Hello there, I wonder if anyone can help me fathom the numbers my thyroid consultant wrote down during my last visit please? I asked for more detailed figures and he said there was no need because all my levels are completely normal... But I couldn't feel less normal. In fact I feel positively bonkers and even he was astonished by my weight gain.
I am dragging myself around on 175g of Levothyroxine and the last time I went he said there was literally nothing he could do for me and that he had no recommendations. I'm so very tired, anxious, and fatter by the day though my diet is good and my gluten intake is extremely low.
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To interpret your FT4 and FT3 results we need the reference ranges (assuming they are FT4 and FT3 - Free T4 and Free T3 - and not Total T4 and Total T3). As ranges vary from lab to lab we need the ranges from your lab to interpret your test results. I would ring up the Endo's secretary and ask for the ranges, preferably in written form so there are no mistakes. If they are the Free Ts they could possibly be low in range.
Your TSH is actually obviously far too high and shows that you are undermedicated. The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it needs to be for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective reference ranges when on Levo if that is where you feel well.
I would guess that your Endo is a diabetes specialist (most of them are) who knows little to nothing about treating hypothyroidism. If so you will be better off without him.
What is the comment at the bottom "Westhroid ???"
Have you had thyroid antibodies tested - also Vit D, B12, Folate, Ferritin? If so please post results with reference ranges for comment.
Hi, I would contact their secretary and ask for a proper printout of your levels together with the reference ranges. If your tsh is 6.81 while on 175mcg of levo it is far too high, most people feel best on a tsh below 1.0 and your ft3 if that is what that scrawl is ment to indicate looks to be low in range, most people feel best when theres is in the upper third of the range.
Oh, I think he's fobbing you off! A TSH of 6.8 has got to be over-range, whereas on 175 mcg levo, it should be down to at least 3, I would have thought. He's obviously got something to hide - probably his ignorance! - or he would just have given you the numbers without arguing. Your FT4 is probably under-range - if the range is anything like the ranges we normally see - and he doesn't want you to know.
But, how do you take your levo? Do you take it on an empty stomach, at least one hour before eating or drinking? Do you take any other supplements or medication at the same time?
He has no recommendations? I'm sure you will get a few here. You must have some resistance going on and not everyone does well on levothyroxine. Is there any chance of adding T3 to your levo or possibly getting a natural thyroid hormone?
Can you decipher the numbers he wrote? What is the Westhroid? Would that be the natural hormone he could prescribe?
Are the numbers actually yours or the ranges for each? Is your TSH 6.81? Terrible.
To break insulin resistance you have to lower your carbs and raise your fats. There is a movie on Netflix called The Magic Pill which would help you understand. I've suggested taking unfiltered apple cider vinegar with meals for a while to assist. The fats have to be good ones while avoiding transfats and vegetable oils. If you examine your diet you may find you are getting lots of bad fats which are inflammatory.
You may also need to support your adrenals which may purposely be slowing down your thyroid gland. Doctors SHOULD have recommendations for you if they understood this condition. Obviously they don't. This one does and has many videos on you tube.
We really need the reference intervals but at a first look these numbers are very abnormal. What type of 'thyroid consultant' is he? Is he a qualified doctor, an endocrinologist? I'd check out his credentials. If he is at a hospital perhaps you could ask for a second opinion.
We don't want our blood test results to be 'normal' particularly if we have clinical symptoms and /or are already diagnosed with hypo. It is a pity so few doctors are trained properly and have knowledge of how to improve patient's health and thousands of people go undiagnosed or underdosed on levothyroxine.
How long have you been diagnosed, how long on 175mcg dose. Is it always same brand of Levothyroxine
Most importantly do you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies? Ever had TPO and TG antibodies tested?
If either or both of these are high then you have Hashimoto's. If so are you on strictly gluten free diet?
Low vitamins are extremely common. Have you got recent test results and ranges for vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
So 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
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, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get antibodies tested.
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