Re: Blood test results so far. Comments please....

[Guest guest]

Hi again........:-)

I have also been confused for a long time as to why my TSH goes so low, when my

other results are poor. When I see others with low T4 and T3, their TSH is still

quite high. Does anyone know the answer please?

My Adrenals were within range and it seems that iron is also ok. No fillings so

just wondering.

Thanks

Sue

>

> Hi,

>

> I had some tests at surgery last week and GP sent a letter this morning to say

that I needed a repeat in 3 months (note nothing about needing more thyroid

hormone). Again, although asked, they didn't do T3.

>

> TSH 0.05 (0.5-4.5)

> FT4 11.0 (10-22)

[Guest guest]

Hi.

I have now been and got the printout of my results and have to say am fuming

with my GP. I know that my results are probably as they are because I am

changing over to NDT.........but SHE DOESN'T! Sorry about that but I'm boiling.

Here are the results on printout.

TSH 0.05 (0.27-4.20)

Serum Free T4 11.0 pmol/L (12-22.00)

Her comment is........'Odd pattern, but probably adequate dose' repeat test in 3

months. I feel like I want to scream as I haven't yet told her that I am

changing. She therefore thinks that I am taking 200 mcgs Eltoxin and considers

my dosage with these results to be OK> Grrrrrrrrhhhh.

Right.... I am calm again now. This is my other results.

B12 1023 pg/ml (191-663)

Serum Folate 15.4 ng/ml (4.6-18.7)

FBC

WBCs 7.1 10*9/L (4.0-11.0)

HB 13.9 g/dL (11.5-16.0)

RBCs 4.75 10*12/L (3.8-5.80)

Haematocrit 0.400 (0.370-0.470)

MCV 84.2fl (80.0-98.0)

MCH 29.3pg (27.0-32.0)

MCHC 34.8g/dL (31.0-36.0)

Platelet count 261 10*9/L (150-400)

Neutrophil count 4.0 10*9/L (2.0-7.5)

Lymphocyte count 2.4 10*9/L (1.0-4.5)

0.0 10*9/L 0.6 10*9/L (0.2-0.8)

0.0 10*9/L 0.1 10*9/L (0.0-0.4)

0.0 10*9/L 0.0 10*9/L (0.0-0.2)

R Iron 13.7 umol/L (6.0-26.0)

Serum Ferritin 202ng/mL (30-400ng/mL)

Hopefully someone might be able to give me some insight into what is happening.

I did ask for D3, Zinc, magnesium etc, but doesn't look like they have done

those, unless the results take longer to come back.

Thanks

Sue

>

> Hi again........:-)

>

> I have also been confused for a long time as to why my TSH goes so low, when

my other results are poor. When I see others with low T4 and T3, their TSH is

still quite high. Does anyone know the answer please?

> My Adrenals were within range and it seems that iron is also ok. No fillings

so just wondering.

>

> Thanks

[Guest guest]

Hello Sue,

.......This was done on 2 grains Thyroyd.

.... which explains your TFT results and why your FT4 is lower now than it had been when you were taking levothyroxine. When you take NDT (natural thyroid), the ratio of T4:T3 is quite a bit higher than the amounts a healthy thyroid gland would provide. NDT contains a higher percentage of T3 and conversion and utilization are more efficient than on synthetic T4 .... consequently the FT4 figure drops quite quickly. Had they done an FT3, the figure would probably have been in the middle of the ref range – that's my guess anyway.

When you take NDT, the lab results look a little different from those on Levothyroxine. The body is given a certain amount of T3 with NDT, whereas with Levothyroxine the body will have to convert T4 into T3.

Provided you have not taken your medication on the morning of the blood draw - with results like yours there would still be scope for upping the medication, but it very much depends on the individual and how you are feeling. Looking at your results and an FT4 below the ref range tells me that you are probably not on enough NDT yet.... so if you feel you need more, then up your dose every 3-4 weeks by another ½ grain until you feel slight hyper symptoms – then cut back to the previous dose and stay there.

An `optimal' TFT on natural thyroid would show a suppressed TSH, a mid-range FT4 and an FT3 in the upper third of the ref range – provided no thyroid hormone had been taken on the morning of the blood draw. Having said that - we are all individuals, and your wellbeing is a much better measure than any blood figure. Strictly speaking patients on NDT do not need a TFT blood test. When you feel 100%, your dosage will be right. – So the burning and all important question is – how are you feeling ?

Blood tests are useful, however, to check that you are not overdosing. Some patients miss or misinterpret signs and symptoms – it's easily done. So a blood test can act as a safety net. Whilst a suppressed TSH does not matter at all when FT4 and FT3 are comfortably within the ref range, a suppressed TSH and both FT4 and FT3 above their respective ref ranges would matter a great deal... you would have induced hyperthyroidism, and that could be dangerous.

As for your other results – I am no expert, but nothing untoward jumps out at me. Your ferritin is a little high, which probably means you have some chronic inflammation somewhere in the body ... is Candida a possible candidate?

With best wishes

[Guest guest]

Hi

Thanks for the reply. I do feel I have a little way to go yet as still quite

exhausted with poor concentration levels. i also feel a bit emotional and

stressy. Thanks for explaining the results and I understand much better now. I

was still thinking back to how the tests looked when on T4, which of course, is

totally different.

As for the ferritin level, I don't think that Candida is a suspect. I eat almost

carb free diet and have no cravings. I did do the questionaire and it was well

into negative.

When you say inflammation, would that include awful joint pain, as that is one

of my worst symptoms at present. Could the high B12 be affecting ferritin or is

that irrelevant. I do supplement B12, but will cut back on that now.

I didn't take my NDT on the morning of the draw and I have to say that the

Circadian dosing is helping in the mornings, but still feel lousy after lunch.

Thanks

Sue

>

>

>

> Hello Sue,

>

> ......This was done on 2 grains Thyroyd.

>

> ... which explains your TFT results and why your FT4 is lower now than

> it had been when you were taking levothyroxine. When you take NDT

> (natural thyroid), the ratio of T4:T3 is quite a bit higher than the

> amounts a healthy thyroid gland would provide. NDT contains a higher

> percentage of T3 and conversion and utilization are more efficient than

> on synthetic T4

[Ed]

[Guest guest]

> > When you say inflammation, would that include awful joint pain, as that is one of my worst symptoms at present. Could the high B12 be affecting ferritin or is that irrelevant. I do supplement B12, but will cut back on that now.

Hello Sue,Yes, joint pain might mean inflammation and as I understand it, any kind of inflammation could cause increased ferritin.Could I just add something else... You say your diet is almost carb free, so I assume that it is high in protein. Dr Broda mentions in his book (in the section where he talks about diet) that he experimented with different nutritional ideas and he discovered that he needed a great deal more Armour when he ate a high protein diet as opposed to eating a more balanced diet or one high in carbs. From memory I think he said he needed about double the amount of Armour when eating high protein. Just bear this in mind if your diet should ever change . You might find that with a differently weighted diet you would have to reduce your medication. Best wishes

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thanks for that. I have been doing low carb as I am desperately trying to lose a

little weight before my holiday. I do find that whenever I eat what most people

consider to be a normal amount of carbs, my weight goes straight up. I am hoping

that things in the weight department eventually kick in again and that I am able

to lose what I need to.

I will certainly watch what you have told me when on holiday, as I am certain

that I will not stick to carb free with all the lovely food available :-)

One more question, sorry there are so many, but do you know if people on NDT

have to reduce in summer or add a little more in winter. When on t4, I always

had to change my dose dependant upon the seasons.

Thanks again

Sue

> >

> > When you say inflammation, would that include awful joint pain, as

> that is one of my worst symptoms at present. Could the high B12 be

> affecting ferritin or is that irrelevant. I do supplement B12, but will

> cut back on that now.

>

>

[Guest guest]

> One more question, sorry there are so many, but do you know if people on NDT have to reduce in summer or add a little more in winter. When on t4, I always had to change my dose dependant upon the seasons.

Hi Sue,

yes, it's the same on NDT or with any kind of thyroid hormone. When it's hot and sunny our bodies tend to use a little less thyroid hormone. I tweak my dosage slightly when necessary by listening to my body. Some days I need a little more, some days less, depending on diet, amount of exercise, temperature or stress levels ... although I am talking about tiny changes, never more than 1/2 grain at most or a crumb of T3 here and there.

I gather that when we (once upon a time) had a normally functioning thyroid gland, the required daily thyroid hormone would never have been exactly the same day in, day out, either... the body would demand whichever amount of thyroid hormone was needed at any given time and the thyroid gland would have obliged. To regulate this manually is a little more difficult, because we could never in a Million years compete successfully with mother nature, but by using common sense we can do our best

Best wishes,