Advise please

[Dordy]

Please can anybody advise me on my latest thyroid blood test

TSH 5.7

T4 12.2 (9.19)

T3. 3.8 (2.6 -5.7)

Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Dordy

You are undermedicated. The aim of a treated hypo patient on Levo, generally, is for TSH to be 1 or lower with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their ranges if that is where you feel well.

You need a dose increase of 25mcg now, retest in 6-8 weeks. Repeat until your levels are where you they need to be for you to feel well.

Make sure that nutrient levels are optimal so that thyroid hormone replacement can work properly:

Vit D - 100-150nmol

B12 - top of range for Total B12, minimum 70 for active B12 (better 100+)

Folate - at least half way through range

Ferritin - half way through range

[Dordy in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your reply. The doctor did say to increase my dose but I feel well at the moment and worried an increase would change that.

Could you also advise me please of the best B12 tablets to take

Thank you

[Marz in reply to Dordy]

Do you have a B12 test result ?

[Dordy in reply to Marz]

No they never tested that this time

[Marz in reply to Dordy]

So what was it last time ?

[Dordy in reply to Marz]

398 range (187.00 -883)

[Marz in reply to Dordy]

So low - a result over 500 prevents cognitive decline and prevent neurological damage. The brain is known to shrink with low B12. I would take 5000mcg Jarrow Methylcobalamin from Amazon and after one jar reduce to the 1000 mcg. Good B Complex is Thorne Research - also Amazon

[Dordy in reply to Marz]

Thank you very much for your help

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Dordy]

Dordy

Could you also advise me please of the best B12 tablets to take

That depends on your B12 and Folate results.

You don't take B12 on it's own, you also need a B Complex to balance all the B vitamins.

But whether you need both B12 and B Complex, or whether a B Complex on it's own will be enough, depends on your results. If you post them I'll be happy to comment further.

[Lora7again]

Are you still on 50mcg one day and 75mcg the next? That is a too low dose and you should increase it.

[Dordy in reply to Lora7again]

Yes I am ok thank you

[Lora7again in reply to Dordy]

Everyone is different but in my opinion your TSH is too high. However I think my Dad's TSH is about that and he is on 100mcg a day and it suits him because he is classed as elderly at the age of 78 (he doesn't look elderly if I am being honest)

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous post shows low folate and high cholesterol

High cholesterol linked to being under medicated and in need of dose increase

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.

Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial.

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast

Igennus Super B complex are nice small tablets. Often only need one tablet per day, not two. Certainly only start with one tablet per day after breakfast. Retesting levels in 6-8 weeks

Or Thorne Basic B or jarrow B-right are other options that contain folate, but both are large capsules

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Low B12 symptoms

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half

Also beware 25mcg Northstar is Teva

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap. Some like calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away

(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)