Hi guys so been diagnosed with what they said was sub clinical hypo two years ago given 50mg Levo Been on it since. Bloods fine. Today I got these results have been feeling terrible!! Any one able to tell me what I should ask when I see gp tommorow?
T4 free 14 pmol/L (10-24)
T3 free 3.2 pmol/L (2.5-6.0)
TSH 4.11 mIU/L (0.40 - 4.00)
Comment on result: propensity to primary hypothyroidism suggest monitor at least annual TFTs or sooner if clinically indicated.
Also what does TFTs stand for?
Thanks guys!!
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Joeblo77
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My gp added just an extra 12.5mg for me with similar (although a touch higher) tsh results. I had the nhs doc ready that says it should be 1.4 or lower (can't remember exact amount). People on here had given me the link to download it.
As I can't take Teva (as feel rubbish on it) I have a tablet cutter and take half a mercury 25 I addition to whole 50 each day. The chemist was concerned that alternating days instead wouldn't give the body the expected, constant levels.
It's made all the difference to me, even though it doesn't sound much of an increase. I imagine another increase will be needed in the future tho.
TFT’s are thyroid function tests. What time of day did you have your blood drawn? It shd be early morning, 8/8.30 if possible as this gives the highest TSH reading. Hopefully, you didn’t take your thyroxine in the morning g of your tests.
Your Tsh results should be lower for someone on Thyroid treatment and your T3 and T4 are too low, they need to be towards the top end of the range. 50mcg is a starting dose and needs to be increased. What symptoms do you have?
Hi muffy! Thin dry brittle hair, extreme tiredness, headaches, weight gain, weakness in my arms and legs, forget everything!! I am no where near as bad as I was before I started 50 mg of levo but I can feel my body struggling if that makes sense?? Any advice much appreciated!!
Thankyou Cica I shall speak to gp tommorow my symptoms have slowly got worse over the course of the last 6 weeks so something is def not right including eating nothing and a weight gain of 2.5 kg! I just don’t want to go so far backwards I am back to where I was when I first got diagnosed I couldn’t manage that over again!!
Yes you are undermedicated. The aim is to have FT3 and FT4 in the top third or even top quarter and more feel better if their TSH is neared to 1. 50 is only a started dose and your doctor should have told you to retest after 6-8 weeks to see if your dose needed increasing. It takes a ful 6 weeks to get each full dose fully into our body hence re testing after that point.
So you need to tell him all your symptoms and that you have been told you should have repeated testing at 6 week intervals until on the correct dose for you. This site is run by Thyroid U.K. and is recommended by NHS Choices for thyroid dysfunction. Have a look at their site-Kings of good info and print out anything that is relevant to you needing an increase.
The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase dose slowly in 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 in top third of range
50mcg Levothyroxine is only a starter dose
Ask for 25mcg dose increase and thyroid and vitamin testing 6-8 weeks later
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 or if been under treated, as you have
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose 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?
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
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
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.
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 .
For most people: 50–100 micrograms once daily, preferably taken at least 30 minutes before breakfast, caffeine-containing liquids (such as coffee or tea), or other drugs.
* This should be adjusted in increments of 25–50 micrograms every 3–4 weeks according to response. The usual maintenance dose is 100–200 micrograms once daily.
Official NHS guidelines saying TSH should be between 0.2 and 2.0 when on Levothyroxine
(Many of us need TSH nearer 0.2 than 2.0 to feel well)
If you have high thyroid antibodies this confirms cause as autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's)
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist
approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first
Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse
TFT is thyroid function test. You need an increase in levo. The aim is for TSH to be under 1 and free t4 and free T3 in the top part of their ranges, so that you feel well. You are supposed to be tested every 6 weeks and have a 25mcg increase until you achieve those levels. 50mcg is just a started dose. Sounds as though your GP has neglected you and not followed guidelines
Yes I feel neglected!! Like I could curl into a ball and sleep forever!! Off to gp at midday so wish me luck!! Question does the increase in levo raise the t3 and t4 automatically or is there something else I need to do?
Only if you are a good "converter". T4 is converted to T3 by removing one of the 4 iodine atoms (that's where the numbers come from). It takes a special enzyme to accomplish this, and they are just learning that the ability may be related to genetics. If your T4 numbers are good, and your T3 numbers are low, you might need to take T3 in addition to your levo. thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
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