Trying to understand TSH levels.

[jencat]

Hello everyone, my last blood test results were: TSH 0.373 T4 1.09 T3 3.3 I have been on 25 mcg for a number of years now, but started feeling unwell so decided to put myself on 50 mcg which I did middle of last year. I then started to feel really well, lots of energy etc, but when my doctor here in Spain saw these results he said I had to bin the 50s and he's now put me back on 25 mcg.Please can anyone help me understand my levels?reference ranges are : TSH-0.55-4.78 T4-0.71-1.85 T3-2.3-4.2 don't know if these are different here than in the uk??

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

jencat For members to be able to help then the reference ranges are needed for those tests. We need to see where the FT4 and FT3 lie within their ranges. Can you edit your post please and insert the ranges. You can edit by clicking the down arrow at the bottom of your post and choosing the edit option.

[greygoose]

Doctors know very little about thyroid, so I would just carry on, if I were you. 25 mcg is less than a starting dose, and people shouldn't be left on it for years on end!

50 mcg is the normal starting dose, and you will feel well on that for a while, but will probably need another increase soon.

So, those results were on 50 mcg? There was absolutely no reason for your doctor to tell you to go back to 25 mcg - I think he just didn't like you increasing on your own!

Your TSH was a little under range, but that is of absolutely no importance, the important number is the FT3, and that was only just over mid-range, so plenty of room to put your dose up to 75, not reduce it! The FT4 is just under mid-range.

I think you ought to think seriously about changing your doctor, because this one is just going to keep you ill with his ignorance!

[jencat in reply to greygoose]

Thankyou for your reply, I think I will put myself back on 50 mcg , I am just worried about going Hyper, although I did feel well while I was taking it, you are right, I should change doctors. Also I sweat a lot have done since I was diagnosed, do you think a higher dose will change that?it's so good to communicate with people about this, I don't know anyone here who I can talk to.

[greygoose in reply to jencat]

Oh, don't worry! You are a long way off hyper! Hyper is not just a low TSH, as most doctors seem to think. It's a very high FT3. You are no-where near that. Anyway, you cannot 'go hyper' because you are hypo, but you can become over-medicated - not quite the same thing. If you over-medicate, you can just lower your dose a little, no harm done. Not like being hyper at all.

Have you had your vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin tested?

I don't know anything about the sweating. Do you sweat all over, or just on your head?

[jencat in reply to greygoose]

Hi again well that's a relief thanks, as you can see I know nothing about thyroid readings.I sweat all over and it's awful, doc did'nt seem to care about that either.I have'nt had vitamin b or any of the others tested, he will probably want to know why I want them tested!

[greygoose in reply to jencat]

Just tell him because you've read that they are usually low when you're hypo, and it's very important that they are optimal, otherwise, your body can't use the levo.

[jencat]

Thankyou so much for your reply, I will be having another blood test soon, so should be interesting!