Test results now in

[MS1983]

Ok so I've got my thyroid levels re checked as i wasnt feeling well. Just a quick question when you have started taking your medication not only sohuld you T4 levels rise but shouldnt your TSH lower rather than get higher? 

My first test when they gave me levo was T4 11.5 and TSH 2.94 now T4 14.9 and TSH 3.04? 

I am so confused and the doctor will not listen to me. I am still struggling to lose weight. I have been for over a year now and it's getting quite upsetting what ever diet I am on nothing happens and i am quite strict too. 

Any ideas would be a great help. they will not test the Free T3 apparently its not needed/ does not tell them anything. 

[Greenwall]

Hi MS1983.  From what I have read, I would agree that TSH should lower and T4 rise.  I've taken Levo for 6 months.  First the TSH lowered, but now (with no changes at my end) it has risen again.  T4 has risen slightly.  However, I understand that TSH can flucturate throughout the day/weeks:  hypothyroidmom.com/hypothyr...

Getting T3 test seems problematic too.  I've resorted to putting it all in black and white, ie writing with links / evidence to ask questions.  It maybe worth a try with your doc...

[MS1983 in reply to Greenwall]

Thank you 

[shaws Administrator]

The aim of thyroid hormones is to reduce your TSH to around 1 (not anywhere in the range as most doctors imagine). Some need it lower than 1.

Hypothyroid patients have low metabolism, so unless you are on an optimum of hormones (i.e. you feel well with no symptoms) it will be hard to lose weight. So don't get too worried yet. 

email [e-mail] and ask for a copy of the Pulse Online article by Dr Toft (he was President of the BTA) and ask GP to increase your dose to bring it down to what Dr T recommends. Highlight question 6.

mmmm FT3 doesn't tell them anything! Maybe because they aren't as knowledgeable as they think and this is from Thyroiduk.org.uk giving the reason:

FT3 = FREE T3

T4 converts to T3 and is the only thyroid hormone actually used by the body's cells.

The approx. reference range for Free T3 is 4 to 8.3

We at Thyroid UK believe that you need to know your Free T3 level too because this will often show low if you are not converting, and high if you have blocked receptor cells. Even if you are converting, the body needs the extra T3 that a normal thyroid produces. There has been some research to show that people feel better on a mixture of Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3). Effects of Thyroxine as Compared with Thyroxine plus Triiodothyronine in patients with hypothyroidism – The New England Journal of Medicine Feb.11, 99 Vol. 340. (Click here for this article).

With all of these tests, your results could be anywhere within the range and you would be classed as "normal". If you are at the very edge of the range, either at the bottom or at the top, you could be classed as "borderline". Neither you nor your doctor truly knows what your normal is, if you did not have a blood test done before you became ill. 

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[MS1983 in reply to shaws]

Thank you that's what I suspected. It's such a battle but I will fight it and get better. My poor dad was prescribed anti-depressant for years before they even asked about family history etc! Nightmare!! 

[Jazzw in reply to MS1983]

Let me guess. You're only on 25 or 50mcg of levo?

[MS1983 in reply to Jazzw]

How did you guess?

[Jazzw in reply to MS1983]

Because your TSH went up instead of down. Before you started taking levo your thyroid was still making hormones.    Believe it or not, 25mcg of levo is less than what your own thyroid was making. 25mcg is a starter dose, and isn't supposed to be what you take forever afterwards - you should have had your dose increased when your doctor saw that second lot of results. You probably will need (in time) at least 75mcg levo, and very possibly more.

[MS1983 in reply to Jazzw]

Interesting still think my doctor thinks I'm depressed well I'm going back again with a munition this time to discuss with her properly! Thank you