I'm new here and wrote on tusday about my confusion with my bloods just so you have a better idea of what I was talking about I got these results yesterday. She did say I've always been hypo and because I've never had any symptoms up till now is why they have to bring them down to 175mg .
I look at this test and still know very little about my condition I appreciate your comments .
Which is your most recent result? FT4 22.8 or 17.9?
T4 *0.03 *22.8
That's what she showed me and tried to explainthe rest but i can't take it in .I feel like my memory is so foggy .Thank you for your reply .
So your TSH is 0.03 and FT4 is 22.8 (range 9.0-21.0)
Your TSH is below range, which always makes doctors jittery, they are told we will get heart problems and osteoporosis if it's suppressed.
Your FT4 is slightly over range which can mean that you are overmedicated BUT you can only know if you are overmedicated if FT3 is tested and that would need to be over range.
So your GP has reduced you dose due to low TSH and high FT4. If that was me I would be saying that I would not reduce my dose unless FT3 is tested and found to be over range. To back this up I would use the following information thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the... > Treatment Options
" 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 Dionne at tukadmin@thyroiduk.org then print it and highlight question 6.
Dr Toft is past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist. You can tell your GP that you have obtained your information from NHS Choices recommended source of information about Thyroid disorders which is ThyroidUK (do not mention the internet or forums).
I don't understand what she means by
"....... because I've never had any symptoms up till now is why they have to bring them down to 175mg ."
Thank you so much this is helping a lot thank you i feel i can't take it all in like its new news to me .I feel the doctors don't want to give me proper information I don't understand why she said that to she did say your still well, we'll balance it out and take my bloods again in 8 weeks instead of 12 weeks .
They have no idea how to correctly treat thyroid patients
Just looking at TSH shows almost nothing once we are on replacement thyroid hormones.
You can ask GP to test TSH, FT4 AND FT3, but the lab often refuses to test FT3
You also need vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested
Strongly suggest you get private testing done
See this post that illustrates falling FT3 with apparently "good" FT4
Another thyroidectomy patient being under treated
At the top of my letter it has current bloods from the 09.01.18 they results show B,18.0513013.D that's the t4 *0.03 *22.8
On the 24.05.17 test showed t4 *0.04 17.9
And on the 17.03.16 they showed t4 *0.05 17.9
Does that make more sence .sorry I'm just righting it as it looks the dates are above. Thanks .
You need full testing including FT3
Unfortunately you will find NHS reluctant to test FT3
Your TSH is low, which your GP doesn't like and she lowered your dose
But the most important ones to measure are FT4 and FT3
FT4 was fine on 200mcg And is now probably on low side
FT3 has never been tested
Ask GP to test FT3, also vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 too
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
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: tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
Prof Toft - article just published now saying T3 is likely essential for many. Note especially that he says Thyroidectomy patients are currently not adequately treated
rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...
Thank you so much for that information .i asked her why I never get my T3 done she looked at me like I was silly for even asking .she said wee don't need to Lisa because if your T4 isn't right neither will your t3 she then said don't you trust me when I asked for this print .I said yes I'm just concerned because I've took my condition for granted and just got on with it .if it wasn't for these sudden changes I probably would never have questioned it and still got on with it . Thank you so much .
Well, that just goes to show you would be right not to trust her! Because the fact that your FT4 is good doesn't automatically mean that your FT3 is good. You could have a conversion problem, in which case your FT3 will be too low. But, you won't know unless you test it! Silly woman!
That's interesting thank you for that . My stress levels have been so high past few months .low mood ext .Thank you so much i feel i should make another appointment to talk about that just when i comes to my thyroid I feel like I don't know what I'm talking about and doctors are quick to leave what they say at that .
Well, they don't know enough about it to go into too much detail. And, unfortunately, instead of saying they don't know, they tend to invent! So, you really can't just trust anything they say without double checking.
Hi again Lisa.
There are only two test results on there is that right? TSH and T4 all the others are blank with just ranges, so not tested?
It's interesting that the lab comment reads " Indicates adequate rreplacement with Thyroxine assuming treatment is for Primary Hypothyroidism "
Adequate - not too much.
It's good she's brought the retest date forward to 8 weeks time instead of a few months. How do you feel about it now? Are you having any symptoms?
Normally FreeT3 needs to be tested (but I think they only test now if ordered by a Consultant ).
However - I'm not sure what the situation is when you"ve had your Thyroid removed 10 years ago.
I still have mine. I have Hashimoto's and Hypothyroidism.
Yeah i think that's right .the only symptoms are sweats shortness of breath and just now and again racing heart .was on 2008 i had my twins. during my pregnancy i had a sore throat but the hoarseness wouldn't pass i went to docs and they said plenty of water and rest .I'd buy my own over the counter tho . One month on into my twins been born I eventually got sent for tests the first being an ultra sound .(goitier) if that's how you spell it they said and was shaped like a cauliflower they then took a biopsy .I waited for results wich felt like forever they'd tested my thyroid it was working just fine nothing wrong with it at all .I can't remember dates but i got sent to a surgeon I'll never forget that day I went .I was alone with my twins not knowing what was going on .she said to sit up on this chair and rest my head back .I had no idea she was about to put a camera up my nose .ohh that hurt 🙈.she took it out and decide she wanted to take blood from my lump hoping for just clear liquid was nothing but blood .I saw the look on her face she her self looked confused. she done the test again .after the 3rd time she gave up .I was to go home and not to worry .I asked tho is it cancer she didn't answer .don't ask why I even asked .I don't know .I just felt something bad in my gut .Don't worry she said so took my twins and went home .everything felt like a waiting game .the doctor would want to take urine which I did .my twins where now around 2 and half months old .days past doc wanted to see me .said I was expecting .What !! I've been safe are you sure .? With everything going on all i could think of was my twins I felt strong ! test showed nothing wrong with my thyroid it'll be fine .I couldn't terminate for nothing and wouldn't. I carried on till I see the surgeon again . was when she said wee need to operate and gave me pro's and con's. But I was pregnant. She asked if i would think about termantion to continue op . NO I said .I couldn't she gave me risks .but something told me I'd be fine so carried on with my pregnancy. Now and again i would worry if i was doing right thing .what if I'm not alright? it tormented me through out what should have been happy times .my twins were thriving, bump was growing and January 30th 2009 she was born she was 2 months old when I was called in for the op. Terrified was an understatement! I gave my kids a kiss before I left for hospital crying thinking what if i don't wake up .ridiculous ino. The op went fine. 6 hours it took .so I've no idea what was going on when I should have only been down for 2 hours .I was just glad to have woke up .. the next day was when the surgeon told me I had a by 9 tumour it won't spread now it's out . I was just glad it was over and only now after all those years I'm now experiencing changes . Sorry for the long storey but I'm glad to have shared it with yous 😊
You've had it rough.
Why don't you see if your symptoms improve on the slightly lower dose?
Have a lovely evening.
Will message again soon.
X🐥
She's more likely under medicated with falling FT3.
Private testing is best option
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.
What do you think of these results? 
Private Blood Test Results - What do You Think?
What do you think?
Hi, what do you think of these results?
Blood results, endo has no more suggestions, what do you think?
