Low T4

[Munroedundee1]

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.

[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 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 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 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 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 in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thanks for your help

[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 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.