Advice on Bloods/Dosage

[SB75]

Hello can I have some advice please on results whilst I'm waiting for GP to look at them.

My current dosage is 100mcg daily

My last bloods:

Free T4 15.5

TSH 13.93

I am currently breastfeeding my 9 month old. My usual normal daily dosage prior to being pregnant was 125mcg but I have gained weight since then! ;-/

Thank you!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

SB75

You are undermedicated to have a TSH of 13.93

It's not possible to comment on your FT4 result because the reference range is needed. Ranges vary from lab to lab so we need the range from the lab that did your test.

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.

Why was your dose reduced from 125 to 100mcg? What were the test results that prompted this reduction?

Have you had thyroid antibodies tested? Were they raised as that would confirm autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's.

[SB75 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi Susie thank you for your reply. I haven't got my results at hand relating to why my dosage was reduced to 100.

I have the ranges here:

free T4 10.30-24.50

Free T3 3.5-6.5

TSH 0.3-5.5

I have Autoimmune Hypo which was diagnosed about 15 years ago.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to SB75]

SB75

So we have

TSH: 13.93 (0.3-5.5)

free T4: 15.5 (10.30-24.50)

Free T3: (3.5-6.5) - you haven't given a free T3 result

Your FT4 is very low in range, so along with your high TSH you are very undermedicated and need an immediate dose increase of 25mcg followed by a retest 6 weeks later, repeating increasing/retesting until your levels are where they need to be for you to feel well. 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.

I imagine your dose was reduced to your TSH being below range.

The fact that you have Hashi's complicates things because the antibodies fluctuate and cause fluctuations in symptoms and test results.

Are you addressing the Hashi's by being strictly gluten free and supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily to help reduce the antibodies?

Hashi's and gut absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies. If you haven't already had them tested, I would ask for the following to be done:

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

All need to be optimal for thyroid hormone to work properly.

[SB75 in reply to SeasideSusie]

hi Susie thank you for your help and advice. I am on a GF diet and have been for 6 years or so now ( I loose count)

I didn't know Selenium was so important. I'll start on some. I take Vit D regularly and have PA so B12 injections every 12 weeks.

I didn't have Free T3 tested, or at least these were not on the results given to me. My new GP is very inconsistent with testing and I've had to really argue to be tested every 8-12 weeks since my daughter was born.

They wouldn't test for any of the other above although I was complaining about feeling very tired and have had heavy blood loss since my periods returned 3 months ago. I am taking iron not prescription as I wasn't eligble.

My "Haemoglobin estimation" was at the very low end of the race 123 (range is 118-148)