Hi,I was diagnosed with Hypothyroid around 6 years ago and have been ok up until a few months ago,anxiety ,depression tiredness etc and in the last month or so my hair and one eyebrow are thinning quite a lot.I am on 100mcg Levo and had bloods done 2 weeks ago,doctor told me normal but at top of range and I have seen many posts saying that this will probably be too high and should get more Levo,I am worried that my hair will not stop thinning ,just want to feel good again.When I see doctor again I will ask him what the figure was in the range,he just said it was top range.
Any advice would be great
Thanks .
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Haynton
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Never mind your doctor playing his cards close to his chest, ask out-right for a print out. It is your legal right to have one if you live in the UK. You need to know exactly what was tested, and exactly what the results were. It's your health, your body, your life, and you have to live it. Time he came clean!
Hi Greygoose,thanks for your reply ,I will ask him for these when I see him in 2 weeks,he only did TSH and T4 and when I asked about T3 he said there was no need as my T4 was ok which I now know is a crazy answer as I may not be converting,If I get no joy with him I will get full thyroid bloods done privately and go from there but it seems possible he will increase the levo as he did say it was top range so maybe that will sort it.I was struggling with anxiety and he did not want to increase levo then in case it made it worse but I am over that now so should get a levo increase.Thanks again and I will keep you informed.
But, if your FT4 is at the top of the range, you don't want an increase, because that would take you over the top. And, if you need your FT4 over the top of the range to feel well, it more than likely means you aren't converting well. That's something you need to know, because you do not want a load of unconverted T4 in your system.
Well, a TSH at the top of most ranges is far from normal. Most ranges are utterly rediculous, because you're hypo when the TSH reaches 3. Someone with no thyroid problems will have a TSH of between one and two. But, when you're on thyroid hormone replacement, you need your TSH lower than someone who isn't. It should be one or under for your Frees to be high enough to make you well. Doctors just do not understand that.
OK is an opinion. And I would not trust any doctors opinion on my FT4! I would want the actual numbers. Ask for a print-out. Always ask for a print-out of results for any blood test you have done. There's absolutely no reason why you shouldn't have one - they're YOU'RE results.
Sorry, I replied thinking you meant ferritin. We don't talk much about iron, because it varies. The important number is the ferritin, and that should be at least mid-range.
Did you mean your tsh was top of range, if that's the case, then yes, an increase would be needed. As Greygoose mentions, if it is T4 at top of range, likely a different problem and medicating more might cause more problems until you work out what the issue was. Just call the receptionist and ask for a print out to pick up - she can't refuse
Also make sure you get iron, Vit B12 and D and folate tested
It would be a good idea to get ferritin, folate, b12 and vitamin D tested. These are often deficient or too low in hypos and cause a lot of symptoms and problems of their own. It would be a good idea to post such results here so members can help with supplementation if needed.
With ferritin it's important to be around halfway in the range, even if you're not deficient but low in the range you could have issues with hair loss, brittle nails, etc.
ok,I rang my GP and asked for my result figures and the receptionist said there are no figures she said just shows normal,so I said there must be ,then she said the doctor just told her "they are well within range" ,I said yes but I need the figures.Then she said TSH is 3.81 but nothing for T4 which is odd,she said nothing on screen for T4 so left it at that .I will see doctor myself and ask for these figures as they must have them,from what I gather 3.81 is high
You also need to know if you have high antibodies- Hashimoto's
Its unacceptable for them not to give you results if you ask for them. Make sure you are given full set, including past results if possible at next appointment.
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin, or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus 11 will test all these.
Same tests, just different companies- £99 both often have money off offers. Finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw at local clinic
All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible and fasting. Don't take your Levo in 24 hours prior, delay to straight after.
ok great thanks,I have a doctors appointment in a weeks time,hoping he will up my dose and get the full tests done,hair is still thinning but not as bad. Are these private companies blood tests accurate ? thanks again.
They seem excellent. Sometimes they use same lab as NHS anyway.
NHS labs almost never do FT3 test, never repeat TPO antibodies tests, almost never test TG antibodies. They will also not retest vitamin D within certain time frame, due to budget cuts
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