Blood test results

[kelliew29]

Hi there, I have been diagnosed 13 years ago for 10 years my levels were stable but after having a baby two years ago they have been thrown. My docs said my latest results are TSH -0.2 AND T4 27.5 apparently I have to make a non urgent appointment for 3 weeks time but I feel a bit like I want to know what to do to bring the levels back to normal why can't they just tell me. On 125 one day and 150 alternative. Can anyone advise or help please. I don't want to wait 4 weeks to adjust my table's seems rediculous! Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Kellie

If you are feeling symptomatic of over medication then you could lower your dose yourself, say take 125mcg daily rather than alternate with 150. You haven't given the reference ranges but I expect FT4 is over range. You really need FT3 testing as well as the others.

Have you had thyroid antibodies tested?

[kelliew29 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi it was just a regular TFT so not sure I don't understand the results?? should there be another figure

[kelliew29 in reply to kelliew29]

I'll ask if there is a ft3 result. I do worry about stuff so I need to know in my mind if I should reduce slightly just to bring the levels to a more normal result. Thank you for replying

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to kelliew29]

Kellie

Even if FT3 was requested it's the lab who makes the decision whether or not to do it. The lab which does my surgery's tests will do FT3 if TSH is suppressed.

The results come with a reference range, but ranges vary from lab to lab so we need the ranges from the lab that did the tests.

For FT4 my lab's is 7-17, but we see 9-19, 9-22, 12-22, and others. I expect yours is over range but by how far is impossible to say.

But as I say, if you feel symptoms of overmedication then just reduce your dose a bit, you can tell your GP when you see him if you've reduced and why.

[kelliew29]

No ft3 result. They said 0.27-4.2 and 12-22 last result was 1.44 and 18 I don't understand the results tho am I definitely taking too much

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to kelliew29]

Your results with ranges are

TSH: 0.02 (0.27-4.2) - previously 1.44

FT4: 27.5 (12-22) - previously 18

Were you on a lower dose with the previous results?

The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or lower with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their reference ranges, if that is where you feel well.

A low TSH isn't a problem because TSH isn't a thyroid hormone, it's a signal from the pituitary for the thyroid to release hormone if it detects there isn't enough. When TSH is low it means that the pituitary detects there is enough thyroid hormone so it doesn't have to send the signal.

Your FT4 is a fair bit over range.

[kelliew29]

Please advise of symptoms of over medication please

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to kelliew29]

If overmedicated you may feel some hyper-type symptoms and may experience:

Feeling hot or shaky

Heart palpitations

Difficulty falling asleep

Excessive sweating

Also maybe:

Hand tremors

Anxiety

Fast heart rate

It's a simple fix if overmedicated, just lower the dose but no more than 25mcg increments and retest after 6 weeks.

It would help to know if you've had thyroid antibodies tested.

[kelliew29]

Thanks so much for taking time to reply so 125 per day going forward instead of 125 and 150 would be ok in the short term. ? I really appreciate your time

[kelliew29]

I was on 125 a day pervious but they said up it to alternative 150

[greygoose]

I think you might have Hashi's, which has caused your FT4 to rise like that. Do you know if you've had your antibodies tested? If not, ask for them to be tested.

If you do have Hashi's causing the rise in level, it will just go down again by itself. So, you do not want your dose reduced by your doctor, because you will need it again.

Hashi's people often don't have hyper symptoms when they have a flare.

[kelliew29]

Oh I see . I will ask for them to be tested. Thank you for the information I'll look into it I haven't hear of hashis before!