Advice on new T3 results please

Please can you translate my Medichecks thyroid results for me? My tsh was 37 7 weeks ago then it came down to 17 now it’s come down to 8. My Dr wouldn’t test my T3 so I had these done today, she told me to go up to 50mg levo but I feel fine on 25 - but now I have my T3 test can you please advice me? I have Hash and have been extremely unwell I don’t want to get sick again so really appreciate any advice you can give me re medication thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your results show you are in need of dose increase

Perhaps as you are so sensitive try small increase of 25/50mcg on alternate days to begin with and retest in 6 weeks

Make sure to stick to same brand of levothyroxine

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you slowdragon I will do that. I’m worried about changing brands, I get on with wockhardt which I’m on now but my chemist says they don’t do 50mg. She never has my 25mg in Stock and has to order them. So I hope there not going to disappear of the shelf’s. I will start my increase tomorrow x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

So just take 2 x 25mcg wockhart on days you need 50mcg

Wockhart is usually widely available

Try small independent pharmacies- they are frequently more helpful

Looks like wockhart is ONLY available as 25mcg

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

Is that correct helvella

[helvella Administrator in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes:

Teva 12.5, 25, 50, 75, 100

Mercury Pharma (including Elxtroxin) 25, 50, 100

Actavis (including Almus and Northstar) 50, 100

Wockhardt 25

Hidden

The units are micrograms, not milligrams.

dropbox.com/s/q00vyt5703f4u...

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

I will do that thank you. Please can you tell me if my hair will stop falling out now I’m on meds? My skin is dry and cracked even on my face, will it all stop soon? my scalp is burning and itchy all the time the only relief I get is running my head under the cold tap several times a day. Thank you x

[NWA6 in reply to Hidden]

That’s interesting that you say you feel fine on 25mcg but then here you tell about these symptoms which can be classic hypo symptoms. Hopefully the raise in dose will help.

Did you struggle with starting Levo? If not I’d go straight on to the higher dose for the symptoms you mention. Otherwise as Slowdragon advised 25/50 alternate days till you can tolerate the increase. With you low FT3/4 results I’d have expected that you *really* need a higher dose than that. Maybe your just so used to being unwell that you don’t know what it feels like to be truly optimally medicated.

[Hidden in reply to NWA6]

Dear Paula6 thank you for your advice- that is true what you said about me being used to being unwell. Also living with cfs/fibro for 20 odd years being mostly house bound has effected me I can see that now. I will increase my dose thanks again for your reply x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly until TSH is under 2 and FT4 in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range

Many people find TSH drops well below one, before FT3 and FT4 are at good levels

Suggest you recheck vitamins too

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Slow improvements will happen as dose of Levothyroxine is increased

Majority of patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine

Guidelines are 1.6mcg Levothyroxine per your weight in kilo

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for explaining everything to me but something I don’t understand is that my levels are improving on 25mg so won’t they just continue to get better without increasing my dose? Also please could you tell me if my results show you if I’m converting the T4 ok? I want my heart condition to get better and will increase my dose as you advise and I really appreciate your help thank you x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

You can't see yet how well you are converting

FT4 and FT3 are both low

Once dose of Levothyroxine is higher and FT4 is near top of range....then can see how well FT3 responds. That will then show how well you convert

In ideal world we would start on full replacement dose of Levothyroxine. In fact NICE are recommending this in new guidelines....but if been very hypothyroid for many years, as many of us have been, means we need to start slowly and increase slowly

Standard starter dose is 50mcgs unless over 50 years old

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for explaining I have been and will continue to follow all your advice. I will also get my vitamins checked I will do it next month as I’ve just paid out for thyroid test. Thanks again slowdragon x