Can’t understand it!

[Foxie1234]

Hi I am very confused re my results taken this morning.....

TSH. 0.39miu/L. (0.3 - 4.2)

FT4. 26pmol/L. (12 - 22)

FT3. 4.2pmol/L. (3.1 - 6.8)

Serum total 25 - Vit D level 74nmol/L Ref range 51-250 adequate.

I have been taking 75 mcg Levo since my doctor reduced them in May as my FT4 was up to 30.

Last results on 5 July were

TSH 0.39

FT4 21.8

FT3 3.8

All ranges same as above.

I had a total thyroidectomy in June 2016, as I experienced a thyroid storm. My levels have been up and down since. My GP is phoning me on Monday to discuss these results and I am very worried she will reduce my Levo to 50mcg, which to me seems very low considering I have no thyroid! I may be wrong and it may be the Vit D results she wants to discuss with me. I am worried as I already have no energy and am very lethargic and a lower dose surely will not help this....

I take my Levo at bedtime, with a full glass of water and follow your instructions for my blood tests...ie earliest test 8.15am, only water to drink and I take my Levo after the test.

Can anyone comment on these results please....

Thank you in advance 😴

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As you have had thyroidectomy after a period of hyperthyroid, TSH is even more unreliable than normal

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after test. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

Is this how you did the test?

Low vitamin levels can badly affect Thyroid hormones

Essential to test vitamin B12, folate and ferritin as well as vitamin D

Vitamin D is slightly low, you may benefit from improving to around 100nmol

[Finola]

Hi foxie

My experience has been that although I have my thyroid my body wasn,t converting t4 to t3 and the t4 built up unused and I became very unwell, with myxadoema, chest pains Hugh weight gain etc. when I switched to using t3 alongside the t4 and then to pure t3 I became much healthier, I now use ndt.

It seems to me that with no thyroid at all you should be getting t3 as well as t4 or even ndt in order to be well. Most gps don’t really seem to understand how the thyroid works, including some endos.

It may be that you have to educate yourself on how best to medicate with no thyroid and take that info into your gp.

When we get a builder in we look for recommendations but with doctors we somehow are lead to believe that they are all properly trained and knowledgeable and often that just isn’t the case.

I wish you well.

Finola

[Skylane2]

I'm not a doctor, just a patient, but it seems to me you may have to decrease your amount of levothyroxine (t4). I can only take the t3 (Cytomel), as I cannot convert the t4 to t3. My test results are much more radical than yours are. Ask you doctor for a new blood test.

[shaws Administrator]

If you've had a total thyroidectomy I do not know why the professionals aren't more sympathetic and prescribe a combination of T4/T3 to those patients who have no thyrod gland.

I have my gland - was really awful on levothyroxine - I felt far worse after being given levothyroxine (my original TSH was 100). I improved when T3 was added to T4 but I feel my best now on T3 only.

NDT - which is natural dessicated thyroid hormones - the very original replacement since 1892 but withdrawn by the Associations through misinformation and it contains all of the hormones a healthy gland would produce i.e. T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin but being made from pigs' thyroid glands seems to be more conducive to the human body and many members source their own.

T3 and NDT used to be prescribed by the NHS but have withdrawn these for no good reason except cost. There is a case before the Lords regarding the withdrawal of T3 to patients without warning and leving them in the lurch.

It is trial and error to reach a dose or make of hormones which enables us to return to good health.