Can anyone help me interpret these test results please.

[beingjoy]

Sept 2012 started on thyroxine 50mg after the following test results. Free t4 11.8 range 9.00-22.00 TSH 6.18. Dose has since been increased to 75 and then 100 in dec. Following my most recent test June 2013 tsh 6.55 range 0.35-5.00. Free t4 14.1 9.00-22.00 vit d 38 70.00-200.00. B12 235 190.00-910.00. B12 235 190.00-910.00

GP has prescribed a 3 month supply of 20000 vit D daily and increased thyroxine to 125mg.

Any reason TSH still elevated and would vitamin B 12 suppliment be reccommended

[PinkNinja]

TSH is probably still elevated because your condition has worsened slightly. It looks like it was caught before it got too bad. 125mcg is a very typical dose but you may find you need a further increase in the future.

Vitamin B12 supplement is definitely recommended. Some doctors would be prescribing injections with a level that low, but you will probably find your GP won't. In Japan the lower end of the range is around 400, which is much higher than in this country. You really want to get your B12 above 500 to feel properly well.

Methylcobalamin is the best form of oral B12 supplement. If you can get a sublingual one you may find your level come back up more quickly as you are not having to rely on your stomach to absorb it. I am taking 5000mcg methylcobalamin at the moment but will switch to 1000mcg once my levels are good.

I hope that helps

Carolyn x

[beingjoy in reply to PinkNinja]

Thanks for the advice

[Heloise]

It's difficult to say why your medication is not bringing your TSH level down. Other deficiencies may be part of the problem. When you are on 125 mcg., perhaps that will change things. Are you taking your T4 away from food and at least four hours after any calcium or iron supplement. Is your ferritin low? Are you also omitting raw cabbage and veggies in that family and soy milk or powder which may be in gluten free foods. Here is some information from STTM website: stopthethyroidmadness.com/m...

[beingjoy in reply to Heloise]

Thank you for the response.

I've realised I didn't mention that my previous test in feb was all within range. FreeT4 was 10.5 so GP suggested increasing to 125mg which I did, only to realise by mid april I had added serious depression to my list of symptoms. So the june test results are after 6 weeks back at 100mg. Incidently the depressive symptoms cleared swiftly on decreasing the dose. I will now increase again to 125mg but am planning to use a different brand.

I take T4 on its own before food and dont use any other suppliments.

I can see no mention of ferritin in the test results I have available (I requested all my recent results but some in the middle do not appear on the printout).

I am vegetarian and eat lots of veg, mostly cooked and consume as far as possible an additive free diet. I dont use any soy. However I do eat raw cabbage in coleslaw.

[Heloise]

stopthethyroidmadness.com/ Scroll down to the T4 ONLY CLUB

Some people just need to have T3 in some form so if this continues, you might consider that.

B12 will be a major issue for you since you are a vegetarian and B12 is mostly found in animal

products. I would follow Carolyn's advice.

Best wishes.

[beingjoy in reply to Heloise]

Thanks again.

I am going to get some B12.

I did ask GP what my freeT3 was, only to be told they dont test for it!

[Heloise]

yes, they don't test ordinarily since they don't like prescribing T3. It's a very big problem for people who do not convert their T4 into T3 since that is the one that reduces your symptoms of hypo. They only wish to prescribe thyroxine since it is cheap and they only want to test TSH (which doesn't really matter once you begin taking hormones) and T4 which is the stored part of the hormone (not doing any good unless it turns into T3) and hope the patient won't make any trouble for them. As you can see, lots of things can go wrong on this protocol but there will be absolutely NO proof of it since the FT3 is the one most likely to prove the real identity of why the patient is still ill. This is very disturbing when I read of so many who cannot get support from their GP's. Try an Endo if you don't improve.

Very good on your D3 supplement. Very important and I hope you do mean 20,000 i.u. and not 2,000?????

[beingjoy in reply to Heloise]

I have checked this. GP has prescribed 2 x 1000 capsules D3 daily . Am I correct in understanding the dose should be 20000 daily.

[Heloise in reply to beingjoy]

There are several methods to raise D levels. I was given 15,000 i.u. to take two times per week. There is a 50,000 i.u. dose to take one time each week.

I think a large dose every few days is preferable to any daily dose.

Your dose is more of a maintenance dose in my opinion but you could check it out at Dr. Mercola or STTM websites.