High TSH

[Yellow1955]

High Serum TSH of 6.10 mU/L and cholesterol of 6.4mmo1/L I have had lego increased by 25mcg to 125mcg for last 2-3 weeks and still feel dreadful any suggestions ? Thanks in advance.

[Marz]

It was suggested in your post of 24 days ago to have full thyroid testing - vits and minerals too. Did you manage to do that ?

[shaws Administrator]

Were the above results above after your increased dose, or before increase?

It takes a while before our dose reaches an optimum. Optimum means we feel well with no symptoms.

As Marz mentions, it is possible to get a Full Blood Test but many doctors will not do more than a TSH and T4. In that case there are several labs that do home finger pin-prick tests.

A Full Thyroid Blood test is:

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. If antibodies are present it means you would have another form of hypothyroidism called Hashimoto's but treatment is exactly the same as for hypothyroid. You can reduce antibodies by going gluten-free as these attack the thyroid gland until you are hypothyroid.

We usually feel dreadful when first beginning thyroid hormones but gradually feel an improvement slowly as dose is increased. The aim is a TSH of 1 or lower with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of the ranges. The NHS usually only Test TSH and T4 which isn't so informative to us, the patient. Doctors seem to take notice of TSH alone and that might not make us feel better.

Levo is usually taken when we get up with one full glass of water and wait an hour before eating. (food can interfere with the uptake of the hormones). Some prefer a bedtime dose, in that case if having a bedtime dose, miss the night dose and take after test and night dose as usual and again at bedtime..

[Yellow1955 in reply to shaws]

Which is the most reliable test other than TSH which nhs do ? Think I may invest in one. My vitamin levels are ok but I am quite worried about my cholesterol being so high never had a problem with this before.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

It takes full 6-8 weeks for each dose increase of levothyroxine to have full effect

Testing vitamin levels is essential

[Yellow1955 in reply to SlowDragon]

should I ask my doctor to do tests other than my TSH ? I asked him about vitamins & his answer was if it makes you feel better ok if not you are wasting your money. I have always looked after myself & takes supplements ie B &C &D selenium I am certainly not feeling good at the moment probably because of under medication & I have never had high cholesterol I feel very low & frustrated 😴

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Yellow1955]

Cholesterol levels will drop as levothyroxine dose goes up and Ft4 and especially Ft3 levels improve

Thousands of people on here are forced to get vitamin levels tested privately.....Frequently thyroid levels to

There’s no point testing until been on any dose at least 6-8weeks

Always get thyroid testing as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking?

Is the 25mcg the same brand as your normal 100mcg?

[Yellow1955]

Activists 100mcg & Wockhardt 25mcg

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Yellow1955]

Do you always get Activis as 100mcg?

[Yellow1955 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes always

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Yellow1955]

Then instead of adding wockhart ...at next prescription get Activis

Activis don’t make 25mcg, so will need 50mcg activis and cut in half (will need to speak to GP obviously )

[Yellow1955 in reply to SlowDragon]

Which is a good private test to get home kit or local private hospital ?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Yellow1955]

Medichecks is most popular (and cheapest) £99 or £75-£79 when on offer

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

Only do test Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday morning. Post test off, results emailed to you 2-3 days later

Vitamin levels need to be optimal

Vitamin D at least over 80nmol

Folate over ten

B12 over 500

Ferritin at least half way through range

[Yellow1955 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you I just rang Medichecks and they recommended Thyroid check plus it’s on offer Thursday £49 . I don’t think it includes vitamin checks, do you think I should get a different test with more options ? Thanks for your help.

[Yellow1955 in reply to SlowDragon]

Sorry to be a pain forgot to mention I take B100 time release from Holland & Barrett and Vit D 25ug, selenium 200ug, vit C 1000mg. I take these as I go to gym 3 times a week,circuit class ,Pilates,resistance training. Trying to stay fit & loose some weight.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Yellow1955]

Essential to stop any supplements that contain biotin a week before ANY blood tests

Biotin can falsely affect test results

We would ALWAYS Recommend getting vitamins tested as minimum once a year

Vitamin D may be too low ...that’s a low maintenance dose. When did you last test vitamin D?

So the cheapest option that tests thyroid and vitamins is the one I linked....£79

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Yellow1955]

The trouble with these supplements is very largely that the quantities are based on arithmetic (make everything a nice round 100), not need.

The product you mention has:

Nutritional Information

Time Release B 100 Vitamin B Complex 100mg : Each caplet contains: %NRV*

Thiamin (Vitamin B1) 100mg 9,091%

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 100mg 7,143%

Niacin 100mg NE 625%

Pantothenic Acid 100mg 1,667%

Vitamin B6 100mg 7,143%

Vitamin B12 100µg 4,000%

Folic Acid 400µg 200%

Biotin 100µg 200%

Choline Bitartrate 100mg **

Inositol 100mg **

PABA 100mg **

hollandandbarrett.com/shop/...

Excess B6 is widely regarded as a bad idea (though it might, according to some papers, depend on exactly which form). So more than 70 times the daily requirement is grossly excessive.

I am also very unsure whether time release is appropriate for B12. I mean, if you produce the Intrinsic Factor required to absorb B12, then you want the B12 to be free in the stomach. A time release might mean the B12 is past your stomach, and even past the terminal ileum where B12 absorption occurs. (Need to check that out.)

[JaclynB]

What are the symptoms your having before starting the levo?