Current test result;
T4 15.1 (normal 9-24)
T3 4 (normal 3.5 - 6.5)
TSH 0.29 (normal 0.35 - 5) :-(((((
My GP put me from 125 Levo to 100 about 6 weeks ago (when TSH was 0.12!) so it is rising but TSH still not within normal range. I will call Doc tomorrow, but please comment ......do I need to reduce my Levo further?
KatherineM_PBC,
Your TSH is very slightly below range so there's no need for further reduction. FT4 and FT3 are quite low in range already and further reduction will see them fall further. I don't think it was necessary to drop from 125 to 100mcg just because TSH was low.
Oh! What can be done to raise the TSH? After 16 years of Primary Care guessing my Levo dose, I recently asked if I could be referred to a Endocrinologist but was told NO! X
KatherineM_PBC,
The only way to raise TSH is to reduce dose. Yours isn't too low. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
Thankyou. I will read. X
Mine is 0.01 & after speaking with GP, he is happy with that. I have Hashimotos autoimmune Hypothyroidism
Something I've been wondering.... I am Hypothyroid. I see it referred to as Hashimotos. Is it 1 and the same?
There are different types of Hypothyroidism. Hashis is when your antibodies attack your Thyroid and show up on bloods as raised. The treatment is the same though with Levothyroxine & sometimes added T3
Doctors love their TSH it tirrelevent when it goes low. Ignore the stupid doctor and go by how you feel not numbers.
have you ever had thyroid antibodies checked? There are two sorts 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.
If you have Hashimoto's (high antibodies) then you may find adopting 100% gluten free diet can really help reduce symptoms, and may lower TPO antibodies slowly over time too.
Selenium supplements can help improve conversion of T4 to T3
You do not need to have ANY obvious gut issues, to still have poor nutrient absorption caused by low stomach acid or gluten intolerance
You might want to read up on how much the liver is involved with T4 to T3 conversion as you have other liver issues.
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
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, low stomach acid, leaky gut and gluten connection to autoimmune Hashimoto's
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
hypothyroidmom.com/92-of-ha...
Also thyroxine must be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. (No coffee or tea) Many take on waking, but can be more convenient and recent research, suggests perhaps is more effective, taken at bedtime. (Must be at least two hours after eating)
verywell.com/should-i-take-...
Thankyou for your very detailed reply Slowdragon. I don't think my GP has ever written anything but TSH on my blood forms. From reading this site, last time I went for blood test, I asked a very nice phlebotomist if she would also write on the form T3 and T4, but it seems even that's not sufficient for full count. I did also get my Vit D taken at the same time, result is low but not below normal range. This is another reason I do not think we should just be monitored by our GPs, they do not have in depth knowledge of Thyroid conditions. Today, I am paying to see a Private Nutritionist, and if my GP still refuses to refer me to Endo, I may pay for that too!!!! Thanks again, I have lots of reading to do! X
Nutritionalist will probably be best option. In my experience endos don't look at vitamin or minerals any more than GP.
If you have Hashimoto's, this is extremely gut connected.
No. If you are not having symptoms of overmedication you might need an increase as Both Ft4 and Ft3 are lower in range than the optimum (both should be in top quarter of the range). TSH is not important.
Because doctors rely so heavily on TSH, many patients get the impression that it is levels of TSH which determines symptoms. But it isn't. TSH doesn't make you "feel" anything.
Patients have discovered that the best indicator of what is causing symptoms is the level of Free T3. Too high or too low Free T3 will cause symptoms because T3 is the active thyroid hormone that affects metabolism in every cell in the body.
TSH level? 
Low tsh
Low TSH
Low TSH low FT3
