Blood results

[josaphina68]

I've been on levothyroxine for 2 years and 6 weeks ago tsh was 0.29 and I was feeling ok. Last week I've been feeling really unwell, tired, hair coming out and aching joints, had bloods done again and tsh now 4.53. T4 11 ferritin 5, how and why would my tsh change fo much in 6 weeks? Really confused 😢😢

[Hidden]

Hello josaphina68,

Your thyroid hormones levels naturally flutuate naturally over the course of the day.

To ensure a true reading it is recommended to get tested at the first appointment available in the morning, without meds or food as both can TSH lower levels.

As you feel hypothyroid symptoms reappearing it would be better to get a more comprehensive thyroid hormone test that included T4 and T3 in order to ascertain what is happening.

Your ferritin level looks really low but without range it is hard to comment.

Have you been tested for folate, Vit B12, and Vit D lately? Deficiencies can interfere with thyroid meds absorption and need to be addressed.

Post all results with ranges (numbers in brackets) for members to comment.

I hope you feel better soon

flower007

[Chablis in reply to Hidden]

Hi,

I have extremely similar results to you and the defining factor for me has been the ferritin. Mine was5 for 3 years and they finally have me an infusion about 2 months ago which has significantly improved my fatigue. If this is your first low ferritin test, they will start you on iron tablets. I tried them but I am clearly not able to absorb them.

My tsh is also up and down, from 0.02 to 11 withing 6 months so now on 200mg of Levo to try and get it down

You just have to keep pushing the doctors to monitor you correctly....

M

[Hidden]

Josaphina68

Chablis is right in saying iron is needed for thyroxine to be sufficiently absorbed. However insufficient thyroxine can cause low stomach acidity which inturn reduces the ability to absorb iron in the first place.

It's kind of a vicious circle that won't improve if left and the other three vits I mention above are equally important so get tested.

flower007

[josaphina68]

Thank you so much for your replies ☺

[Clutter]

Josephina, it could be a number of reasons, an autoimmune attack on your thyroid if you have Hashimoto's or malabsorption being the most likely, especially if you have recently been prescribed other medication which may interact with Levothyroxine. Do you take Levothyroxine an hour before or two hours after food and drink, 2 hours away from other medicines and supplements and 4 hours away from calcium, iron, vitamin D and oestrogen.

Low ferritin can reduce absorption of ferritin. Has your GP prescribed iron tablets and increased Levothyroxine dose? Take each iron tablet with 500mg-1,000mg vitamin C to aid absorption and minimise constipation. Take iron 4 hours away from Levothyroxine.

[josaphina68 in reply to Clutter]

I've been taking iron tabs for 6 months, I take levo at 0500 2 hrs before breakfast and iron at midday and 6pm ish. I was starting too feel well when tsh 0.29 but now feel like I did before levo 😣