Hi, wonder if anyone can give their opinion on my latest test results,TSH is 0.81 the range is 0.35-5.50, my FT3 is 4, the range is 3.50-6.50 and my FT4 is 13.2 the range is 11.00- 23.00. Have been on Levothyroxine 50 mg for the last 6 months, was previousley on 25mg, my GP says I need to stay on this dose, she says my TSH is surpressed , and my fT4 is a bit low. i dont think this medication is doing a great deal,any advice please. many thanks.
My latest test results.: Hi, wonder if anyone can... - Thyroid UK
My latest test results.
Teddy-Twoshoes I'm not sure how she can say your TSH is suppressed, it's in range! However, your FT4 and FT3 are both too low for you to feel well. The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it is needed for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective reference ranges. You need an increase in your Levo.
From ThyroidUK's main website thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
'According to the BMA's booklet, "Understanding Thyroid Disorders", many people do not feel well unless their levels are at the bottom of the TSH range or below and at the top of the FT4 range or a little above.
Dr Toft states in Pulse Magazine, "The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.
In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance.
But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.
This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)." '
Dr Toft is past president of The British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist.
You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing louise.roberts@thyroiduk.org.uk which you can print off, highlight the relevant part (question 6) to show your GP.
You could also ask for vitamins and minerals to be tested, they all need to be optimal for thyroid hormone to work properly, so ask for
Vit D
B12
Folate
Ferritin
Post the results with reference ranges for members to comment.
Thankyou Susie, I do not feel well,and do not feel the Levo is doing anything for me, so I think I am going to stop taking it and approach it from a more holistic angle, have been looking at a supplement called raw throid,am also watching a very informed 10 part documentry series called The thyroid secret on-line which is very informative ,thank you so much for all the information will check it out.