Have posted my son’s blood results previously but as he has a long wait for a GP appointment I wondered if anyone knew if it was possible to increase T4 by making dietary changes?
His last T4 was 10 (12-22) and is dropping with each blood test. T3 was 5.05 (3.1-6.8) so obviously converting but if T4 dropping that presumably can’t stay within range?
Takes daily supplements as recommended by helpful forum members.
Thank you
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SarahJLD
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I really don't think you can, no. If his FT4 is dropping steadily, his thyroid is failing rapidly, and it's time he was on thyroid hormone replacement (levo). As his FT4 is now well below range, why hasn't his doctor prescribed for him?
When son picked up results receptionist told him he to book repeat bloods in 3 months! He’s made a GP appointment for earliest opportunity which is mid September. So we just wondered if anything we could do in meantime to help.
OK, I see. Well, that's normal practice, just to make sure it's not an infection or something that's causing low FT4. I just had the impression that he'd already had a few blood tests that were low.
While he's waiting, if I were you, I'd get his nutrients tested: vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin. It could be that these are low, and adding to his symptoms. They all need to be optimal for his body to be able to use thyroid hormones efficiently. So, you have the time to increase them if they're low. And, before you say that he has the perfect diet - lol - I'll say that you're not what you eat, you're what you absorb, and hypos often have low stomach acid, so don't absorb very much! Best to check it out.
You are right he has had a few low results. Just GP trying to ignore and hope he goes away I think. GP was very dismissive of medicheck results and ‘angry’ that had taken tests even though TFT from 3 years ago not optimum as TSH above 3.
On advice from forum son had all those tested and started supplements a few months prior to his latest blood test.
It’s just going to be a case of taking each day as it comes then and waiting till mid September for appointment.
They have such rediculous, out of proportion reactions to private tests, don't they. The take it as a personal criticism (perish the thought!) of their competence. When, in fact, they should be congratulation us on saving the NHS money. The truth of the matter is, they just do not like, and do not want to diagnose and treat thyroid. I think they probably know they're out of their depth with that, and don't want to show their ignorance, and to hell with the patient!
So, yes, it is a case of one day at a time. But, in September, it's time to get tough, if he Frees are still low. No more shilly-shallying. He needs treatment and he needs it now.
Do you follow this method to get the best results from a blood test re hypothyroidism?:-
Always get the earliest possible appointment, fasting (we can drink water) and allow a gap of 24hours between last dose of levo and test and take it afterwards. This helps keep the TSH at its highest as it appears to be the only result doctors take notice of who may adjust dose willy/nilly and patient doesn't feel improvement. I am assuming your son has recently been diagnosed as hypothyroid, in that case it takes gradual increases in dose until TSH if 1 or lower and FT4 and FT3 should be in the upper part of the ranges.
He isn’t on any treatment. The last 2 blood tests were done first thing in morning having not drunk or eaten anything apart from water. By the time GP happy to prescribe levothyroxine I fear his T4 will have a long way to climb to upper part of range.
We’ve ordered another medicheck TFT so can go to GP armed with another set of results in mid September. Although GP was not happy we’d taken initiative with initial blood test the TSH was similar to subsequent NHS test and T4 continuing on its downward trend.
Unfortunately, in the UK, doctors are instructed not to prescribe until the TSH reaches 10, whilst in other countries we may well be diagnosed when it goes above the range (which is around 3+) so the medical profession are happy but that's because 'in these modern times' they no longer go by clinical symptoms but by wait until TSH is 10 whilst ignoring patient's symptoms.
On the following link read the topics "About the Thyroid Gland".
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