High TSH Normal TS4!

[Mattc21]

Hi, I have had an under active thyroid for around 10 years now, I am on a daily does of 175micrograms daily, my recent results came back stating a high TSH and a normal range FT4? The doc asked if I was regular with the meds and I said yes daily no more than a day if I missed. Should I be increasing or reducing down from the 175? I feel fine?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Have you recently had a change in brand of Levothyroxine?

Teva brand in particular can upset many patients

Looking at your name, are you male?

175mcg is a good dose, but some people require more

Roughly how old are you?

Physically very active?

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

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?

Ask GP to test vitamins and antibodies if not been tested

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all 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

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 .

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_...

A cholesterol test can be a good indication of your thyroid hormones levels, if you have high cholesterol it suggests you may need higher dose of Levothyroxine

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

[Mattc21 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes Male, aged 47, active feel fine in myself....I had a period of Atrial Fib just after Christmas about the time of my result I decided to go up to 200mcg of meds as I couldn't get to see a doc and I work overseas for period during the month, the AF has stopped.

My TSH was 10.5 and my FT4 was 20.7 hence he asked if was regular with my meds.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mattc21]

Just testing TSH and FT4 is completely inadequate

FT3 can be low due to poor conversion, or low vitamins or high antibodies

A Fib can be low FT3 or high Ft4 or a mixture of both