Help Understanding my results

[wofts]

Hi

I am new to all this, was hoping I could get some advise. After feeling dreadful since the birth of my child, I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, luckily my Dr picked it up, I would have just put it down to being a new mother, I am very grateful to him. I have worked my way up to 100 mcg of Levothyroxine and have been on this dose for 6 weeks now. Not feeling great, so had an extra private test done this weekend (have to wait another 6 weeks for one with my dr)  as I wanted to see how it was going. The results look good (I think?!?) but why am I still not feeling ok (also very down as I am pilling on the pounds, despite strictly dieting). Is there anything I am missing, finding it difficult to interpret, not sure I fully understand the results? I kind of want to get my head around it before I go to my doctor. Are any of you able to shed some light, Thank you in advance I am very grateful

TOTAL THYROXINE (T4) 130 (normal range 59-154)

THYROID STIMULATING 0.39 (normal range 0.27 - 4.2)

FREE THYROXINE 19.8 (normal range 12.0- 22.0)

FREE T3 4.7 (normal range 3.1- 6.8)

[shaws Administrator]

100mcg of levo is an average dose but it does take a while to feel much better. Your bloods look fine but your FT3 could be a little higher.

Weight gain is a very common plea as you wonder why, when on hormones, is my weight increasing. The answer might be that levothyroxine is not yet at an optimum dose for your metabolism to have increased sufficiently. T3 could be a bit higher and GP might think your TSH is too low but many of us feel better when it is around 1 or lower.

It might take several months for you to feel an overall improvement. GP should also check B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate because if these are low that might also be causing symptoms.

Always get a print-out of your blood test results with the ranges for your own records.

When you have a blood test for thyroid hormones have the earliest possible one and don't eat before it. Also leave about 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take it afterwards. This allows the TSH to be at its highest as it drops throughout the day and many doctors adjust the dose according to the TSH which isn't the right thing to do and most times causes more symptoms for the patient.

[wofts]

Thank you very much for your advise, I will ask my dr about the T3, he has never tested for it, so I guess I will have to admit that I had a test done privately!  I hope he is open to it! I have to be more patient, but as you all probably know it is a very frustrating long winded process. I will definitely follow the pre blood test advise next time. 

[greygoose in reply to wofts]

Not 'admitting', 'advising'.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

(Scroll down to Helvella's comments.)

[TupennyRush]

Hi there

It takes a long time to get back to normal as your cells store T4 in them; if you've been ill for a while your cells have low stores and the tests only show that your blood is back up to a 'full tank' not that your cells are fully charged. My GP advised that getting all organs/cells etc back to the level that they should be would take around a year to get back to normal; my private Dr that it can take up to 2 years. I'd estimate it took around 18 months for me (there were other complications). So, I know it's not great to hear but you will feel gradually better over the next few weeks but the change is not big leaps but small steps; however in a months time you will look back and think I can now do x but a month ago I wouldn't have been able to it or blimey I wouldn't have remembered that through the brain fog or whatever.

Try and be kind to yourself, schedule in rests, try not to use caffeine/sugar or other stimulants to keep yourself going (you feel better for a while but overall they wear you down more) and try to just take it a day at a time. I found that I would have a good day and try and do loads of stuff then I would crap out the next few to recover. 

Good luck