Blood results. I am worried my dose of levothyroxine will be reduced.

[JacquelineM]

Hello

I posted about a month ago. I hope to get an appointment with my GP next week. I have been on levothyroxine since September 14 increasing the dose and have now been on 150 Mcg for 3 months. I also take well woman 50 + i picked up my results today

They are

Serum TSH level 0.05 (0.35 - 5.0 )

Serum free T4 21.3 (7.0- 20.0)

Serum free T3 5.3 (3.3 -5.3)

This is all that was tested this time. In January my ferritin was 17 (12-250 )

I do feel better than i did I spent all my time resting. I can now do basic things for some of the day then it's back to the sofa! On the top of the sheet with my results on it says 'possible slight over replacement '

Is there anything else that I could be given, be lacking in that I could suggest to the GP. If I reduce my medication then I imagine I will be even more tired. I have been waiting for 3 months expecting to have an increase in meds

Any advice would be so appreciated .

[RedApple Administrator]

Sometimes it is the very fine tuning of dose that makes the difference - think of it as 'finding your sweet spot'. So it is just possible that you are slightly over-replaced and have missed your 'sweet spot'. Dropping the dose just a little might actually be what you need... perhaps 137mcg could work for you. This can be achieved by alternating 125mcg on one day and 150mcg the next day.

[JacquelineM in reply to RedApple]

Thank you. I still don't understand how it works. But this will stop me worrying too much.

[gabkad]

Jacqueline, what is your hemoglobin? Sometimes when ferritin is so low, a person is iron anemic as well. That would make anyone not have much 'huff and puff'.

[JacquelineM in reply to gabkad]

Thanks

What would hemoglobin be under on my blood test for.

[gabkad in reply to JacquelineM]

Lab form is usually 'hgb'

[JacquelineM in reply to gabkad]

Thanks I don't have hgb but there is HB 127 (120-160)

[gabkad in reply to JacquelineM]

OKay, same thing. As you can see you are bottom of range on hemoglobin. So you need to take the iron as recommended by other people who have replied to your initial query.

[JacquelineM in reply to gabkad]

Thank you this is very helpful.

[shaws Administrator]

Did you have your blood test as early as possible and didn't take your levo before it but afterwards? Some GPs don't take account of the patients symptoms but go only upon the TSH and many will reduce your medication. It is not always the best thing to do as it can then mess up our metabolism. If you read the question/answer on the date July 15, 2006 for an explanation:

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

[JacquelineM in reply to shaws]

Yes I had test at 8 then took meds.

[shaws Administrator in reply to JacquelineM]

That's good so I wouldn't adjust my medication only upon the TSH. I would go on how I feel, i.e. too much I'd feel hyper and too low, hypo.

[JacquelineM in reply to shaws]

So does my TSH need to be higher and how do I increase it.

[ROMM53 in reply to JacquelineM]

Probably by reducing levothyroxine to137.5mcg , that will probably take your TSH slightly higher so it's in range. But depends how you feel like other have said. xx

[shaws Administrator in reply to JacquelineM]

Our TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) varies throughout the day. It is from the Pituitary Gland which, when our thyroid hormones are flagging, it tries to stimulate our Thyroid Gland to produce more hormones and this is called the TSH. TSH is from a different gland but the Endocrinologidsts/GPs use it for diagnosis instead of an adjunct as sometimes the TSH doesn't work as they imagine. Before the blood tests were introduced in the 60's we were medicated according to our clinical symptoms alone.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/search...!

hormonerestoration.com/Thyr...

[JacquelineM]

Thank you.

Yes I took my meds after my blood test. Thanks for the advice

[JacquelineM]

Thank you all for your advice

[JacquelineM]

Thank you all for your help. I have learned a lot from all of you. This forum is such a life line.

[Hidden]

JacquelineM,

Remember sometime symtoms from being over medicated can be the same as being under medicated. If you or your doctor are adjusting your dose it is a good idea to keep a diary of symptoms and how you are feeling.

Hopefully you will find your "sweet spot" really quickly but if you do have further problems and for example need to be referred to an endo, it is helpful to know how you felt when, as once the brain fog sets in, thinking becomes hard work.

Don't be afraid of med dosage adjustments as it could be the answer to your feeling great again.

[JacquelineM in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I will take that on board when I go to the GP.