Hashimotos and increase in Levothyroxine help please

[goofball]

Hello,

I am on 50mg of Levothyroxine and have had a years worth of high TSH and T4 levels, similar to the one that I have just had.

I am re- posting my results and hope that you can give me some advice.

I hope they make sense, here they are with the reference levels.

Serum TSH level 6.5mu/L (0.27-4.2)

Serum Free T4 level 21.2pmol/L (12.0-22.0)

Serum free triiodothyronine level 3.3pmol/L (3.1-6.8)

Thyroid peroxidase ab's 107ku/L (<60)

Serum vitamin B12 level 335ug/L (180.0-914.0)

Serum folate level 4.7ug/L (3.0-20)

Serumtotal 25 hydroxy vitamin D level 33.9nmol/L

<30-50nmol/L Vitamin D insufficiency, consider replacement

Am guessing my antibodies are outside the range and are positive and I have a lowish amount of Vitamin D, and the T3 is just within range.

So I have been prescribed more Levothyroxine 75mg from the 50 mg and some Vitamin D tablets.

I was worried about my T3 being very low 3.3 (3.1-6.8) along with my high Thyroid antibodies. She wasn't that concerned as my T3 is just in range.

She give me a choice of being referred to an Endocrinologist, which I took her up on, but obviously this wont be for another couple of months.

Any opinions, advice please would be more than welcome.

Thank you in advance

[shaws Administrator]

Oh Dear! 50mcg of levothyroxine for one year!

The aim is 50mcg starting dose and every six weeks a blood test with increases of 25mcg each time until TSH is 1 or lower. The aim is a Free T4 and Free T3 should be in the upper part of the ranges - both are rarely tested.

Change your doctor or become your own.

The reason - she is treating a blood test not the patient. She has prolonged your ill-health.

"Serum TSH level 6.5mu/L (0.27-4.2)" - far too high."

Serum Free T4 level 21.2pmol/L (12.0-22.0)-looks as if you're not converting.

"Serum free triiodothyronine level 3.3pmol/L (3.1-6.8) - too low - should be nearer 6".

"Serum vitamin B12 level 335ug/L (180.0-914.0)" - too low should be nearer 900.

I shall add in SeasideSusie who will advise about raising your vitamins/minerals.

You have hashimoto's an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease due to having raised antibodies. It is these that attack the thyroid gland and wax and wane until you're hypothyroid but treatment is the same. Going gluten-free can help reduce the antibodies.

Do you always have your blood tests at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of levo and test and take afterwards. This method keeps the TSH at its highest as it drops throughout the day.

[goofball in reply to shaws]

Thank you.

So I am guessing take the 75mcg of Levothryoxine and vitamin D tablets.

Hope that the Endo will put me on T3, would they do this with the result of one blood test?

Especially if I have to wait a couple of months, and have been told to have another blood test in 6 weeks to see how the 75mcg is going.

Waiting for advice for B12, please.

and Iron seems quite low but no mention of any supplements by the doctor for this.

May go gluten free, take it my antibodies will remain high and there is nothing to change that apart from diet.

No, I did not fast or allow the gap of 24 hours that you mention, thanks for this.

[shaws Administrator in reply to goofball]

If you didn't fast etc, your results will be skewed as you've taken a dose before test. I think the majority of people who have hypo are unaware that 'timing' can affect results and maybe to our detriment.