Thyroid levels will not stabilise

[flop2018]

It's been over a year since being diagnosed and my levels are still not stable and I've still got that anxiety tickling in my chest. Most recent blood tests had TSH go from 3 to 4 after a 12.5mcg dose increase. This is after a few months of my levels getting steadily lower with the same dose increases each time. I've had all the other usual tests, folate vitamin D etc and they're all in a good range, wondering if there could be something else underlying that needs checking?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

flop2018

What are your results (with reference ranges) for thyroid and vitamins?

In this post 3 months ago, you were asked to post results, and you were also going to request a different brand to Teva. What's happened?

[flop2018 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I'm not sure 100% the doctors are always extremely resistant to let me have copies of my results which is extremely frustrating. Off the top of my head my TSH is 4.36 with the range 0-4 I know that's probably completely useless, it's just proving really hard to get a hold of resukts. I changed from Teva to solely wockhardt which has definitely improved things, but the anxiety is still noticeable and is still proving hard to get a handle on

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to flop2018]

flop2018

it's just proving really hard to get a hold of resukts

Never ask doctors. Just go to the reception desk and ask for a print out of your results. In the UK it's our legal right. The doctor has to see the results before they can be made available to you. So just ask the receptionist for a print out, don't accept verbal or hand written results.

If you encounter any problems, just remind them that the Data Protection Act and the European General Data Protection Regulation (as from May 2018) means that you have a legal right and they are breaking the law if they don't give you your results. They cannot charge you for your results.

ThyroidUK's updated article about accessing your medical records here

thyroiduk.org/tuk/NHS_Infor...

[greygoose]

I doubt you ever will 'stabilise' with a doctor that only tests TSH. Once you are on thyroid hormone replacement, the TSH is of little importance, and should not be used to dose with. He should also be testing the FT4, and FT3 if the lab will allow it.

Having said that, with a TSH of 4, you're obviously under-medicated. It should come down to 1 or under for your FT4/3 levels to be anywhere near where you need them to be to make you well.

Do you always have your blood draw under the same conditions? If not, you can compare them. TSH is highest early in the morning - before 9 am - and drops throughout the day, and after eating. You should aim to have your blood draw at the same time of day, every time - preferably before 9.

I've had all the other usual tests, folate vitamin D etc and they're all in a good range

I've always wondered what exactly that means. What is a 'good range'? Do you just mean 'in range'? Or do you mean 'optimal'? Nutrients should all be at least over mid-range, serum B12 should be over 550. But, that still leaves a lot of scope for variation in levels because the ranges are too wide.

[flop2018 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you, I will have to be more stern with the doctors about testing. I'm pretty vigilant with getting bloods drawn under the same conditions, I know it would be ideal to fast but if I do I usually feel extremely nauseous while bloods being drawn. I think getting vitamins re tested might be a good idea as it was December they were last checked

[greygoose in reply to flop2018]

You could get everything tested here:

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/p...

Frankly, it's doubtful you're get the FT3 on the NHS.