Help please!

[Bloomers4]

Hi

I’ve been on 125mcg for a while now but I’m feeling unwell again. I’ve never asked for my results before as I don’t understand them, this was taken about three weeks ago and I’ve been told to continue as is but have another test in 3 months. Can anyone help interpret them? Many thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Bloomers4

TSH: 0.51 (0.27-4.2)

FT4: 24.7 (12-22)

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.

You have gone over range with your FT4 and what you now need to know is if you are converting T4 into T3 adequately, and the only way to know this is to have FT3 tested at the same time as FT4. If your FT3 is low, conversion is poor. Low FT3 that causes symptoms.

It may not be possible for your GP to get FT3 tested, it's the lab that makes the decision and generally don't test FT3 when TSH is in range.

You can do what hundreds of members do and that is private testing, either by fingerprick or venous blood draw.

If you've never had vitamins and minerals tested, which need to be optimal for thyroid hormone to work properly and good conversion to take place, then you could either ask for those to be done or include them in a private test.

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

If you want to do a private test, these are the ones to look at, both the same test, different companies.

medichecks.com/thyroid-func... (check on Thursday, they have offers on and it may be reduced)

bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/t...

Those tests also include thyroid antibodies which is important if you've not had them done before.

[Bloomers4 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi thank you I’ll have a look at this. Is it worth me asking my GP for the additional tests?? I’ve made an appointment but it’s not for another month. Thanks again

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Bloomers4]

Bloomers

You can ask your GP, he may request it, but at the end of the day it's the lab who makes the decision whether or not the FT3 test is carried out.

Your GP may not even understand about T4:T3 conversion, or even heard of T3. Some are remarkably ignorant about thyroid disease, even endocrinologists!

[Bloomers4 in reply to SeasideSusie]

That’s a bit scary! Thanks again for your help

[silverfox7]

SS spot on. If you had been feel good with those reasons then the advice wou be probably dropping back a little but still to test T3 to be sure. If you don't get your private tests done before your next appointment then tell your doctor should he want to lower your dose that you have been told by someone in the team of the group recommended by NHS Choices (HealthUnlocked run by Thyroid Uk) to get a private test done as these are rarely done on the NHS to check if you have a conversion issue getting enough T3 from the T4 you are taking and until you see what the situation is you are not prepared to lower your T4 until you get your FT3 result as if you are not converting this w0uld lower your T3 even more. Postcyour resultswhen you get them and we can over further advice. Bad conversion is common and it can be helped by making sure vitamins etc are optimal. I reversed mine though it took several months but it may mean you need a little T3 adding if it doesn't.