within range and lose some weight. I do try sometimes but it's so hard, even when I'm trying my hardest I never seem to get very far and I just give up.
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