First test for 18 months .: I have been out the... - Thyroid UK

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First test for 18 months .

xJJx profile image
xJJx
30 Replies

I have been out the loop on levels and what not ...

My first blood test in 18 months came back and my TSH level is 9.76 , i take 125 mcg of thyroxine ...

I have been asked to have a phone appointment with my gp for next week....

What does this level say please ????

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xJJx
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30 Replies
shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

It means you are undermedicated. If you could put the ranges of this as well it makes it easier to comment. They have a cheek to ask you to see the GP next week, they should up your dose and leave a prescription for you today, then you can see the GP next week. He will probably ask you if you missed taking levothyroxine, I should think. Were you only given a blood test for the TSH? when he should have tested T4, Free T4, T3 and Free T3 (these they don't usually do but if you had clinical symptoms I think it's the least he can do). You should have a blood test for a check up every year at the minimum if you're well.

xJJx profile image
xJJx in reply toshaws

I had a reminder in sept 2014 that it was due in april 2014 , the test that is ... But new job and life got in the way ...

I was also told by the receptionist that i have low Vit D and there was a script waiting for me for that ..

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply toxJJx

So many of us have low Vit D and low Vit B12. Our B12 should be towards the upper range. We can supplement with sublingual methylcobalamin B12. I am glad they are prescribing Vit D.

Clutter profile image
Clutter

Xjjx, That result says you are undermedicated either because 125mcg is insufficient or you are not absorbing it well. The TSH of most people on thyroid replacement is usually comfortable just above or below 1.0.

Levothyroxine should be taken one hour before, or two hours after, food and drink. It should be taken 2 hours away from other medication and supplements and 4 hours away from vitD3, iron, calcium and oestrogen.

If you take your Levothyroxine regularly and away from food etc. as above, your GP should do a coeliac blood screen to rule out coeliac disease as a reason for malabsorption. If you are already gluten-free it may be necessary to explore other investigations for malabsorption.

xJJx profile image
xJJx in reply toClutter

I do take my meds before i sleep ..

Always have done so i don't forget ...

xJJx profile image
xJJx

I do take a small dose of Amlodipine with it..

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply toxJJx

xjjx, as you take your Levothyroxine at night, can you take your Amlodipine in the morning as that way you'll avoid any drug interactions.

xJJx profile image
xJJx in reply toClutter

I can but try

xJJx profile image
xJJx

My appointment is Dec 30, so I will wait and see

Muffy profile image
Muffy

Do you feel well on the dose you are taking?

xJJx profile image
xJJx in reply toMuffy

My wife says i have gone back to being forgetful and dozing off at random times ...

I feel normal but maybe normal for me is not well ....

Make sense ??

Muffy profile image
Muffy in reply toxJJx

We get used to not being right when hypo, others see it when we can't. Just thought I would ask the question, as it's how we feel when being treated and not necessarily what the blood tests say.

Hope all goes well with the GP consultation. Happy Christmas.

xJJx profile image
xJJx

And to you

Heloise profile image
Heloise

When my TSH was 3, I was barely able to climb a stairway and you are saying you could start a new job? I wonder if you were able to produce enough natural thyroid and keeping your free T3 high enough to be able to navigate. See if you can possibly get a free T3 and free T4 test to see exactly how much your body is processing. Normally TSH is around 1.0 for best results of thyroid treatment but that can also be a false result but a higher level is more or less truthful which means you should have a lot of symptoms right now. Do you?

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toHeloise

Maybe this is yet another aspect of TSH not usefully reflecting how ill someone is?

In some people, TSH will readily and speedily rise; in others it never rises nearly as much. Lots of possible reasons but the important thing is that yet again, we are all different! :-)

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply tohelvella

I assume he is a man and maybe you have a more sensitive pituitary? On second thought, scrap that:)

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toHeloise

Flippant response: What? Surely the only sensitive bit of a man is his pride. :-)

Serious response: I believe that the person's history counts for a lot. If someone has been very hypothyroid for a long time, their pituitary is likely to have increased its TSH-making capacity. So, if treated for a while and then stopped, or insufficient, it can zoom back up. But in someone who has never had their TSH rise very much, it will struggle to go up more than a little.

Also, I am convinced that pituitary problems, sometimes in themselves mild, can end up with inappropriate TSH responses - too little or too much compared with what is regarded as "normal" for the thyroid hormone levels.

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply tohelvella

I'm going to ask him.

xJJx profile image
xJJx

I am a man,the rest of your post I don't understand lol

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply toxJJx

I'm sorry x. I feel like I'm talking behind your back. It's such an interesting situation. I looked at your profile and maybe you don't wish to reveal anything but perhaps what Rod suggested is one explanation.

If you only have been diagnosed for 18 months, though, that doesn't seem long. Do you think the new job or other stress has just suddenly affected your adrenal glands which react to stress and coincidentally your thyroid?

xJJx profile image
xJJx in reply toHeloise

I was diagnosed in Aug 2011 if anything my stress levels are zero compared to my lastvjob,

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply toxJJx

That's good and I hope you have a GP or Endo that will notice that you need a change and find the correct remedies. Wishing you well, H.

xJJx profile image
xJJx

WHAT should I ask the gp,.? waiting for a phone call from them.

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply toxJJx

Xjjx, ask for an increase in Levothyroxine dose and a follow up blood test to check levels in 6 weeks. Dose increases are usually in 25mcg increments.

Don't take your dose of Levothyroxine until after the blood draw as it may skew the results.

xJJx profile image
xJJx

25mcg increase, my vit d level was 32, and t4 I think w

xJJx profile image
xJJx in reply toxJJx

And blood test in 6 weeks

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply toxJJx

xjjx, Good about the increase and follow up blood test.

What was FT4? Has GP prescribed vitD3?

Click on the orange Reply button under the post you are responding to and the member will be sent an email alert.

xJJx profile image
xJJx in reply toClutter

Yes to the vit d, 8 weeks worth, I wrote down was 17 now 13.4 but not sure what it was for lol..doh I also have 4.2 down yet again I am not sure what it was a level for..

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply toxJJx

xjjx, the 17 down to 13.4 will be FT4. Your TSH rose in response to FT4 falling. 4.2 will be your FT3. Results without lab ref ranges can be difficult to interpret but your FT4 is low and your FT3 likely to fall lower until the increased dose kicks in. It takes 7/10 days to absorb the increased dose before it starts to work. Ask the receptionist or practice manager for a printout of your results with the lab ref ranges next time you're passing.

Take your vitD with the fattiest meal of the day to aid absorption and take it 4 hours away from Levothyroxine.

xJJx profile image
xJJx in reply toClutter

Thank you

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