My latest bloods don’t show much difference in my TSH but I do have a figure for the T3 now which I’ve never had done before.
Previously I wrote asking for help as my GP keeps reducing my dose of Levo due to the TSH result, despite me being on it for years. The explanation is that I am now tipping over into Hyperthyroidism because I’m menopausal.
I received some great advice from you all saying that this isn’t possible and links to articles which I will use.
I would appreciate some feedback on these results and if you know anything about the cortisol level that would be helpful.
The comments supplied by the lab Dr say I should check this as it could be a sign of Cushings.
I do have weight gain and no symptoms of hyperactive thyroid.
Many thanks in advance 😊
Written by
M1ssmolly
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Well, you're certainly not overmedicated. Your FT4 is 66% through range and your FT3 is just 32.97% through range. Your conversion of T4 to T3 isn't great, FT4 and FT3 could do with being better balanced.
Optimal nutrient levels will help with conversion so have you had Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin tested? If not that would be a good idea. If you have any low levels they would need addressing. Supplementing with selenium can also help with conversion (selenium l-selenomethionine or yeast bound selenium, not selenite or selenate, and 100-200mcg max daily but some people do like to test their level first).
Your TSH should not be used to change your dose, it's not a thyroid hormone (it's a signal from the pituitary), it's the FT3 result that tells us if we're overmedicated. You should use Dr Toft's article that I linked to in your previous thread to discuss with your GP why he should not reduce your Levo on the strength of just the TSH result:
It was a year ago 😬 lol. I should’ve got it done with the private test I’ve just had done but was hesitant to spend the money. I will order a test next wk when I have some more funds.
Yes, best to test once a year when you've reached optimal levels, just to make sure you maintain them. I optimised all mine (apart from ferritin, struggle with that ) a long time ago, but I still supplement to maintain my levels and check once a year with a full thyroid/vitamin test with Blue Horizon, although I do check Vit D twice a year as recommended as I had severe Vit D deficiency.
I think I need to take a leaf out of your book and start taking better notice of all these things. I think I’ve got so used to feeling below par that I just put up with it all. Thank you.
Hello M1ssmolly, I have found the paper i was thinking of that relates estrogen to thyroid hormones.
It shows taking HRT increases need for thyroxine, so possibly if you assume the opposite is true ,ie. reducing estrogen (menopause?) reduces need for thyroxine .. then that could explain your GP's belief.
But...I cant find any actual research showing menopause reduces need for thyroxine ...... so i could be putting 2+2 together to make 5 !
P.s whatever the cause, your FT4/FT3 are well within range , so you don't look to be overmedicated if you have no symptoms of it.
Your low TSH may , or may not be unusual for you . It would be useful to know what your historic TSH levels were.
Has it always been quite near the bottom of the range or has it fallen significantly, thus prompting GP's reduction of Levo?
I have reduced my thyroxine dose after menopause, because my FT4 had gone way above range ( my TSH has been low for years.)
Regarding your GP......Calling it 'hyperthyroid' is wrong if you are talking about taking too much hormone tablets. It's hard to tell if your GP understands the difference , or if he's just being lazy with language. Might be a good idea to check his level of understanding before you follow his advice !
Thank you so much for that. That makes some sense but it’s not how the Dr explained it and tbh I pushed for an explanation and she couldn’t give me one at all which makes me think there isn’t any evidence and prompted me to join this forum 😊
I am now armed with papers, current and past blood results and looking back my TSH has almost always been at the 0.05 level.
The other thing I didn’t know was the effect that a Biotin supplement can have on your TFT’s. I do take it for my hair but only a 50ug dose per day. I stopped this for 48 hours before my most recent blood test but it didn’t make any difference to the result. This has never been mentioned to me before and it seems pretty important if it’s going to give false results. I am going to inform the Gp about this too.
The other thing I wondered is that my B12 was tested a year ago and came back
“normal” at 208ng/L
Ref range 189-883
Do you know if this is a little on the low side?
During that time I was low on Folate and needed a supplement plus my serum Ferritin was low at 22 but classed as normal medically. Hence the supplement with Biotin.
Welcome to the strange world of 'first, educate your GP' that we now seem to live in !
My TSH has been at the 0.05 level for years pre menopause too.
I'm afraid i only know about B12 levels from what i recently found out here,having been ignorant of the connection for 17 yrs... so i'm not the best one to ask .
Seasidesusie is a good place to start on all the vitamin stuff.
Just for interest, reducing my dose to calm my GP's nerves has not improved my lot over the last year, and he very reluctantly let me put it back up a bit in the end.
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) a long time ago, but I still supplement to maintain my levels and check once a year with a full thyroid/vitamin test with Blue Horizon, although I do check Vit D twice a year as recommended as I had severe Vit D deficiency.
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