Test interpretation - GP says I'm overmedicated on basis of low TSH

[winallthethings]

Hello,

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's 3 years ago - it's been a struggle with side effects (low b12, weight gain, tiredness and tingly feet) since.

I'm on 100mg of levothyroxine. Latest tests show:

suppressed TSH (0.03, range 0.3-4.2)

low normal T4 (14.9, range 9-23)

high normal T3 (5.7, range 2.5-5.7)

GP suspects subclinical hyperthyroidism and said to reduce levo to 75mg despite no hyper symptoms at all, other than the suppressed TSH. I disagree, am still having trouble losing weight and feeling tired.

I obviously don't have an issue with conversion but why would I reduce my levo if I already don't have that much of it in my blood?

Ay ideas welcome - thank you!

[Aurealis]

I’d ask for a repeat test after a few weeks. Perhaps your T3 measured high due to an infection or other illness. Perhaps GP is trying to preempt your tsh going below reference range but there’s no need. Too much as well as too little thyroid hormone can cause weight gain and tiredness. Suppressed tsh may be helpful with autoimmune as reduces spikes.

[Hormone-hell]

I am not very clued up on hashimoto's, but It could just be a temporary high T3 due to your hashimoto's so maybe you should book a re-test?

Also how long after your dose was your blood test done? It is recommended on here you leave 24 hours for the full picture : )

Hopefully someone with some more knowledge than me will be along soon.

[Angel_of_the_North]

Were you taking a B vitamin supplement in the week before the test? Biotin can affect the test results. If you are not taking NDT or T3, I would ask for a retest as your free T4 is low in range and free T3 high in range (but not over) which is usually seen in someone unmedicated for hypo (but with high TSH) as body puts all its resources into conversion to keep you going. It's not a usual combination and suggests a problem with the test.

[winallthethings in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thank you for your suggestions - I've taken vitB supplements for the past year but this is the first low T4/high T3 reading. My B12 has barely increased by a few units so I know I'm not absorbing well although GP says it's in range (414) so no supplements needed. I have another test in 2 weeks.

[knitwitty in reply to winallthethings]

If you are not absorbing your B12 very well it might be worth trying the Better you B12 oral spray. My son who is a coeliac uses this and the Better you Vit D3 + K2 sprays and they are much better absorbed than the tablet form as they bypass the gut and are absorbed via the oral mucosa.

I also raised my `vit D using the spray.

If you are taking a multi B complex and want to raise your Vit B12 you may need to take additional B12 as well as the B Complex

[winallthethings in reply to knitwitty]

Thank you, I was thinking of trying a spray! Will look into Better you. Weirdly, the absorbency issue doesn't apply to vitD which I've had to stop supplementing as it went sky-high!

[knitwitty in reply to winallthethings]

I wish my Vit D would go sky high. Lol.

Just remember in order to keep B vitamins balanced you should continue with the B complex as well as supplementing with B12.

the Better You oral sprays are great, they do work out slightly more expensive than tablets but if they do the trick it's not wasted money.

Good luck

[winallthethings in reply to knitwitty]

No kidding - mine went to 193 (upper range 150) with standard-level supplements!

Thanks again - I really hope the spray works for me.

[winallthethings]

Hi, thank you for responding. A resounding yes to all of those things.

[magsyh]

Have you considered your ferritin? I had same problem when mine was low. When tested it was only 46. My T4 was low but I had high T3 due to pooling. I was converting like mad to lower the ft3 due to low ferritin. It should be at 80 for your thyroid hormones to work properly