PTU RESULTS

[NIKEGIRL]

Hi. Yesterday I did thyroid bloods and today these were my results today. No biotin 7 days prior and early morning test done.

TSH <0.001

T4 10 was 84, four weeks ago range 10-22

T3 12.9 was 46.8, four weeks ago range 2-6

I took 4 x 5mg tablets of PTU a day.

Dr wants to drop the dose to 2 x 5mg PTU a day. What will happen to my T4 level? Will it come back up or go lower? This causes me anxiety. I worry about how I will feel. Any help greatly appreciated and thank you to the selfless individuals who help us all.

[Bellazzurra]

Hello! I think because your thyroid hormones have reduced so quickly, your doctor is reducing the dose to keep you from going hypothyroid. If you maintain the current dose, it’s possible that your TSH will increase and your T3 and T4 will decrease so much that you become hypothyroid. Trust me, you don’t want that! My first endo left me on too high a dose (Carbimazole in my case) that I became hypo and it was a terrible experience. It’s important not to be at either extreme; going from having too much thyroid hormone to having too little thyroid hormone.

Your doctor is trying to normalise your thyroid hormone levels and to do that, he’ll have to gradually bring down your dose of PTU until you find a dose that maintains your thyroid hormone levels within the normal range. However, an important thing I’ve learnt on this platform is that normal isn’t the same as optimal. It’s important to listen to your body and makes sure that in addition to having a thyroid panel where everything is “normal”, your also feeling well.

[NIKEGIRL in reply to Bellazzurra]

Thank you for your reply. Dose has been changed too 2 tablets daily instead of 4. Dr is not waiting 4 weeks to do next blood test but rather 2 weeks. This won’t give the entire picture but better than going 4 weeks. I’ve made it clear to my dr that going hypothyroidic is my worst fear. Fingers crossed next Monday is the blood testing day. Thank you ☺️

[Bellazzurra in reply to NIKEGIRL]

Good thing that your doctor is watching you closely! Keep me posted on how things go on Monday

[NIKEGIRL in reply to Bellazzurra]

Thanks. Results will be in Tuesday next week

[NIKEGIRL in reply to Bellazzurra]

I have flip flopped on Carbimazole for 6 months so my dr is really happy with my results on PTU. He’s a young guy who didn’t know about PTU. Having said that he is good with me. I only worry now that I’ve dropped my dose and started Biking 12-15 miles Monday to Friday what will that do to my T3. Next week I will see

[Durrow in reply to NIKEGIRL]

I have been on carbimazole for 20 years with no issues5mg last 10 years.

Once bloods are stable you will be fine

[NIKEGIRL in reply to Durrow]

Thanks. My bloods have come down fast. I’m doing one and a half tablets twice a day but I don’t think it’s enough. Getting hyper symptoms again. It’s trial and error