Thanks for your reply . Yes I am on 75mcg. I take 1000ug b12 / methylcobalamin sublingual with a vit c and 25ug vit d . Early evening I take 150mg magnesium and the levothyroxine anytime between 11 pm and 2am .
Comparing your list of blood test requirements to my results I don't think I have had enough tested although she said she was testing everything.
The 2 that I have been tested for on your list are
Red Blood Cell Folate 5.6ug (range greater than 4)
Serum TSH 1.7 (0.35 -5.5)
I was under the impression that it was a new GP ( I don't go very often I have lost faith ) . It's a Healthcare Professional needless to say I am even more disillusioned .
I've just been reading up on my Red Blood Cell distribution which is above range and I could possibly be anaemia.
The rest of the things on your list have not been tested . It looks like I will have to ask for these things to be tested which I will do when I go back to see her as requested by letter concerning my blood results
Thank you so much I am tired of battling on alone .
Julesd As I understand it, a health care professional is the umbrella term for someone who provides preventive, curative, or rehabilitative health care services; so includes Drs, Consultants, Dentists, Nurses etc etc. rather than being a specific job title.
You need FT4 and FT3 tested. NHS rarely agrees to test FT3 unless TSH is out of range
TSH is nearly at 2 which is very likely too high when on Levothyroxine
Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,
"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.
In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.
Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.
This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."
You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor please email Dionne at
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
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)
Is this how you did the test?
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
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.
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 .
Other medication at least 2 hours away, some like HRT, iron, calcium, vitamin D or magnesium at least four hours away from Levothyroxine
Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.
Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.
Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients
Blood test must only be done 6-8 weeks after being in constant unchanging dose. Including if you change time of dose
Thank you for the information . I followed the guidelines exactly as advised on here for blood draw . I will email Dionne for the info to show GP and also read the other links .
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