i have my dose decreased from 125 levo everyday to 4 days 125 and 3 days 100.
last lab results tsh 0.250 (0.4-4.0) and t4 1,75
(0.89-1.76)
So basically am hyper at 125 levo?.Anyway i hope this will be finally my dose because its hard adjusting to a new dose eveytime.we will see in 4 months.
do you also had trouble adjusting to a new dose?
If your doctor is only adjusting your dose due to wrongly believing that if TSH is very low that we will have heart attack or osteo - these are wrong ideas.
Your T4 is at the top of the range.
To really have a proper analysis of your blood tests you need a Free T4 and Free T3 which, for some reason I don't understand, these are rarely tested.
The aim is for us to reach an optimum dose and that is not always possible by a blood test. It is how we, the patient, feels and we should have relief of all clinical symptoms.
The TSH should be around 1 or below with FT4 and FT3 in the upper level. If your GP refuses to test the 'frees' you can get your own blood test from one of our private labs who do home pin-prick tests.
Doctors seem to be completely unaware that levothyroxine is an inactive hormone - it's job is to convert to T3. T3 is the only active thyroid hormone and it is this T3 that has to enter our T3 receptor cells in order to relieve our symptoms and make us feel well.
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
If your doctor hasn't tested your B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate ask for these to be tested. Deficiencies also give us symptoms.
On the following link you will see why we need FT4 and FT3.
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
I am assuming you did not feel 'hyperthyroid' on the dose your GP reduced?
You shouldn't wait 4 months to have another blood test if he's made an adjustment to your dose. If an adjustment is made the test should be around 6 to 8 weeks.
Shaws I'm sure meant to say 6 weeks for retest.
Thanks - I am obliged. I did of course mean six weeks. That's what happens when you are interrupted.
that first line scared me a little bit.thanks so much i will have my test in 8 weeks that will be much better than have to wait 4 months.
Don't be scared as it is what 'they' seem to believe but it isn't true.
No, you're not hyper, you can't be hyper because you're hypo. You could be over-medicated, but your endo has no idea whether you are, because he hasn't tested your FT3. You're only over-medicated if your FT3 is over-range.
so basically ft3 is more important than tsh.i dont have hyper symptoms.but i will get ft3 tested now that i know that.thank you greygoose
Although doctors strongly deny it, it's all about the FT3. That is the most important number. But, as the test is expensive, doctors aren't encouraged to test it, and aren't taught to understand it. Once you are on thyroid hormone replacement, the TSH becomes irrelevant, but it's the only test that doctors understand - more or less.
You can read about why FT4 and FT3 should be tested but many of us have to get our own as it seems the guidelines state that TSH and T4 are sufficient (but they are not).
For full evaluation you ideally need TSH, FT4, FT3, TT4, TPO and TG antibodies, plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested
As you have not had FT3 tested you don't know if conversion is poor. Highly likely if you vitamin levels are too low
If you have Hashimoto's (high antibodies) then vitamin deficiencies are extremely common
See if you can get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP. Unlikely to get FT3
Private tests are available
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results
Link about antibodies
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...
Print this list of symptoms off, tick all that apply and take to GP
thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...
See Box 1. Towards end of article
Some possible causes of persistent symptoms in euthyroid patients on L-T4
You will see low vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 listed
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels stop Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...
drknews.com/changing-your-d...
thank you so much,i am actually on a low gluten free diet.basically i eat "clean" food and that is really helpful.
Sorry, but low gluten is not the same as no gluten
If you read the Chris Kresser article you will see it needs to be absolute as if coeliac. Even avoiding cross contamination eg shared toaster, butter, chopping board etc
thank you i def learned more about thyroid that i thought i knew by reading articles about it in the internet.now i get how it works..i dot drink water before blood testing because i think it will mess up the tests.i also didnt kow about not taking levo for 24 hrs i will try that next time
So tired of this......
Can I challenge GP, if so, when?
When to see another endo
Blood results - what's next?
