Would appreciate your thoughts on test results.

[Val-55]

TSH 3(range 0.27 to 4.2) T4 25.3(range 12to 22) T3 4.8 (range 3.1 to 6.2 ) My daughter was diagnosed 3 months ago and has gone from TSH of over 100 with high antibodies to over active .She has been treated with Levo starting on 50 doubling to 100 then alternating 75 and 100 but still feeling ill . Now reduced to 75 mcu daily . She feels and looks well and is able to work now and generally function,so I'm happy.Do you think the TSH is too high ?? Or best just to see in another few months ,and just go on symptoms and not blood tests.Thank you.

[shaws Administrator]

I am glad your daughter is feeling so much better. 3 months is too short a time, generally, to say whether or not her dose suits her and if she has symptoms recurring she should see her GP regarding another increase.

[Val-55 in reply to shaws]

Yes such a relief, she was so poorly.You are right I think another test in 3 months should give a better idea on what is happening,but feeling well is the main thing and she is happy and able to work and play ,fingers crossed.Thanks Val

[PinkNinja]

TSH is not a good test to go on alone. T4 and T3 are better levels to look at alongside symptoms. As shaw says many people take several months to feel completely well once on the correct dose. Does she feel better or worse since reducing her dose of thyroxine?

If she is still not well, it is sensible to look at other things too as they will affect how well the body responds to her thyroxine. The tests I would want to get include serum iron, ferritin (levels below 50 can result in symptoms so levels around 70-90 seem to work quite well), vitamin B12 (best above 500), folate (around 12 is a good level to aim for) and vitamin D (should be in range). Iron is particularly important because it is needed for activation of thyroxine so it can be used in the cells. It is also important for getting the thyroid hormones into the cells to be used.

You may also want to have a look at the main Thyroid UK website. Select from the menu bar on the left the subjects you are interested in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/index....

I hope that has been of some help.

Carolyn x

[Val-55 in reply to PinkNinja]

Thanks for your reply.She says she feels fine now since reducing to 75.So hope fully she will stay that way for a good time Tthe Dr said to have blood test every 3 months,she lives in Bristol and her surgery are happy to test T3 and T4 .So will keep a close eye.Val x

[PinkNinja in reply to Val-55]

That's great. It sounds like she has a very good doctor. At the end of the day, how she feels is the most important tests but the T4 and T3 are helpful to know. I'm pleased she is feeling better

[rosetrees]

Don't take my word for this, but I wonder if your daughter has a conversion problem? Her T4 is high, yet her T3 is too low. She might be better if she added some T3 or NDT. Conversion was the subject of the petition to the Scottish Parliament - see it here if you haven't already heard it. youtube.com/watch?v=CVXvYrJ...(Not working as expected?) It's long, but I recommend listening to the whole thing.

[Val-55 in reply to rosetrees]

what a brave brilliant couple of ladies ,they put the case for Thyroid hormone non conversion over brilliantly.Yes I will keep a close eye on my daughters next blood test as I thought there looked to be a bit of a conversion problem going on as she was still quite ill on 75 and 100 alternate days.Thankyou