Help with test results

[Janet02]

I had my thyroid removed a year ago and I’ve been taking Levothyroxine ever since. Unfortunately, I don’t seem to be able to get my medication stabilised and I’ve experienced a few unwelcome symptoms such as palpitations and prickly skin. To get a normal Free T3 result my TSH and Free T4 are out of normal range. My dosage has been change a number of times by my GP who has just phoned me again to say she’s concerned about my latest test results. When I saw my consultant last year for a follow up appointment after my operation he said to ignore the TSH and T4 readings and concentrate on the T3. I feel as if I’m getting mixed messages and I can’t help feeling that it can’t be good for your health to ignore abnormal readings. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. My results are as follows:

TSH 0.01 (0.3-4.5)

Free T3 5.6 (3.1-6.8)

Free T4 25.8 (11-22)

[bantam12]

My results are almost identical to yours and I feel fine, my GP is twitchy about TSH and T4 but has agreed to ignore them.

If you are uncomfortable about your results and you feel your symptoms might be related you could try lowering your dose very slightly to see if it helps.

[Clutter]

Janet02,

It would have been helpful if your consultant had advised your GP to concentrate on T3 and not to worry about suppressed TSH or high FT4.

Your results are good. FT3 is in the upper third of range. Having no thyroid means you are dependent on peripheral conversion and have lost the 20-40% of conversion which takes place in the thyroid gland so you will need FT4 high to achieve conversion and that will suppress TSH. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email [e-mail] if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.

I have no thyroid and TSH has been <0.01 since 2012 but I'm not overmedicated because FT3 is within range.

[Janet02 in reply to Clutter]

Thank you for your response, I feel so relieved to know that my results are actually good and your explanation makes a lots of sense. I will certainly show the Pulse article to my GP, hopefully it will help other patients as well as myself.