Could you check results please : I’ve lost my... - Thyroid UK

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Could you check results please

lumpymum profile image
11 Replies

I’ve lost my actual readings but tsh was less that 0.5, t4 was 20ish (9-21) and free t3 was around 4ish (range 2.6-6.2).

I was asked to reduce thyroxine by 25 at this point. I was feeling a little fatigued after exercise but was managing, and dieting was working with steady loss of 1lb a week.

I’m of the view I was probably ok at that but couldn’t find anything to argue with that and so we reduced medication and reviewed b12, folate, etc. I’m seeing gp on Monday so any ideas welcome.

my Diet is unchanged but weight is now sticking and starting to increase. I’m emotional& tired too. B12 folate seem to be low quartile but normal.b12 tablets seemed to do the trick before but almost feel ineffective now b12 500+ so ok

I supplement with high dose b12, magnesium selenium and zinc.

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11 Replies
Wildbird profile image
Wildbird

Your thyroid hormones were within range, so maybe you needed the low tsh in order to convert enough t3. 25mcg reduction may have lowered your t3 and t4 even if your tsh now comes into range. How you feel should be factored into your treatment. It does not sound as if you needed your dosage reducing.

lumpymum profile image
lumpymum in reply to Wildbird

No, I was fatigued already. Now my weight loss has stopped too. Appt Monday will ask if we can go up as t3 is fine. They are all good at spouting bones and heart to scare me but being overweight and exhausted is more scary at the moment as I’m not living properly anyway.

"t4 was 20ish (9-21) and free t3 was around 4ish (range 2.6-6.2)"

T3 isn't very high, even though T4 quite high, but both are in range. I don't understand why your dose has been reduced! They need to be top of range or possibly a bit over apparently.

TSH levels change a lot throughout the day and <5 doesn't sound that low, not enough to reduce the Levo. Were your bloods taken early and fasting?

Now if T3 and 4 were both well above range and TSH very much below, then a reduction would make sense. And of course if you started to get hyper symptoms. But that isn't the case is it

lumpymum profile image
lumpymum in reply to

I called and got my actuals:

TSH 0.01 (0.2-4.5)

T4 21 (9-21)

Free T3 4 (2.6-6.2)

total T3 1.3 (0.9-2.4)

the bloods were taken in the morning but I had eaten a little beforehand

someone mentioned print outs from thyroid UK I will take that along, and cite the weight gain as a reason to put back up I think. but before they were reduced I was fatigued and the weight loss was slowing up, I am post menopause (10 years+) so I don't think its that and is why we looked at b12, folate, etc - which are in the bottom 25% but in range. comments on here suggest thats nothing to worry about either.

in reply to lumpymum

I read recently that (at least for older people (like me) it is best if B12 levels are 1,000 or more. Everything needs to be optimal

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Your FT3 was already too low

Retesting after 6-8 weeks essential

Do you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies?

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also 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 or vitamins

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. When on Levothyroxine, take last dose 24 hours prior to test, and take next dose straight after test. 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 are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

lumpymum profile image
lumpymum in reply to SlowDragon

Thanks, no never had antibodies to my knowledge but feel better prepared for GP on Monday and think I know what I want from it. Increase thyroid med for a start. Maybe b12 injections. Will see what they say.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to lumpymum

Can you add actual results and ranges for vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

These all need to be optimal

Did you mean antibodies test were always negative or never been tested ?

lumpymum profile image
lumpymum in reply to SlowDragon

Antibodies never been tested.

Folate 5.4 (2.8-20)

Ferritin 121 (15-?20 not sure of range thought he said 20!)

B12 570 (180-2000)

Vit d tested last year not sure as they don’t check it more than annually. None of these are top of the range so I’m hoping to suggest we try to achieve that.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to lumpymum

Then you need to get antibodies and vitamin D tested privately

Vitamin B12 and folate are low. You may benefit from supplementing a daily good quality vitamin B complex , one with folate in not folic acid

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Get the ferritin range by asking for printed copies of your recent blood test

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. When on Levothyroxine, take last dose 24 hours prior to test, and take next dose straight after test. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

Just vitamin D £29 NHS postal kit

vitamindtest.org.uk

lumpymum profile image
lumpymum in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you again. Am already taking a high dise b12 which makes me think something is up, to be this low in the range. Will see what gp will do and ask about other tests before paying.

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