Latest results - part 1

[Milpol]

Morning everyone, I have decided to split my post into 2 parts as I’m very confused by my latest results. First part is re : medication, second part is re : vitamins.

Thank you for any advice.

May 2018 on 75 mcg Levothyroxine only,

TSH 1.59 (0.27-4.20)

FT4 18.9 (12-22)

FT3 4.23 (3.1-6.8)

August 2018 on 75 mcg Levothyroxine PLUS 12.5 mcg T3.

TSH 0.018 ( 0.27-4.20)

FT4 21.30 ( 12-22)

FT3 4.66 ( 3.1-6.8)

TGA <10 (0.0-115.0)

TPAB 9.02 (0.00-34.0)

I got the usual that my TSH was too low and I was at risk of developing osteoporosis, which frightened me!

1. What I need to know is, why did my TSH drop on the same amount of Levothyroxine I was taking in May?

2. My FT4 level has risen since introducing T3.

I thought it drops when T3 is added ?

3. My dose of 12.5 T3 ( added in June) seems to have barely made an impact . Do you think I could take an 12.5 mcg increase ( introduced slowly, of course) ? And if so, how much should I reduce my Levothyroxine by ?

These results have kind of thrown me out as I don’t understand what’s going on. I thought I was getting somewhere ....however, I still don’t feel great, I struggle on.. can’t really remember what ‘ normal ‘ feels like any more, so obviously not on the right dosage as yet.

Very grateful to all who can offer me advice.

Thank you 😘

[shaws Administrator]

Nowadays more notice is taken of the TSH result, which means 'thyroid stimulating hormone' which is from the Pituitary Gland and not the Thyroid Gland. Many doctors think if TSH is very low (which it could be if someone has hyperthyroidism) assume the hypo patient has become hyperthyroid rather than remaining hypo-thyroid. They are so poorly trained and we suffer. They usually reduce the dose of levo to try to fit the 'result into a range' and patients' symptoms return and they feel unwell but doctor wont increase.

The 'old fashioned' way was that the doctors concentrated on relieving clinical symptoms by slowly increasing the dose of NDT and when they were relieved, that was our optimum dose until maybe some symptoms returned then dose was increased. NDT stands for 'natural dessicated thyroid hormones' and is made from pigs' thyroid glands and it is still available although withdrawn in the UK due to False Statements made about by the Associations it despite it being used safely since 1892 so it was called a 'grandfathered' hormone replacement. People then didn't die through hypothyroidism which they did before 1892. There were no blood tests in 1892 but doctors knew all clinical symptoms and that's how we were diagosed/treated up until levothyroxine became the norm along with blood tests- nowadays it is all about the TSH and some people's TSH doesn't rise to 10 (as required in the UK) but other countries prescribe when TSH is around 3+. They are uninterested in relieving disabling symptoms in favour of the TSH.

Doctors and endocrinologists have lost this skill in favour of blood tests and not listening or knowing any symptoms.

[Milpol]

Thank you shaws for your very detailed explanation x

[greygoose]

1) Taking T3 will lower your TSH more than levo. It's quite normal to have a suppressed TSH when taking T3.

2) FT4 usually does drop when taking T4, but people usually reduce their dose of levo when they start T3. In your place, I would have dropped it by 25 mcg when starting 6.25 mcg T3 - that's the usual way to start T3.

3) So, now you're on 75 mcg levo and 12.5 mcg T3... I would increase my T3 by 6.25 and reduce the levo by 25 mcg, now. Then, increase T3 by 6.25 mcg every two weeks. But, don't forget to hold at 25 mcg T3 for six weeks and then get retested.

[Milpol in reply to greygoose]

Greygoose, thank you so much. As always, most grateful for your support xx

[greygoose in reply to Milpol]

You're welcome. Happy to help.