I think I'm doing better

[Sususulio]

My results 2nd August and (in brackets) my latest 11th October

TSH 1.01 (0.24) ref range 0.7 - 4.2 mIU/L

Free thyroxine 13.7 (21.3) 12.0 - 22.0 pmol/l

Free T3 4.2 (4.8) 3.1 - 6.8 pmol/l

TSH is suppressed but I feel the better for it and I am working on getting all my vitamin and hormone levels at the upper end of range. This is on thyroxine only but taking selenium, Vit D, B12, Folate etc. Fear GP will be keen to reduce dose I expect but I need to stand firm don't you think?

Thanks for any comments

[greygoose]

How are your results better? Your Frees have dropped and your TSH has risen. Your TSH is not suppressed.

[Sususulio]

My frees are better they are the ones in brackets. Blue Horizon comment was TSH below reference range at 0.24

[greygoose in reply to Sususulio]

Ah, yes, OK. I see. Got them the wrong way round!

So, that very clearly shows that you are a poor converter.

[ITYFIALMCTT]

Definitely time for a Paddington Hard Stare if there's any suggestion of reducing your dosage.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Sususulio

Fear GP will be keen to reduce dose I expect but I need to stand firm don't you think?

You refuse a dose reduction based on the following:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... > Treatment Options

BThe booklet is written by Dr Anthony Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist. It's published by the British Medical Association for patients. Avalable on Amazon and from pharmacies for £4.95 and might be worth buying to highlight the appropriate part and show your doctor.

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)."

You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing [e-mail] print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.

In fact, with FT4 of 21.3 and FT3 of 4.8, the addition of a little T3 wouldn't go amiss!