Finally access

[Trying-hard]

After what seemed like getting in to fort knocks I have at last got online access to my medical records and the doctor told me the other day that while I was feeling awful on my lowered Levo my tsh was normal. I’m looking at what just says thyroid function test there are 2 things listed.

Serum TSH 0.19mu/L normal 0.3-4.5

Serum free T4 13.7 normal 10.0-22.0

I don’t understand any of it would appreciate some help!

Thanks 🙏

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Just testing TSH and FT4 is completely inadequate

FT4 is low in range suggests you are under treated

How much Levothyroxine are you currently taking?

TSH is unreliable on Levothyroxine, but that's all GP is looking at

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 under medicated

Have you had vitamin levels or antibodies tested?

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

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

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

Medichecks currently have an offer on until end of May - 20% off

thyroiduk.org.uk/index.html

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_...

New NHS England Liothyronine guidelines November 2018

Note that it says test should be in morning BEFORE taking Levo thyroxine

Also to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin

sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploa...

Come back with new post once you get results and ranges on missing tests

[Trying-hard in reply to SlowDragon]

It was early morning so I had managed to fast and not take my thyroxine the night before either. But they had dropped me to 125 thyroxine from 150 per day.

It was disastrous I had joint pain weight gain, depression anxiety (including temper tantrums) I’m afraid. Anyway after all of that she just said that biochemically I was doing better 😡 and did I think she was trying to torture me. Frankly I felt like she was anyways it’s only been a week since I got back to 150. Now I also have an abscess on my lady parts too. My immune system is shot apparently my white blood cells are still low. I’m ill I’m tired and I’m angry 😤

Sorry for the rant

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Trying-hard]

You need full testing thyroid and vitamins

[Trying-hard]

It was early morning so I had managed to fast and not take my thyroxine the night before either. But they had dropped me to 125 thyroxine from 150 per day.

It was disastrous I had joint pain weight gain, depression anxiety (including temper tantrums) I’m afraid. Anyway after all of that she just said that biochemically I was doing better 😡 and did I think she was trying to torture me. Frankly I felt like she was anyways it’s only been a week since I got back to 150. Now I also have an abscess on my lady parts too. My immune system is shot apparently my white blood cells are still low. I’m ill I’m tired and I’m angry 😤

Sorry for the rant