A bit of advice

[Amx100]

My TSH is 11 and my T4 is 15

Usually when my TSH is high my T4 is really low. I’m on 100mcg and 125mcg alternate days and the Dr just said to have 125mcg every day.

My symptoms are different to usual, hissing in ears on and off, the coldness & exhaustion still, but dizziness also

Any thoughts

[greygoose]

Perhaps you're not converting very well. Have you had your FT3 tested? How about antibodies, are they high?

As for dizziness, have you had your B12 tested? It would be a good idea to get your vit D, folate and ferritin tested, as well, if you haven't already.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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

Have you ever had thyroid antibodies tested ?

Some symptoms suggest low vitamin levels- dizziness and tinnitus linked to low B12

Ask GP to test vitamins and antibodies if antibodies never been tested

Thyroid levels will need retesting 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

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

The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range

All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels

NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Also what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)