Test results

[Aretak]

Hi everyone,

A newbie here. Got diagnosed with hypo a year ago, however I noticed the symptoms long ago back in 2014. Felt tired most of the time and gained weight.

In 2015 I had chronic tonsillitis (antibiotic courses 3 times!☹️) They checked my vitamin levels and that was when they noticed my thyroid hormone levels wasn't right. They put me on Levo 50mcg. I just wonder why don't they take it more seriously. I thought, OK got the tablets I should be fine from now. But no, I still feel tired, still haven't lost weight and feel like a blob! I do resistance band exercise hoping to gain some muscle. How funny, in 2016 I did cardio 3-4 times/week and did not loose 1 kg. No one told me: Hey, you got hypo, you have to change your diet as well! No more broccoli, brussel sprouts, gluten etc. A couple of months ago I started to have gut problems, it's been two weeks I cut out gluten. Feeling a bit better but still not right.

My latest test results are from February: TSH level 4.16 0.3-3.94 "Abnormal"????? FT4 13.7 12.3-20.2

They said to go back for another test in 6 months. I'm going to see my gp on Monday because of my gut needs to be checked, but also I will ask her about my thyroid+ my vitamin levels needs to be checked.

Does anyone know what is the optimum level for thyroid?

[greygoose]

You are under-medicated. Once you are on thyroid hormone replacement, your TSH should come down to one or under.

There is no reason to give up broccoli or Brussels sprouts unless they disagree with you.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You are under medicated. 50mcg is only a starter dose. Bloods should be retested about 6-8 weeks after each dose change. Dose increased in 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range.

See GP and ask for dose increase

You also need to know if you have high thyroid antibodies, this is Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease.

Low vitamin levels are especially common if under medicated and/or have Hashimoto's

Ask GP to test Vitamin d, folate, ferritin and B12. These need to be optimal , not just somewhere in range

Always get actual results and ranges printed out. You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results. After May 25th they MUST be provided free of charge, if you request them

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 at

[e-mail]

Official NHS guidelines saying TSH should be between 0.2 and 2.0 when on Levothyroxine

(Many of us need TSH nearer 0.2 than 2.0 to feel well)

See box

Thyroxine replacement in primary hypothyroidism

pathology.leedsth.nhs.uk/pa...

[Aretak]

Thank you so much for the answers. I did have a feeling that I need dose increase. I just really hope that I don't have Hashimotos. I will post the results. Thanks again!