Blood test results...

[Sarahlouise1980]

Hi,

Yesterday I had the results of a recent blood test for my thyroid. I’m on 125mcg Levothyroxine.

TSH 0.006 (0.38-5.0)

Free T4 13.4 (7.0-16.0)

Free T3 5.9 (3.8-6.0)

Are these results okay? I feel good.

Thanks!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

If you feel good then they're great. FT3 still in range (just) so if your GP uses your suppressed TSH to say that you are overmedicated then point out that FT3 is in range and that's the result that tells us if we're overmedicated.

As a matter of interest, when did you take your last dose of Levo before the test?

[Sarahlouise1980 in reply to SeasideSusie]

This test was at around 9am and I had taken my Levothyroxine at 7.30am the day before.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Sarahlouise1980]

OK, so that reflects your normal amount of circulating hormone. If your GP does insist on a dose reduction then don't accept a 25mcg reduction, I would suggest no more than 12.5mcg then retest 6-8 weeks later to see how everything is.

[Sarahlouise1980 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you so much. My doctor said I can stay on 125mcg or reduce to 100mcg/125mcg alternate days but i am unsure what to do?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Sarahlouise1980]

It's up to you, you could alternate but don't accept a reduction on your prescription. If after a couple of months, when levels have stabilised, you don't feel so good, go back to your original dose.

[Sarahlouise1980 in reply to SeasideSusie]

What would you do if you’d got my test results? Stay on the same dose or reduce?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Sarahlouise1980]

If I felt good I might be tempted to leave things as they are. However, having had experience of tweaking doses - albeit of Levo plus T3 - I have learned to know where my levels are best so it might be worth experimenting, that will tell you what you need to know, i.e. do you still feel as good with your FT3 level not at the limit of the range and your TSH not so suppressed.

[Sarahlouise1980 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks Susie, I have tried reducing and alternating 100/125 for a few weeks and whilst I didn’t feel bad, I didn’t feel as good as I do on the 125mcg. I just worry my blood results are showing me overreplaced?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Sarahlouise1980]

I just worry my blood results are showing me overreplaced?

As I said in my first reply "if your GP uses your suppressed TSH to say that you are overmedicated then point out that FT3 is in range and that's the result that tells us if we're overmedicated."

[Sarahlouise1980 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you, your advice is very much appreciated! I’m thinking I am going to try alternating the 125/100 of Levothyroxine for six weeks as although I feel okay I have never seen my free t3 as high as it is now ever before. It has always in the past been around 5 (3.8-6.0). Could this 12.5mcg reduction be enough to send me hypothyroid though do you think?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Sarahlouise1980]

Rather than reducing by 12.5mcg, why not try a reduction of 6.25mcg to start with, I have found that even such a small change makes a difference. You could cut a 25mcg tablet into quarters if you have some and take 3/4 of a 25mcg tablet with your 100s, making 118.75mcg.

[Sarahlouise1980 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes that seems a good idea, I’m going to try reducing as I seem to be having some of the same symptoms I had when I was under medicated (for example tangled hair after washing) and I know overmedication can mirror being undermedicated from what I’ve read on here!

[Sarahlouise1980 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Could the higher in range t3 cause things like this do you think?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Sarahlouise1980]

I don't know, we're all different in how we are affected, I'm surprised to hear that tangled hair can be a symptom of hypothyroidism, just goes to show!

[Sarahlouise1980 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes when I was under medicated my TSH shot up to over 10 and my hair was very tangled! x

[Sarahlouise1980 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I’m hoping the reduction will bring my free t3 down a bit!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous posts showed low vitamin levels

Important to regularly test

What supplements are you currently taking

[Sarahlouise1980 in reply to SlowDragon]

I’m taking ferrous gluconate, cyanocobalamin tablets, folic acid tablets & vitamin d.

[Nanaedake in reply to Sarahlouise1980]

Any reason for taking cyanocobalamin rather than methylcobalamin?

[Sarahlouise1980 in reply to Nanaedake]

First I tried the 1000mcg methyl sublingual. They raised my levels quite a bit in 3 weeks but broke me out in quite bad acne! Now I’m trying the 50mcg cyanocobalamin tablets to see if I can tolerate a lower dose. It says on the leaflet to take up to 3 a day.

[Nanaedake in reply to Sarahlouise1980]

That makes sense.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sarahlouise1980]

Considering how extremely low B12 and folate were I would recommend you get vitamins retested

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 need to be optimal

[Sarahlouise1980 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you! My gp won’t retest my vitamins etc so I intend to do another thriva test once I have started supplementing again for a few months.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sarahlouise1980]

You should have had LOADING B12 injections, and ongoing B12 injections every 2-3 months with results that low

[Alma1960]

You have better luck than me getting my blood test results from my GP is trying to get blood tests from sax stone

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Alma1960]

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

[Pajaczek]

Jak dla mnie za niski poziom tsh a to za sprawą takiej dawki 125 powinnaś brać mniejsza

[Lora7again in reply to Pajaczek]

"For me, too low tsh level and due to such a dose of 125 you should take less"

Use google translate so we can understand you

[Pajaczek]

Nie masz dużą dawkę leku też tak miałam jak brałam 75 miałam tsh 0.02

[Lora7again in reply to Pajaczek]

"You don't have a large dose of medicine either so I had when I was taking 75 I had tsh 0.02"

This what you just said .... you need to use english on this site.

[Pajaczek]

Chodzi mi że masz za dużą dawkę leku bo tsh zaraz osiągnie pułap minusów a ma mieć chociaż 0.3 ale i tak uważam że lepiej mieć chociaż 1. No i zbadaj sobie żelazo . Wit.d bo to też wpływ a na wyniki. Zdecydowanie 125mg to za dużą dawką

[Lora7again in reply to Pajaczek]

Skorzystaj z Google Translate, abyśmy mogli cię zrozumieć

[Hoxo]

If you feel well then def leave as is! Your thyroid hormone levels are in range.