unusual thyroid result

[lco1]

unusual thyroid result

My latest thyroid result has gone from 0.7 to 37 the doctor sent for me to discuss and after accepting I was complying with the taking of my levothyroxine is obviously puzzled, She has increased my thyroxine from 150 one day and 125 the next to 200 until she hears from the endocrinologist with his views. Does anyone have a suggestion as to why my result would alter so dramatically

[fibrolinda]

First thats too big a dose change... Increases or decreases should be slowly, 25 at a time. Are you taking anything with biotin in? If so did you stop taking it 5 days before blood test?

[lco1 in reply to fibrolinda]

As far as I know not taking anything with biotin in it. I will look up biotin and check.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

As fibrolinda has mentioned, do you take Biotin or a B Complex supplement that contains Biotin (B7). If you didn't leave it off for a few days before your test it could have skewed the result.

The other possibility is that you have autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where antibodies are present and they attack the thyroid. The antibodies fluctuate, and with Hashi's test results (and symptoms) can fluctuate too.

It would be a good idea to test not just TSH but FT4, FT3, TPO antibodies and Tg antibodies as well.

I absolutely agree that the dose increase is too much, it should only be 25mcg then retest after 6 weeks, add another 25mcg then if necessary, again retesting 6 weeks later.

[lco1 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you Im not sure exactly which tests they do but have been given access to previous tests so will collect from surgery and post them at that point. Thank you for your advice I am just beginning to realise how little I really know about my own illness

[diogenes Remembering]

If you are not taking biotin supplements, then get a TSH test by another method. You may have developed antibodies to the test ingredients. This interferes and high results then occur artificially.

[MissGrace in reply to diogenes]

I hate to say it, but the Tinkerbell in me thought - if Biotin sends the TSH up, what possibilities that offers to those who GP’s have a meltdown about low or suppressed TSH... but I shouldn’t think such things. 🤸🏿‍♀️

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to MissGrace]

It depends on the assay method. It can send TSH up or down.

[MiniMum97 in reply to MissGrace]

It sent it down a few points (and T4 up) when biotin skewed.my results.

[Hidden in reply to MiniMum97]

Is it "real" or is it just an artefact of the testing? That is, was your T4 really up or was it a false reading?

[MiniMum97 in reply to Hidden]

It was a false reading. The biotin means the test doesn’t work properly and gives false results.

[Hidden in reply to MiniMum97]

Cheers, that's what I thought, but suddenly had doubts!

[lco1 in reply to diogenes]

Can you advise how I go about getting a test for TSH by another method?

[greygoose in reply to lco1]

You would need to have your blood tested at a different laboratory. Tell your doctor about this, and what diogenes said, it's up to him to sort it out.

[diogenes Remembering in reply to lco1]

try a private source. But before that, get another reading. If it is still very high then discuss with your doctor how to get a different test.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Have you had a change in brand of Levothyroxine?

What supplements do you take?

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, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

If antibodies are high, this is autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) and levels can jump about.

As others have said, dose is best only increased in 25mcg steps. Retesting 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

Ask GP to return test in case it was an error and to test vitamins too

Recommended on here that 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)

Is this how you do your tests?

[lco1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for this information. No I do not withold my medication before testing. I will follow this advice before next test. I will post full list of test results when I have collected from surgery on Monday. My GP has I think felt a bit under pressure because she sent me to see an arthritis consultant to check for rheumatoid arthritis as I had pain in hands and legs. My levels of inflamation were raised in my blood and she could not account for this. The consultant ruled out rheumatoid arthritis and diagnosed Greater trochanteric pain syndrome with rhuematic degeneration in hands as might be expected at 67.

I have been going to a gym with a personal trainer for two years and he liased with the physiotherapist to do the exercises to relieve the pain. I have found this has been very helpful and am much fitter. I have also slowly over the two years mANAGED TO LOSE TWO STONE. hOWEVER THERE ARE PERIODS WHERE i REALLY FEEL laid LOW BY THE THYROID SYMPTOMS. The rheumatism consultant wrote to my doctor and suggested that in his opinion I had been seriously under medicated for a long time for my thyroid.

I suspect that is the reason she has upped my dose so significantly.