Hi I have only just found this site and have already been impressed with what I have read. I had a blood test taken a few days ago. l have been diagnosed with an under active thyroid back in 1987. My latest results are confusing !
T3. 5. Range (4.00-6.80)
T4. 20. Range (12.0-22.0)
TSH 0.17. Range (0.3-4 20) ?????
What does this mean?
Witty1 Your TSH is a bit below range. Your FT4 and FT3 are in a good place although your FT3 has room to be a bit higher. 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 when on Levo if that is where you feel well.
There is no problem with TSH being below range or even supressed. TSH isn't a thyroid hormone, it's a pituitary hormone. The Pituitary looks to see if there is any thyroid hormone (thyroxine) and if there is none or too little it sends out a signal TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) for the thyroid to produce some and the TSH will be high. If there is already enough thyroid hormone - and that includes when we take synthetic thyroxine - then the TSH will be low so no signal is sent.
Below range TSH tends to make doctors panic and lower the patient's dose of Levo and say they are overmedicated. That's not the case. You can't be overmedicated when FT3 is in range. FT3 is the most important test as T3 is the active hormone which every cell in our bodies need. Unfortunately, doctors know very little about treating hypothyroidism and tend to be slaves to the TSH.
What thyroid meds to you take and do you feel well?
Hi seasideSusie thanks for your reply I take 100mg and this has never been changed since about 1987. The interesting thing is after reading on this site that you should fast and not take your meds before blood test. I didn't realise so for the first time ever I did this, this time and got these results. I also used to take my meds straight after breakfast. But for the last month followed the advice on here and take my meds and then eat one hour after All this obviously has changed my TSH. I am one of the lucky ones and have been feeling fine for ages recently though I have had a burning sensation at the top of my left leg? Oh and I have changed to a gluten free diet. I am now worried that my doctor is going to try and mess about with my levothyroxine.
Witty1 If your GP tries to reduce your Levo based on those results, then the following information from ThyroidUK's main website will be useful thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... > Treatment Options
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.
Booklet written by Dr Anthony Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist. It is published by the British Medical Association for patients. Available from pharmacies and Amazon for about £4.95. It might be worth buying, highlighting the relevant section to show your GP.
Also -
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)."
Email louise.roberts@thyroiduk.org for a copy, print it and highlight question 6 to show your GP in support of not reducing your Levo (or if you ever need an increase) if he is a slave to the TSH.
I don't know about the burning sensation at the top of your leg, but it would be worth getting vitamins and minerals checked as most of us Hypos are low or deficient and need to have them at optimal levels for thyroid hormone to work. Ask for
Vit D
B12
Folate
Ferritin
I had those done as well
D2 and D3. 67.6. (50-150)
B12. 484. (197-771)
Folate 9. (3.89-26.8)
Ferritin . 63. (13-200)
I will definetly buy that book. Thank you
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