Low T4: I have been feeling increasingly... - Thyroid UK

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Low T4

Munroedundee1 profile image
8 Replies

I have been feeling increasingly exhausted and low mood for the past few months. Got my blood results today: current dose 75mcg Levothyroxine.

T4= 12.4

TSH= 1.81

T3=4.4

B12=700

Folate=14.2

Vit D =97

Had antibodies tested and within normal limits. Should I as for an increase in my dose of thyroxine? When my T4 was at 17.6 I felt so much better. Thanks for your help in advance.

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Munroedundee1
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fuchsia-pink profile image
fuchsia-pink

Can you add the reference ranges, please? These vary from lab to lab, but it makes it easier for us to understand your blood results.

Munroedundee1 profile image
Munroedundee1 in reply to fuchsia-pink

T4 ref: 12-22

TSH ref: 0.27-4.20

T3 ref:3.1-6.8

Thank you

fuchsia-pink profile image
fuchsia-pink in reply to Munroedundee1

So:

T4 12.4 ref: 12-22

TSH 1.81 ref: 0.27-4.20

T3 4.4 ref:3.1-6.8

In other words your T4 and T3 are well under half-way through the range. Many of us need to be in the top third and TSH to be less than 1 to feel well.

I would want an increase in levo if it was me - up to 100 mcg and another blood test in 8 weeks.

Have you had your nutrients tested - especially folate, ferritin, B12 and vit D?

Also, if you don't already do this,

* leave at least an hour after taking your levo before eating or drinking anything other than water

* have an early morning, fasting blood test, and a gap of 24 hours from your last dose of levo

Munroedundee1 profile image
Munroedundee1 in reply to fuchsia-pink

Cheers for coming back to me. B12 folate, ferritin and Bit D are all good. I agree up dose and retest. Is 75mcg a relatively small dose?

fuchsia-pink profile image
fuchsia-pink in reply to Munroedundee1

It's not that much :)

I was on 125 / 150 for a long time before going onto T3 and levo together

Munroedundee1 profile image
Munroedundee1 in reply to fuchsia-pink

Thanks for your help

Lora7again profile image
Lora7again

My elderly Dad who is 78 is on 100mcg a day so your dose is a low one. Why hasn't it been increased?

Munroedundee1 profile image
Munroedundee1 in reply to Lora7again

Lora if I hadn't have pushed it I would have remained on 50mcg! They are going by my TSH. It was never particularly high. My problem was low T4. I now understand that some folk need an almost suppressed TSH to get T4 higher, am I correct? My T4 is now at it's lowest from starting thyroxine. Feeling fed up and run down to be honest but I am going to speak to my GP beginning of week. When my T4 was 17 and my TSH 1.6 I felt so much better.

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