Correct dosage of thyroxine and blood test

[Mollychops]

I had a thyroidectomy in 2007 and was on 100mcg of thyroxine. Everything was fine until the menopause and my hormones went beserk! Thyroxine was reduced to 50 then up to 75, which I'm currently on. I'm told my blood results are normal but I don't feel normal. I'm tired, my hair is falling out, my nails are breaking and I just feel downright depressed. I'd love to get a proper blood test done which tests the whole spectrum, which the NHS doesn't do. How do I go about getting this done and what's the cost? Thanks to anyone who's reading this🙂

[Nanaedake]

If you are in the UK you could use Blue Horizon or Medichecks. View Thyroid UK website for information about testing and reliable laboratories. Once you've had a look at the selection of tests you could ask people on this forum which would be the best test for the kind of information you want to obtain if you're unsure.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Mollychops For £99 you can get a thyroid/vitamin bundle which tests

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO antibodies

TG antibodies

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/t...

medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

Fingerprick test, or you can arrange a venous blood draw but there's an extra cost for that.

[Mollychops in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks all for replying, will arrange blood test and report back.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

The £99 test is often on offer for £79

Medichecks run Thyroid Thursday offers

Blue Horizon often run offers at end of month

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take any Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin

[Mollychops in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for all replies. I've just got my results back from Blue Horizon and frankly either i'm thick or its a bit confusing understanding them! Is there anywhere I can find out what ranges for all Thyroid hormones are normal? Mine have come back as:- T4 = 133, TSH = 1.08, Free Thyroxine = 18.9, Free T3 = 3.7, 25 OH Vitamin D = 174, Vitamin B12 = 550, Folate = 20.0 Ferritin = 63. Interpretation says:- Deficient 25 nmol, Insufficient 25-49 nmol, Normal Range 50-200 nmol, consider reducing dose, 200 nmol.

Thyroglobulin antibody 15.5 and Tjhyroid peroxidase antibodies 17.3.

Anyone who can decipher this, you're a star!! Or if there is a table somewhere that can tell me how to decipher this I'd be really grateful to be pointed in the right direction. Thanks in advance

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mollychops]

Just looking at these - before replying to your other post

Can you add the ranges to be sure

FT4 looks ok, not too high

FT3 looks low

TSH is slightly too high. You need dose increase really, but adding T3 should improve

B12 - OK just. You might want to supplement sublingual lozenge daily

Plus vitamin B complex

Ferritin, borderline. Eating liver once a week would help

Presumably you supplement vitamin D, that result looks pretty high

Do you take magnesium, vitamin C, zinc or selenium?

[Mollychops in reply to SlowDragon]

T4- 133- ranges 69-154, TSH 1.08-ranges 0.27-4.2, free thyroxine 18.9, range 12.0-22.0, free T3 3.7 range 3.1-6.8. I take vitamin D supplements. Will get vitamin b lozenges. Have started taking ferrous gluconate 300mg, 2 tablets and taking vitamin C with them. Just bought Kwai potassium and magnesium, and omega 3. Anymore and I’ll be rattling!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mollychops]

I think you need to reduce Vitamin D supplements a bit. Probably not stop altogether, perhaps 1000iu or 2000iu daily

Might need more in winter than summer. Testing vitamin D twice a year via vitamindtest.org.uk if not getting anything else tested

Yes your T4 was not right at top of range. Nor was FT4. So I suspect that once you have added T3, you will need to increase Levo back up.

That's where I am now. 6 months after starting T3. Now just inching T4 back.

I don't know about Kwai potassium & magnesium. It seems to contain B12 ? So if taking that you might not want to also take B12 sublingual

I just take calm vitality magnesium powder and eat a banana for the potassium!

[Mollychops in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks so much for that information, certainly helps understanding the blood results.