Are these test results ok?

[Emits]

I'm on 100mcg levothyroxine (just increased to this dose 6 weeks ago ) and my latest results are:

Tsh 0.06 (0.35-5.50)

Ft4 19.6 (11-19.8)

Do you think I'm on the right dose?

I feel OK, it's just my pulse is a bit high 80 and sometimes it feels like my heart beats very hard.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Emits Your TSH is below range, where most GPs would get jittery and reduce dose, and your FT4 is just within the upper limit of the range. Your results don't show that you are overmedicated (you would need to see FT3 over range for that) but as you are experiencing those symptoms you could try reducing your dose of Levo by 12.5mcg to see if that helps. If you alternate 75/100 you will achieve this but you will have to cut your some of tablets into halves and quarters to get 75 if all you have is 100s.

[gabkad in reply to SeasideSusie]

She could just take 100 mcg T4 for 6 days per week. That would be 600 mcg per 7 days: which would average out to 85 mcg per day. Since T4 has such a long half life it would take a while to level out, so she could immediately skip two or three doses and start taking it 6 times per week instead of 7. Just decide which day to skip is the easiest to remember.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

ask GP to check levels of vitamin d, b12, folate and ferritin. These all need to at good (not just average) levels for thyroid hormones (our own or replacement ones) to work in our cells.

Also do you know if you have had thyroid antibodies checked? There are two sorts TPO Ab and TG Ab. (Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin) Both need checking, if either, or both antibodies are high this means autoimmune thyroid - called Hashimoto's the most common cause in UK of being hypo.

TPO is rarely checked and TG almost never checked. More common to have high TPO or high TPO AND high TG, but negative TPO and raised TG is possible, though rarer.

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

Selenium supplements can help improve conversion of T4 to T3 and may also lower antibodies

Excellent web based document-series - re-running, starting March 1st

Masses of advice for all thyroid issues, but especially for Hashimoto's or Graves

thethyroidsecret.com/trailer/

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

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

[Emits in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you!

I've had those tested and they were OK. Ferritin was 65 so I'm supplementing.

Tpo was 45 (<60)

Do you think I have to reduce dose?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Emits]

Have you also had TG antibodies tested?

Vitamin D seems to need to be towards 100 when we are on Levo

B12 needs to be a top of range - e.g. Around 700 - or higher

Folate - at top of range too

[MCarina in reply to SlowDragon]

Hello,I like your advise.I have Hashimoto's and I have slightly increased levels of TPO Ab.I started gluten free diet 4 wks ago and some of the symptoms have improved.

I was advised to have another blood test for thyroid antibodies in 6 months time. Is it necessary to wait that long? Any suggestions?

[Emits]

Thank you!

Do you think I need to reduce the dose that much? I didn't feel well on 75 so am reluctant to reduce too much. Would say, 2 days 100 1 day 75 work do you think?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Emits]

Emits Experiment and see what happens, bearing in mind it may take a few weeks to feel the full effect of a dose change. Some people have said they need the same dose every day, others manage with working out over a week and reducing dose for a couple of days. One size doesn't fit all so you'll need to see what's best for you.

[Stourie in reply to Emits]

Why don't you try alternate days with 75 then 100 and see how you go.

Jo xx