Test results: I have been taking thyroxine 50mcg... - Thyroid UK

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Edison13 profile image
8 Replies

I have been taking thyroxine 50mcg since 1st October and have bloods done on Wednesday. GPS only took TSH and cholesterol

TSH 2.1

Cholesterol 7.2

No action.

I think I would prefer TSH to be lower to try and bring cholesterol down (h/o strokes in the family)

Advice gratefully received

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Edison13 profile image
Edison13
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8 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

See GP and request 25mcg dose increase in Levothyroxine and also request vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 are tested

Do you know if you have autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies? If not had TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested ask that these are tested too

Autoimmune thyroid disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. 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 .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

NICE guidelines saying how to initiate and increase. Note that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...

New NHS England Liothyronine guidelines November 2018 clearly state on pages 8 & 12 that TSH should be under 1.5 when on just Levothyroxine

sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploa...

Cholesterol should lower once you are on higher dose

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

Edison13 profile image
Edison13 in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you.

I had tests done in October. (In three goes + also privately)

Fortunately not hashimotos, Vit D and B 12 low so I am supplementing.

I’ll contact drs 😊

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase

My last cholesterol test was similar to yours and my Blue Horizons TSH was 3.21.

When my Graves was first diagnosed my cholesterol was low for me 4.2. Once my Graves was treated and my TSH started to rise my cholesterol rose too.

I pointed out the link to my GP and said it looked as if when my TSH rose my cholesterol did too. She agreed that was the case but my TSH is ‘within the range’ so no treatment to bring it down and my cholesterol remains high.

Ideally I would like my TSH to be closer to 1 or even slightly lower. I know I would feel well and my cholesterol would come down but hey, ho I’m ‘within the range’. Alas, there’s no such thing as fine tuning in the NHS.

MissGrace profile image
MissGrace in reply toFruitandnutcase

It is upsetting isn’t it? Your doctor is happy for you to be ill. It’s criminal. Are you Hashimoto’s Fruitandnutcase? Love the name by the way! Reminds me of this from when I was younger.

youtu.be/PJMAVfkI0io

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase in reply toMissGrace

No I had Graves but I do sometimes wonder if it was Hashi’s and my thyroid is burning itself out. My TSH has gradually crept up over the years since my block and replace stopped.

Many years ago when I thought I might be hypo my then doctor checked my thyroid and said she was very surprised as the results showed I was borderline hyper. If only I’d known then what I know now I’d have asked for ranges, ferritin, folates, B12 and vitamin D etc to be checked.

It’s odd though because I always felt as if I had some sort of autoimmune condition - Graves was probably the only one I think I never considered because I always felt that I was under active.

Ah, FruitandNut. I don’t think I’ve had any for years, not since I accidentally developed T2 diabetes when I was given steroids for arthritis. My Cadbury’s fruit and nut addiction sadly came to an end 😢

MissGrace profile image
MissGrace in reply toFruitandnutcase

Life’s just not fair sometimes. 🙁

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toFruitandnutcase

Suggest you give GP copy of New NHS England Liothyronine guidelines November 2018. It clearly states on pages 8 & 12 that TSH should be under 1.5 to be adequately treated with just Levothyroxine

sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploa...

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase in reply toSlowDragon

Hi, I’m not taking any thyoid meds at all now - all that stopped when the block and replace stopped five years ago.

I don’t feel particularly ill but I feel as if I’m putting on weight regardless of how much I eat or exercise and I know I felt perkier when my tsh was low and I know my cholesterol was much lower when I was hyper which made me think there was a connection.

My most recent cholesterol test was done as the final part of a pre diabetes study and I was sent a copy of the report that went to my doctor.

Pretty sure the receptionist would just scan it onto my case notes, stuff the letter into a file and the doctor would never see it.

If and when my cholesterol is mentioned I think I’ll push for some levo and see if that helps lower my cholesterol slightly although I’m not sure I’d get anywhere.

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