Thyroid sufferer

[annabob27]

I have an hashimotos and have been balanced on medication for some time. Six months ago I started feeling unwell and blood was tested. TSH was 0.01 one Dr said that was ok, I was recently retested and results the same, this time different Dr thought I was over medicated. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Elainio]

I would be interested on thoughts on this too as mine was flagged up as abnormal at 0.03 yet gp said it was normal

[greygoose]

The first doctor could have been right, but it depends what else was tested.

A low TSH does not automatically indicate over-medication. And if the FT4 and FT3 were in range, you are not over-medicated.

[annabob27 in reply to greygoose]

Sorry for the delayed reply. Thank you for your comments, I am dropping my levothyroxin from 125 to 100 but keeping the liothironin the same and see how I go. Dr will retest bloods in 6 weeks and then I will have more idea as T3./T4 were not tested when my bloods were done two weeks ago!

Anne

[greygoose in reply to annabob27]

If you're taking T3, the only test that gives any useful information is the FT3. The other two are redundant. But, I wouldn't expect many doctors to know that!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Ask for full thyroid testing

They need to test FT4 & FT3 (very reluctant to do FT3 on cost grounds)

Also antibodies- BOTH types - TPO Ab and TG Ab. (Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin) Both need checking, if either, or both are high this means autoimmune thyroid - called Hashimoto's the most common cause in UK of being hypo.

(NHS rarely checks TPO and almost never checks TG. NHS believes it is impossible to have negative TPO and raised TG. It's rare, but not impossible, there are a few members on here that have this.)

If they have not been done ......Suggest you ask GP to check levels of vitamin d, b12, folate and ferratin. These all need to at good (not just average) levels for thyroid hormones (our own or replacement ones) to work in our cells

Make sure you get the actual figures from tests (including ranges - figures in brackets). You are entitled to copies of your own results. Some surgeries make nominal charge for printing out. Alternatively you can now ask for online access to your own medical records. Though not all surgeries can do this yet, or may not have blood test results available yet online.

When you get results suggest you make a new post on here and members can offer advice on any vitamin supplements needed

If you can not get GP to do these tests, then like many of us, you can get them done privately

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

Blue Horizon - Thyroid plus eleven tests all these.

This is an easy to do fingerprick test you do at home, post back and they email results to you couple of days later.

Usual advice on ALL thyroid tests, (home one or on NHS) is to do early in morning, ideally before 9am. No food or drink beforehand (other than water) If you are taking Levo, then don't take it in 24 hours before (take straight after). This way your tests are always consistent, and it will show highest TSH, and as this is mainly all the medics decide dose on, best idea is to keep result as high as possible

As you have Hashimoto's then you may find adopting 100% gluten free diet can help reduce symptoms, and lower antibodies too.

You will see, time and time again on here lots of information and advice about importance of good levels of B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D, leaky gut and gluten connection to autoimmune Hashimoto's (& Grave's) too.

hypothyroidmom.com/92-of-ha...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

[snaps]

0.01 is borderline to hyperthyroidism.just maybe you are crossing the line at times