THS levels

[Lostlozza]

Hi I finally got my blood test after nearly 2years of not having one, but the doctor would only do TSH it came back normal at 4.1 is this ok as my hair is falling out quite a bit, I am also very itchy especially on my head.Also I have had bad muscle twitches in my eyes for about a year I know this could be down to being tired or stressed but I have had this everyday for a year on and off all day. Thanks for any advice in advance.

[Clutter]

Lostlozza,

Are you taking Levothyroxine?

[Lostlozza in reply to Clutter]

Yes I'm on 50mcg a day

[Clutter in reply to Lostlozza]

Lostlozza,

You are very undermedicated to have TSH 4.1 and should ask your GP to increase dose. Then make sure to have thyroid retested 6-8 weeks later in case a further increase is required. Arrange the blood draw early in the morning when TSH is highest and fast (water only) as TSH drops after eating and drinking. Take Levothyroxine after the blood draw.

The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 0.4 - 1.0 with FT4 in the upper range. FT4 needs to be in the upper range in order that sufficient T3 is converted. 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.

[Lostlozza in reply to Clutter]

Thank you will email Louise Roberts when I asked about fasting and when to take my Levo the doctor said that I shouldn't bother and I didn't need to fast and could take my mess as normal

[Clutter in reply to Lostlozza]

Lostlozza,

It's a patient-to-patient tip not a requisite. If TSH is high there is more chance of getting a dose increase and less likelihood of getting a dose reduction if TSH is lowish.

[greygoose]

4.1 is NOT normal. When you are on thyroid hormone replacement, TSH should be one or under. You absolutely need an increase in levo! Are you still seeing the same ignorant doctor?

[Lostlozza in reply to greygoose]

This was a new doctor I went to, I'm lost just don't know where to turn

[greygoose in reply to Lostlozza]

[Lostlozza]

Ok I will try my doctors are useless they just make me feel like I'm making things up and stupid they won't test me for any of the other tests and when I asked if I had hashimotos he said yes I did without testing me

[shaws Administrator in reply to Lostlozza]

We have to read, learn and ask questions if we want to recover our health. Our doctors seem to have had no training at all about dysfuctions of the thyroid gland, nor do they know any clinical symptoms - which all doctors knew before blood tests were introduced.

On an optimum of thyriod hormones you should have no clinical symptoms.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

If your doctor said yes to hashimoto's you must have thyroid antibodies in your blood. These can be reduced by going gluten-free as they attack your gland - sometimes a lot and less at other times - until you are hypothyroid but the treatment is the same.

[Nanaedake]

I'm sorry your doctors are being so unhelpful. Keep trying a different doctor in your practice until you find one that's more helpful if you can.

[Lostlozza in reply to Nanaedake]

Thank you I will

[Lostlozza]

Thank you all for advice I will contact Louise Roberts and book another appointment with a different doctor 🙂

[shaws Administrator in reply to Lostlozza]

All blood tests for thyroid gland have to be at the very earliest, fasting, you can drink water. and allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards. This keeps the TSH at its highest as that's all doctors go by.

[SindeeRae]

My Dr told me this was normal 0.47 - 4.68 for TS4.

On the 3, I was 27.6, because I wasn't taking my scrips hardly at all for a short period, but I had started taking them regularly soon before my appt.

Come the 14, my ts4 was at 4, which is normal, but high on the normal side, so she went ahead and change dosage from .175 MCG to .200 MCG.

My guess would be maybe high on the normal side?

[silverfox7]

About 90% of thyroid people have Hashimoto's and your doctor can't assume without testing. I'm one of the 10% that aren't.

[silverfox7]

Doctors should ever dose according to the TSH. Once you are on medication it isn't accurate. The TSH is a messenger from the pituitary in the brain to tell your body it is short of thyroxine so the higher the TSH the lower your FT4 and FT3 are. Our bodies can be lazy though and one your next realises you are getting T4 from another source it stops asking for more so your TSH can drop and doctors tend to think that means you are over medicated which most probably is t true. They would realise that was wrong if the labs would do the FT4 and FT3 readings as they could be too low and you can't function properly. So TSH if not medicated with show your body is struggling but then it's no good for diagnosis or treatment once started on medication you need the full panel.

[Hidden]

Hi Lostiozza

If you look at wholenewmom.com you can find some interesting information

which may not be the same as some given through this website.

TSH tests pituitary function. The theory is that high TSH means you have low

thyroid levels while low TSH means you have too much thyroid hormone.

It is important to find a doctor who will listen to your symptoms.

Blood tests should include 1 - Free T4. T4 and T3 are the main thyroid hormones but T4

is less active. Your body converts your T4 to T3 in your cells. T4 And T3 need total and free

levels tests. Free means the amount in your body which is not bound to proteins- the amount available to convert to T3. T3 increases metabolism. If you don't have enough T3 you will feel

lousy.

Thyroid antibody tests are needed to see if your thyroid is being attacked by an autoimmune response.

Cholesterol tests are also indicated. The author recommends the use of dessicated thyroid not

synthroid or levothyroxine. The author also recommends a gluten free diet cutting out wheat barley and rye from the diet. You should be referred to an endocrine specialist, so go to another GP and ask for a referral. It is your right to have a referral on the NHS.