My results

[sueanddave]

These are my results from Oct. Are my levels okay .Im on 100mg of thyroxine even though the ringing in my ears is getting worse.also the weight gain and depression / tiredness is getting me down thank you

[Nanaedake]

Have you had B12 and Folate tested along with vitamin D? Ringing in ears could be symptom of low B12.

[shaws Administrator]

If we are on an optimum of thyroid hormones we should have no clinical symptoms so blood tests are secondary against how the patient 'feels' on a particular dose.

Your FT4 is on the low side but the most important FT3 hasn't been tested and it is T3 which is the Active thyroid hormone needed in our T3 receptor cells. If we are on a dose of hormones in which we feel well, with no clinical symptoms, that is the optimum dose for us.

As well as FT3 you need B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate to be tested. All have to be optimum. FT4 and FT3 have to be towards the upper part of the range.

Did you have the bloods drawn at the earliest time possible, fasting (you can drink water) and did you allow a gap of 24hours between last dose of levo and the test? If not results could be skewed.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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

Is this how your test was done?

FT4 is on low side. Should be around 18-20. Suggests you are under medicated. You need FT3 tested too. Low vitamins are extremely common especially if under medicated and if you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease (diagnosed high thyroid antibodies)

For full evaluation you ideally need TSH, FT4, FT3, TT4, TPO and TG antibodies, plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

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...

Vitamindtest.org.uk - £28 postal kit

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.

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...

Symptoms of low B12

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, 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 articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor

please email Dionne:
[e-mail]

Prof Toft - article just published now saying T3 is likely essential for many

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...