Updated Test results

[Danniabg]

At the recommendation of Gimel and after reading many times on here regarding test results, I have mine updated now with the Free T3 & T4.  I can't see my endo at the moment as she isn't working since breaking her leg, so would appreciate advice please.

History: I had a partial thyroidectomy in July this year, due to benign nodules on my left gland.
In Sept I was diagnosed Hypo
TSH was 6.17 uIU/ml (0.27-5.0/ for monitoring of therapy it says then these numbers 0,2-5,50) (I live in Bulgaria btw)
I didn't have the Free ones done then as only discovered them on here.

Had the test done this week after being on 25mgs of Levothyroxine for the first 2 weeks, then 50 mgs per day.
TSH now 4.11 uIU/ml (0.49-4.67/ for monitoring of therapy then 0,2-5,50/)
FT3 3,04 (2.5-4.3)
FT4 1,07 (0.71-1.85)

And my cholesterol has come down from 6.7 to 5.9 (6.5 - 4.5) but I did have it lower than that pre op.

I did have a full blood count, but all the numbers are within range, so seems ok.

I am losing weight quite easily I have to say, I am now the lightest I have been in over 10 years so happy about that!

I would appreciate Gimel and anyone else's feedback on what the thyroid figures mean please as I can't see my endo :)

Thanks in advance
Nikki

[Danniabg]

Just an update...I've had some B12 injections, and will be supplementing with lozenges soon. I've continued to take the ferrous sulphate and upped my Vit C to 2000mgs spread through the day.
I've upped my D3 to 3000mcg per day.
And I got Cynomel (Cytomel) from Mexico so am on T3 (12.5mcgs) plus increased theT4 to 62.5mcg daily and I have to say I am feeling miles better.
I take the T3/T4 sublingually in case I'm not absorbing it well enough.

I don't have the brain fog, dizzy episodes or tiredness I had before.  My basal and average daily temps have risen although not up to normal yet, but mostly out of hypo range.

I will retest after Xmas, but I'm not sure if I should keep the T3/T4 combo as it is, or increase the T3, maybe just leave it until symptoms return or ??

Any advice is appreciated, thanks :)
Nikki

[gimel]

Great to hear that your village doctor is helping you make some progress.  Please keep us up to date on further developments.

[Danniabg]

I decided to see my local village Dr, and she looked at my vitamin results and is getting me some B12 shots as she feels a lot of my symptoms will be from this being so low.

I've also ordered some B12 spray and tablets and D3 and some better Iron pills, plus I'm now taking Selenium to keep the antibodies down as recommended by STTM.

My Dr. has been better than the endo as she feels that once my Vitamin/Iron levels are addressed then we can work on the Hypo stuff.
I haven't asked her about Cytomel yet, still waiting to see if it gets through.

[Danniabg]

Thanks Gimel.

The Sorbifer Iron says it's prolonged release I take it last thing at night. I can't really tell any difference from taking it yet (only a week).

As for the VitD3 (25 OH it says) my result was 38, and it actually states that 10-30 is deficient 30-50 is optimum and >70 is overdose. So I guess the range is more like 10-70 I don't know, but I don't get a lot of sunshine and am very pale considering I live in a hot sunny country that is having it's first rain tonight since May. (More like a hurricane!)

I've ordered some Cytomel from Mexico but don't know if it will get through customs yet or not.

[gimel]

Not familiar with that range for Vitamin D, but assuming it is correct, it doesn't appear that there is a lot to be gained by additional Vitamin D supplementation.  For B12, I take a 1000 mcg tablet daily.  For iron supplementation, which you really need, there are a number of options.

"But most patients and their doctors have found it necessary to supplement with iron tablets, which includes Ferrous Sulfate, Ferrous Glutamate, Ferrous Fumerate, etc. Supplementation needs to be spread out during the day, with food, for better absorption. Bluebonnet’s Ferrous Bisglycinate is a favorite among patients, but there are other good brands."

There is also one called Slow Fe that is reported to be good.

For thyroid,  it appears to me that further increases in T4 med will not likely be adequate to raise your Free T3 level enough.  Which leads us back to a source for T3.  Even if T3 meds are not available in Bulgaria, if you can persuade your doctor to give you a prescription, there are places you can order by mail.  Is this a possibility?

[Danniabg]

Hi Gimel :)

I have started to take some Sorbifer iron tablets (Ferrous Sulphate plus Vit C at night) but I need to change these as I am having trouble going to the loo now :(  (Any advice on what to take?)

Could I do with any additional VitD?

I did up my T4 by 1/4 tablet after the last test results so I would be taking 62.5mgs every day as apposed to every other, and I felt like a zombie for 3 days and felt really dizzy so stopped. Maybe I should have carried on?

I am going to email the Bulgarian Endo society to check about T3, but when I asked at the pharmacies here, they said no they didn't know what it was.

Thanks Gimel for your input as always. :)