Hi I posted here recently as newly diagnosed. I started 50 mg Levothyroxine on the 15th March after TPO antibody result indicated autoimmune thyroid disease results were 801iu range (0.00-75.00).
I was then retested 2 months after starting thyroxine and results were
TSH 2.71 range 0.10-5.00 T4 14 range 8.00-19.00
Vit D 61.7 range 50-150
Dr said this was all fine and didn’t need to see me again and just carry on with the 50mg daily.
Last month I was advised by some fellow members to get bloods rechecked here are the results any advise would be great thanks x
THS 6.11 range (0.1-5.0)
T4 11 new range as of September changed to (12-23)
Vit D 23.8 range (50-150)
Ferritin 16 range (10-120)
Written by
Ziggy12
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Change your doctor as he doesn't know very much at all about treating a patient who is hypothyroid.
The aim of taking thyroid hormone replacements (levothyroxine) is to get your TSH to 1 or lower and Free T4 and Free T3 in the upper part of the ranges.
You need an increase as TSH should be 1 or lower. Free T4 and Free T3 should be in the upper part of the ranges but these two are rarely tested. You should get a private test if GP wont do all of them through one of the recommended labs which will do all of the ones you require. All tests have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and if you were taking thyroid hormones you'd allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take afterwards. Most taking their thyroid hormones when they get up with one full glass of water and wait an hour before eating as food interferes with the uptake of the hormones.
The aim is a TSH of 1 or lower with Free T4 and Free T3 in the upper part of the ranges but the latter two are rarely tested by doctors.
Going gluten-free can help reduce the antibodies that attack the thyroid gland until you're hypothyroid but treatment is the same.
Both Vit D and ferritin are too low and others will respond on how to increase them.
I would ask GP to refer you to an Endocrinologist.
Have you had an Ultrasound scan of your Thyroid yet?
After the retest - result TSH 2.71 - you should have been given an increase in Levothyroxine dose usually by 25mcg to 75mcg.
The target therapeutic maximum TSH level in a Hypothyroid patient is much lower than the 'normal' range maximum. My Endocrinologist said my max is 2. However since I joined this forum I've learned that max of one is desirable.
Why has your Vitamin D level dropped so much ? This latest test shows deficiency which requires prescribed Loading dose of supplements (300,000 IU colecalciferol [D3] or 280,000) taken over 4 to 10 weeks depending upon which treatment regime is decided upon. Then you would stay on a daily maintenance dose and should be monitored with follow-up blood test.
Look up 'NICE guidlines for treatment of Vitamin deficiency '.
your post doesn't seem to mention how you are feeling and what symptom's you are suffering? It is a good thing to know your test results, especially the free T3 but your Doctor should be concentrating on how you are feeling and not the computer screen in front of him/her.
I used to think that it was a Doctors job to try and make you feel better but I'm not so sure anymore. My GP just want's me to reduce my Levothyroxine but that just makes me feel Ill again?
The one thing (or maybe two) that has made me feel much better is, Selenium and Magnesium tablets. I no longer feel bloated after meals all the time and it has certainly helped with the dreaded depression. These two tablets have improved my body and my mind, without the help of my GP or Endocrinologist.
Thanks for the advice. I feel terrible, gained over four stone in weight in a year, have lost all my hair, i’m now completely bald, eyelashes eyebrows gone, on anti depressants, suffer terrible feet, back and hip pain, tired all the time, the list is endless xx
If you have lost that much weight and hair, surely your GP must recognise those symptoms as an underactive Thyroid and increase your dose of Levothyroxine?
The high TSH reading means the Pituitary gland is telling the Thyroid to work harder and make more T4 and T3. It doesn't look as though your Doctor has tested for free T3, which is the hormone that really does all the hard work raising the metabolic rate and helping weight loss and energy use.
Selenium helps with the conversion of T4 to T3 but your readings are saying you have very little T4 to convert into T3!
Magnesium deficiency can cause constipation, headaches, brain fog, insomnia, fatigue and chronic pain!
You definitely need your GP to increase the dose of Thyroxine and bring you back to health but it could still take a while for any changes to happen, sorry.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.