New results

[Tinacros]

Just had my results from GP. TSH 0.04 (0.10-4.00) came back abnormal. T4 was 18.1 (9-22) range. I’m on 100mg thyroxine and 12.5 of t3. Does this seem like I’m on the right dose?? X

[Hidden]

You would need to post FT3 ranges as well.

How do you feel? Symptom-relief is more important than labs in my experience.

[Tinacros in reply to Hidden]

I feel ok-ish but I’m in the flows of menopause and symptoms are very similar. Hard to decipher one from the other x

[Tinacros]

My gp didn’t do ft3. My last private Medichecks was 2.69 which was low. 3.82 Tsh and ft4 was 10.8. Obviously they were very low. I upped

Meds and these are my new results. X

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Tinacros]

Tinacros

When you are taking T3 with your Levo, you cannot know if your doses are right unless you have both FT3 and FT4 tested at the same time. If your GP doesn't do FT3 test then you will need to do a private Thyroid Monitoring Test with Medichecks with tests TSH, FT4 and FT3. It's essential to test FT3 as well when on combination hormone replacement (or NDT or T3 only).

With your previous Medichecks FT4 result of 10.8 (12-22) and your GP result of 18.1 (9-22), your FT4 has gone from below range to 70% through range which is a very big increase. When did you take your last dose of Levo before this latest test?

[Tinacros in reply to SeasideSusie]

I had not taken it 24 hours before test. After my medichecks I put my thyroxine up from 50mg to 75mg, and then to a 100mg. That test was done on 100mg. Staying on 12.5 of t3. As you can imagine speaking to a gp is quite hard. I might put my thyroxine down to 87.5 just so my tag isn’t so suppressed. I’ll try contact GP before doing this though. X

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Tinacros]

Tinacros

As you are taking T3 it's very likely that your TSH will be suppressed, that's often what T3 does - very low or suppressed TSH. Reducing your Levo wont change that.

When taking any thyroid hormone replacement the TSH doesn't tell us anything, it's not a thyroid hormone, it's the FT4 and FT3 that are the important results, and when taking T3 it's the FT3 that's the most important one.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tinacros]

Don’t reduce dose until had blood test

On almost any dose of T3 TSH is almost always suppressed

Essential to test Ft3, Ft4 and TSH together

When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested?

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)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last third or half of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Blue Horizon Full thyroid test but not including vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

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...

[Tinacros in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I had vitamin D etc done. They was at the low end so taking supplements x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tinacros]

You need to retest twice year ....especially while you work out how much vitamin D you need

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function. There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with hashimoto’s we frequently need higher dose than average

How low was vitamin D

How much are you supplementing

Are you taking Magnesium or vitamin K2 mk7 as well

[Tinacros in reply to SlowDragon]

I am going to book a full test on Medichecks when the pennies allow. My vit d was 71 (50-175). I’ve been taking 3000iu of vitamin D3 gel capsules from the chemist. My ferritin was 62.8 (13-150) and b12 69.7 (37.5-188). That was from a test from 24 sept 2019 x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tinacros]

Perhaps just get thyroid test now - £29

[Tinacros in reply to SlowDragon]

With t3? I’ve just received tsh and t4 back this morning from gp

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tinacros]

You can’t test just Ft3 on its own...completely useless test

When taking T3 it’s essential to ALWAYS test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together

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)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last third or half of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

[Tinacros in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok I see what you mean. I will get them checked altogether 👍