Weird - follow up after seeing GP

[Blondiejayjay]

So based on my previous results in my last post my GP asked me about compliance. Or rather suggested I was not complying and was forgetting to take my thyroxine.

I explained that I take a night to avoid calcium rush foods and all the vitamins and supplements I have to take to keep my ferritin, Vitamin D and B12anywhere near normal. And taking it a night means I haven’t eaten for 4 hours at least.

I am only taking 100mcg of Levothyroxine.

He said that some people don’t t take it then just before a blood test they take it and this gives scewed results. I really fail to see how that would account for suppressed TSH Below range FT4 and borderline Ft3? So I have agreed to test again next week. I have had only one good result in 5 years and even that had a suppressed TSH.

I’m feeling a bit offended and slightly depressed now.

Anybody got any ideas how to tackle this attitude from GP?

[jimh111]

You posted these results a few days ago:

TSH 0.018 (0.34-5.5)

FT4 6.7 (7-15)

Ft3 3.8 (3.6-7)

These show that you pituitary is not responding adequately to the low hormone levels. Your doctor needs to treat you according to your signs and symptoms along with fT3, fT4 but not TSH. TSH is not responding as it should so it's no use trying to use it as a marker.

[Aurealis]

I think GP has to ask the question because if you weren’t taking it except just before the test then that would explain why your results are like that with suppressed tsh (because you’d taken meds in run up to test) and low T3 and T4 (because meds not taken except in run up to test). Think GP may be considering referral to endo otherwise.

Probably nothing to worry about. GP needs to relax about tsh and you need to adjust dose until you feel well.

[Blondiejayjay in reply to Aurealis]

Surely if Someone had not been taking meds the TSH would elevate?

[Aurealis in reply to Blondiejayjay]

Yes but could be suppressed very quickly once you resumed - some people have suppressed tsh as soon as they take thyroid hormone

[Blondiejayjay in reply to Aurealis]

Prior to 2014 my TSH was always around 1.95 with a FT4 lower end of normal. They didn’t test my FT3 back then. But suddenly something changed and my TSH has been suppressed ever since whatever dose they have me on

[Hidden]

Choose another in the practice. Ask for a print out of your results and if they are inconclusive send them to this website for analysis. Some one will be able to advise you if the time of day or taking with food will alter your test results. If there is a delay in the tests arriving at the labs, then this may again affect your results may be? Don't feel obliged to go back to the doctor who has offended you as you have not avoided taking your treatment.

[Angel_of_the_North]

Most GPs can't believe that they can be wrong so it must be the patient not doing what they are told. If you were not taking your meds you'd have high TSH and low thyroid hormones (unless you have central hypo in which case they should be ignoring your TSH anyway). You need a dose increase as our thyroid hormones are too low and just because GP thinks that 100mcg is enough doesn't make that correct. But make sure that you discontinue any B vitamin supplements containing biotin (including nutritional yeast) 4 days or so before a blood test. If you had just taken meds before test (and not for weeks before that), you'd probably show high TSH and high FT4)

[NWA6]

I don’t have any real advice, I’ve had this for 10yrs apparently because my TSH has always risen I’m not taking my meds properly but also because I’ve been symptomatic even when results were in range I’m ‘lying’ because i just want a Levo increase to feel well and I’m using it as a way to keep my weight in check!! 😩

It’s so frustrating!!

My GP even phoned my pharmacist to ‘have a word’ so degrading and insulting!!

Worst experience was last summer when I experienced Hyper symptoms.

June -175mcg, stopped meds’ for 10days to try and reboot then

175/150 every other day

Aug -TSH 0.09

Aug-Nov -175x2 150x5

Nov -0.09

Nov 175x1 150x6

My Dr said I was Non compliant because my blood tests were exactly the same. I told her I want to be well there’s no way I’d sabotage my own health.

Eventually I got a DI02 test which may mean I don’t convert as well as others, vitamins levels weren’t great but eventually I saw a private Endo and stared T3. I feel amazing! Better than ever 🥳

Your results are dire! Defiantly something else going on. If you weren’t taken your Levo correctly then your TSH would be higher. If you’re taking too much Levo (how can you, it’s prescribed and so you’d leave yourself short for some days which would mean your TSH would be high) then your FT4 would be high

Levo is not working for you. I’d request an endo appointment NHS or otherwise.

Your GP is a numpty 😬

[Aurealis]

It’s impossible to work with a GP who doesn’t believe what you say. And it doesn’t sound like you have a good GP either.GP paying too much attention to tsh instead of T3.