Newbie: Help with results pls

[Fleurxx]

Hi all,

Been suffering with low energy (need afternoon sleep), depression, broken thermostat, etc. for a couple of years, worsening for last 12 months. New hair loss (deep joy) triggered Dr apt. / blood test. Results are back and I've been put on 25mcg Levothyroxine/day. The reason I'm posting is just to ask opinion if prescription sounds like best option? Dr says to review in 3 months, but 3 months is a looong time if it's not going to work and I'm back to square 1... Maybe I should save up to see private consultant? Just want to feel normal again - asap!

Results: T4: 12. / T3: 4.8 / P. Antibodies: 109 / TSH: 4.11

Thanks in advance

[greygoose]

25 mcg is rather a low starting dose, 50 might have been better. And, 3 months is too long, go back for retesting after six weeks. But, you can't go any faster than that. With hormones you have to start low and increase slowly. So, with levo (T4) you can only increase by 25 mcg every six weeks. Otherwise, you will stress your body and find yourself back at square one again.

25 mcg probably won't do very much for you, that's true. But, that doesn't mean it isn't working. We're not talking about aspirin, here, we're talking about hormones. It's not just the fact of taking it that makes you feel better, it's taking enough of it. And 25 mcg won't be enough, and 50 probably won't be enough, either. You're probably going to need several increases before you feel well again. And, you just have to be patient until then, I'm afraid.

Could you put ranges with your results, please? Otherwise, they're meaningless.

[Fleurxx in reply to greygoose]

Thank you very much for your reply. Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but are ref ranges the same for everyone?

[greygoose in reply to Fleurxx]

No, they're not. They vary from lab to lab, depending on the machine they use to do the testing, and the local population. Bit of a nonsense, really, they ought to be standardised. But, they aren't.

[Fleurxx in reply to greygoose]

Ok, thank you. Had a strangely difficult time getting the actual results and wasn't given the ranges. I'll go back...

[greygoose in reply to Fleurxx]

If you live in the UK, it is your legal right to have a copy, under the 1998 Data Protection Act. If they refuse to give them to you, they are breaking the law!