Latest bloods

[Polly2501]

I posted last week as we're going to start trying for a baby soon and wondered what I should be thinking about in relation to my thyroid. I was very helpfully told that I should aim for my results to be below 2.5 and I've had recent bloods taken. I've called the doctors and they've given me the following results from the 6th April blood tests:

TSH - 2.28 (range 0.35-5.5)

T4 - 12.5 (range 7 - 17)

Its strange that my TSH has only come done very slightly from my previous blood tests on 16th Jan when it was 2.3 (same ranges) and I've been increased by 25 mcg since then to 125mcg daily. My T4 in Jan was 15.2 so thats come down too.

I've made an appointment with the GP for tomorrow to discuss all this and wondered what you recommended I say? Should I ask for another increase in meds do you think? I'm really surprised that my TSH wasn't lower actually.

[Clutter]

Polly2501,

Most people taking Levothyroxine feel under medicated with TSH 2.28 and would feel better with TSH 1.0 or lower with FT4 in the upper range. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email [e-mail] if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.

It is recommended that the TSH of women planning conception should be in the low-normal range of 0.4 - 2.5. Dose is usually increased by 25-50mcg when pregnancy is confirmed to ensure good foetal development.

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

[Polly2501 in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter, I'll talk to my doc tomorrow and see if I can get a dose increase, will also email Louise for that article too. Thank you again!

[shaws Administrator]

The TSH varies all day, i.e. it is highest earliest a.m and reduces throughout the day. It is not a thyroid hormone, it is a Thyroid Stimulating Hormone which tries to flag the thyroid gland to produce more thyroid hormones this is the reason we advice as early an appointment as possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between the last dose of hormones and the test and take it after test.

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

[Polly2501 in reply to shaws]

Thanks Shaws, I had my last bloods taken at 8.15am and hadn't eaten anything since the day before. And I didn't take any levo either, last dose was the morning before.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Polly2501]

That's good as it is difficult sometimes to remember to 'do this - do that' as we are tired and symptomatic.

[Polly2501 in reply to shaws]

Thank you for the reminder! It is so easy just to go by habit sometimes!

[shaws Administrator in reply to Polly2501]

This may be helpful too re pregnancy.

hypothyroidmom.com/miscarri...

[Polly2501]

Thanks for your reply. I thought, as Clutter said, that a TSH below 2.5 is ok for pregnancy? I'm actually feeling a lot better than I have done. I've had all my vitamins tested and am taking B12, vit D and iron.

[Polly2501]

Oh no I didn't mean that to come across rudely! Sorry! I'd be interested to hear of your daughters experience if you're willing to share.

[Polly2501]

Thank you for explaining all that, I'm so sorry to hear that so many of your family members have been affected. My two brothers have type one diabetes so we suspect auto-immune diseases in our genetics but my husbands side don't have any health problems. I'll look into my genetics but my mother died 12 years ago and my dad isn't overly helpful with information so I'm not sure how much I'll find out.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Polly2501]

This archived link may be helpful

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

[shaws Administrator]

reallyfedup, that's awful that your family has been affected so badly. No wonder we have inbuilt anger/frustration.