High TSH

[Pops777]

Hi. Just been told my TSH has gone to 40 ! .....need to get back down to 4.

Any dietary/ supplement advice - obviously I am taking thyroxine. Thinking of going back on Black seed as it proved effective last time.

Thanks

[Aurealis]

I hope you’re increasing the thyroxine...

[Pops777]

Hi - yes gone up by 25mg at moment. Just don't know what's suddenly happened.

I am taking supplements ....just wondering if some aren't right to take.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Pops777

You could fill us in on some background then perhaps members can comment and help.

When were you diagnosed?

What thyroid meds are you taking?

Have you had thyroid antibodies tested - do you have autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashi's?

Have you had vitamins and minerals tested?

What supplements are you taking?

[Pops777 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi. Right here goes. Previously hyperthyroid with graves. Had Radioiodine 2 years ago. Never really felt Thyroxine dose was quite right. Saw functional med. dr in April - said I would benefit from T 3 - but put me on course of supplements to support optimal thyroid function.

Multivitamin

Fish oil

Magnesium

Probiotic

Vit. D

Omega 7

Black seeds

Selinium

Turmeric

Vit C

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Pops777]

Pops

What were your vitamin and mineral levels before starting supplements?

What doses of supplements are you taking?

Are you taking Vit D's important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7?

Does your multivitamin contain iron or iodine or calcium?

Have you had thyroid antibodies tested - that will tell you if you have autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's.

What thyroid medication are you taking and the dose?

What are the results of your latest thyroid panel including the reference ranges:

TSH

FT4

FT3

[Pops777 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I had private test 11/4.

TSH was 1.11

FT4 20.3

FT3 3.25

I didn't start supplements till after test was done

Was tested on NHS with suspected Vit B12 deficiency & test for thyroid said TSH now 40 !!

Slightly worried now.

Was on 50 mg now been on 75 mg for 5 days.

Haven't slept for 5 nights ...going slightly crazy

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Pops777]

Pops

Unfortunately, without the reference ranges we can't properly interpret your thyroid test results other than TSH was in a good place with the results quoted. But now you say your TSH is 40 so presumably you've been tested more recently.

As asked for, we need to know what your levels (with reference ranges) were for your vitamins and minerals before you started supplementing, and we need to know what dose of supplements you are taking.

If you don't give us full information, we have nothing to base our answers on and we can't help you. So we need to know results, with reference ranges, for

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid antibodies

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

Also we need to know what doses you are supplementing with for the vitamins and minerals you listed.

If you answer the questions we can probably help.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Pops777]

Does the multivitamin contain biotin? If so, the test will be invalid unless you stopped taking it a week before the test. You weren't converting before so needed t3. If you aren't a vegan make sure fish oil doesn't contain vit A (most brands do) as low level vit A toxicity is very common. Multi vitamins often contain iron which means you can't absorb any of the rest of the ingredients (and they are usually poor quality ) usually better to supplement what you actually need with good, "professional quality" brands

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Pops777]

Did you stop supplementing before retesting?

You need vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested, plus thyroid antibodies

Presumably you had Graves' disease before RAI

You will need to retest after 6-8 weeks on new increased dose

How much do you now take?

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies.

Plus very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

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 ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting.

If on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, (and if on T3 don't take in 12 hours prior to test), delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

[Pops777 in reply to SlowDragon]

I was supplementing at time of second test. Vit D is good

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Pops777]

Multivitamins are not usually recommended on here. Too little of what we do need and stuff we don't need

Generally recommended to stop any iron supplements a week before, any B vitamins a week before, especially any biotin supplements

Biotin can falsely skew results

What are B12, folate and ferritin results and ranges

Thyroid antibodies test results important too. Both TPO and TG antibodies

[Pops777 in reply to SlowDragon]

..Feeling very confused now. Sleep deprivation is huge ...honestly feel crazy.

Need to sign off

Thanks for help

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Pops777]

Good vit D is between 95 and 150.

[Angel_of_the_North]

You need to get to a level where your free t4 and free T3 are in the top quarters of their ranges and TSH is wherever it needs to be to allow that - usually under 1. You are very undermedicatd and need a increase in levo - no supplement can replace hormones. However, in order to use levo effectively you need optimum levels of B12, folate, ferritin and D3 so you need to get those tested. Taking methyl folate and methyl cobalamin is unlikely to be dangerous if you don't nee dthna but taking D or iron is. So you musrt get tests done.

You need to post your free T4 and fre T3 levels as, although it sounds as though you are overmedicated, you could have a TSH-producing tumour.