Thyroid results

[Skinnyneck]

I had a total thyroidectomy 3 months ago. It’s was benign.

Initially I was put on 125 levothyroxine.

My results showed I was over. T4 28.

So they reduced me 6 weeks ago to 100 levothyroxine.

My blood results are now:

T4 19.5

THS 0.28

The doc wants to call me back to discuss. Is the THS too low??

I felt soooo much better on 125. Since the reduction I’ve felt sooo exhausted and “flat”

[greygoose]

I expect you're not converting very well, and needed the higher dose to get enough T3. You're going to have to convince your doctor that you need it like that - unless he wants to prescribe T3 for you! It is not an issue that the TSH is low if you feel well.

[Skinnyneck in reply to greygoose]

Thank you. I feel awful to be honest. I’m 34. A mom of 3. My youngest being 1. Which people keep telling me that’s why I feel so tired. But this is different. I feel awful. When I was on 125 I felt great!!! Really good healthy loads of energy. Sleeping well etc. I’m now the opposite. Dry skin. Exhausted. Sleep problems. Headaches. Bad skin etc. Plus putting weight back on.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Skinnyneck]

Ask for vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 to be tested

These are often too low

You need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested together

NHS often refuses

Blood tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don’t take any Levo in 24 hours prior to test (delay and take straight after)

There is an over reliance on TSH over symptoms

If GP wants to reduce dose - perhaps say you were taking high dose biotin supplements and only just read it affects test results

Ask to Redo blood test

Or test privately

[Skinnyneck in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. This is very informative. I’ll speak to the gp Tuesday and ask for all of this. Many thanks.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Skinnyneck]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common

All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

Biotin

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

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

[Skinnyneck in reply to SlowDragon]

This is great. Thank you!!

[Skinnyneck]

Sorry can I just ask, do you think gp will want to reduce dosage again due to THS levels being low??

I’m sorry I’m just so new to all this.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Skinnyneck]

They might....

So the biotin is good excuse to run retest ....making sure to do testing as early as possible in morning and fasting

And/Or push for vitamin and thyroid retesting

You will be very unlikely to get FT3 tested by NHS, but would suspect it will be low