TSH level rising

[appy45]

Hi all, Not posted on here for a while. I think I mentioned that I now have Sjogrens Syndrome [ finally got Dr to agree , although she still won't send me to Rheumatology dept, ]

Anyway, had my thyroid bloods done in January this year. Since being on NDT, my TSH has always been below range. Below are this years results.

07/01 TSH 0.54 mu/L ( 0.35-5.0)

Does this mean I need to up my NDT ?

Joan

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

appy45

You can't dose by TSH alone. When you are on NDT, because it contains T3 then it's the FT3 result that is most important. You need to test TSH, FT4 and FT3 all at the same time.

But you also need to be guided by how you feel.

Did you do this test under exactly the same circumstances as previous tests so that you can compare results accurately?

When booking thyroid tests, we advise:

* Book the first appointment of the morning. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If we are looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, or looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction then we need TSH to be as high as possible.

* Fast overnight - have your evening meal/supper as normal the night before but delay breakfast on the day of the test and drink water only until after the blood draw. Eating may lower TSH, caffeine containing drinks affect TSH.

* Leave off Levo for 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then leave that off for 8-12 hours. Take after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.

These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with doctors or phlebotomists.

[appy45 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your reply. Everything else was OK as usual. Just wondered why TSH was higher for the first time since taking NDT. 5 years ago.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to appy45]

You mention below that you had a cough and were on antibiotics at the time of the test. Always delay testing for a few weeks after any infection has cleared up. Thyroid results can be skewed by non-thyroidal illness.

[appy45 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you. Never really thought about that. I've had a lot of advice on here for my thyroid problems over the past few years. Been a great help. I have recently joined a help group elsewhere, for my sjogrens.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You need to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

When were these last tested?

What supplements do you take?

Do you have Hashimoto's?

If so are you on strictly gluten free diet?

[appy45]

Hi, thanks for replying. I was taking antibiotics at the time, from 02/01 for 5 days, but doubt that had anything to do with it. Had chesty cough, went on for a few weeks. Still have dry cough, think its due to sjogrens.

[appy45]

Not had these tests done for ages. Think I will have to have private tests done again. I changed Drs in November. Previous Drs merged with a larger practise. I managed to mainly see my own Dr. most of the time, but then she retired. Was fed up seeing different Drs, at both surgeries, so changed to present Dr, who I see for every appointment, unless she is on holiday, or ill.