Results advice please.

[doris59]

I posted last week about going to my gp when I want for some advice and got a lecture.

Well I had a phone call to say she wanted to see me. Lo and behold my vit D test result is back, amazing really as she told me last week that it would take weeks for the result to come back.. It is 55, and she said this is fine.. Is it? She also gave me some numbers from the thyroid blood test after I asked her twice for them. She said that free T4 is over 19 and tsh is 0.04 and therefor I am over medicated.. She told me to reduce levothyroxine from 100mcg to 75mcg and retest in 3 months. I have thinning hair and aching hips.

[radd]

doris,

Vit D is optimal at about 75-100 ng/mL. Members supplement D3 with K2 added. Vit D will improve the uptake of calcium from your diet and K2 directs the calcium to the bones.

Those thyroid results don't look as if you are overmedicated but it is hard to confirm without the ranges. You are legally entitled to a copy of your test results and members usually keep these for reference.

Ask your surgery to print you off a copy. The receptionist may have to confirm with a doctor before releasing results and some surgeries may charge a small fee for paper & ink.

[doris59 in reply to radd]

She said I was over the range that is acceptable.

[radd in reply to doris59]

doris,

I don't think T4 would be over range at 19. Your doctor could be dosing you by your TSH which may be low.

Some need a lower TSH to function well. It is the amount of thyroid hormone that is more important than the TSH. If you feel symptomatic, it might not be wise for you to accept a dose decrease.

[puncturedbicycle]

If with these results you still have symptoms you may want to have a look at your t3 (private test if necessary). I had the same problem and have felt the benefit from adding a bit of t3 to my levo.

Also, I feel like three months is too long if you're symptomatic. No reason to leave such a long gap.

[radd in reply to puncturedbicycle]

doris,

I agree with PB regarding a T3 test.

This will enable you to get a clearer picture of your thyroid function as measures the biological hormone that gives you well being.

Unfortunately not many GP's will test T3 so members use private labs - link below.

Post results complete with ranges (numbers in brackets) for members to comment on your T3 levels.

.

Private labs testing

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

[Coastwalker]

My hurting hips/aching hips were down to vitamin D deficiency, only when I supplemented with 5000iu of vitamin D3, my hip pain along with many more symptoms went overnight. vitamindcouncil.com has a (safe) dosage guide to follow and also a vitamin D blood level chart you can check, it is more up to date than the NHS own vitamin D chart. Sorry I cannot do the direct link to the actual page as I cannot remember where it is in the website, though should be easy to find.

[doris59 in reply to Coastwalker]

Thanks coast walker, I have had a look at vit d council advice and as my vit d test came back as 55 I have decided to supplement with 10000iu along with K2 every second day. My hip pain is on the outer part and this means it aches when I try to sleep on my side. I will give this a go as it can't hurt to try it.

[Coastwalker in reply to doris59]

Hi again Doris59.

My Doctor gave me 1000iu only to correct my vitamin d deficiency (not for the pains as he did not connect them,) on 1000iu D3 my pains went overnight, but came back a few days later, that's when a member of HU told me that 1000iu of vitamin D3 is a mere maintenance dose that was supposed to be handed out to the elderly who stay indoors, many friends and family members of mine now are on the 5000iu and are feeling better for it.

All my pains come back within the day if I forget to take my D3. If you notice at first your 1000iu D3 works, (even a tiny bit) then the pain comes back do consider what I have said, having a vitamin D level at 50, I would now not be happy with.

Going out and soaking up the very hot sun on bare skin in summer for 15 - 20 mins give you around 15 - 20 thousand iu of vitamin D.

Many people say their bones don't ache so much in the warmer weather, so vitamin D is probably the connection.