Hi, I have Hashimoto. I just had my TSH checked and they said it's 0.14 < mU/L. I'm on 100mcg of Levothyroxine. Does this mean my dose is too high or too low. I don't know how to read result.
I had Covid end of March. My hair has been falling in worse than ever , I've had such bad wrist and hand pain and bloating even when I don't eat!
Any help/suggestions are welcome.
Your TSH is low but you are on a moderate dose of levothyroxine. You really need fT3 and fT4 measured to know what is going on. Do you have other blood test results for a comparison?
How bad was your COVID? If you were badly affected it can lower your TSH and free T3 for some time ('low T3 syndrome'). Often a low TSH can indicate over medication but your symptoms suggest under medication. In your case the TSH figure is of no use without fT3 and fT4.
Hi Jim. With doctors surgery not being open properly they just doing calls. Not the best!. No other blood test results no. Covid was not nice, 2 full weeks to feel better and still tired thereafter for a week or so. Oh ok, I understand. I'd then have to get private test as my docs dont test ft3 and ft4. So appreciate the info Jim and for replying! Have a good day.
100mcg is quite a low dose my Dad who is 78 and classed as elderly is on that amount.
Hi Lora. I think i'm going to have to get private tests done so I can get the full picture. NHS here don't check the Free T3 and Free T4. I'm 58 so not far behind your Dad lol. Thank you so much for info. Enjoy your day.
I am 60 and I don't feel elderly lol My Dad was told by one of his GPs that not me btw. He doesn't look his age but unfortunately he has COPD because of smoking heavily in the past. I use Medichecks for my private blood tests and I think you can get a discount through this site.
Some days I feel my age, some days even older lol. COPD not nice but good he's still looking good. I will check Medichecks and see costs etc. Thanks so much for all your replies and info. Much appreciated.
You're welcome 😊 Just to add when I was very ill I looked about a 100 and felt it. Thyroid disease is horrible and affects your whole body. Once you get your results back which should take less than a week post them on here for members to advise you. I have the more detailed test which includes antibodies and vitamin levels.
Oh my goodness that's not good. I've also been between ok, better and awful all the years I've had this. I also have another autoimmune disease which sucks as well! I've just checked the site and it's £61 for thyroid tests. Hopefully I can do it next month. I'm furloughed at moment. I will definitely post results once I can do them. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and thanks again!
Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine?
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, as you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies
Ask GP to test vitamin levels or test privately
Hair loss can be low ferritin
Joint pain low vitamin D
Bloating....low stomach acid...common if not converting Ft4 to Ft3
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 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
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Hi. Not sure if it's been the same brand. Think i've had from Teva UK and now looks like Actavis or North Star that's on my most recent packet. Sorry if i'm a bit clueless. I did have ferritin checked few months ago and they said it was "fine". Thank you for all the blood tests I need to do properly. I have always delayed levo 24hrs when doing blood tests and had nothing but water so should be ok there. Vitamin D been ok in the past and had loads of sun recently being furloughed so not sure why this hand and wrist pain. I definitely think I need digestive enzymes or ACV or something for tummy. It's not good.
Thanks for all the links for private testing and all the advice. I'm so grateful! I now just need to make a plan and get it done as soon as i can. Bless you.
I would check what your ferritin level is because that can cause hair loss. I think ferritin needs to be over 80 for hair growth. Don't take your doctors word for it and ask what your levels are. You are entitled to see all your results and records because it is the law. I usually log into online GP services or Patients Access to read mine.
Thanks Lora will do. 💐👍🏻
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. Teva contains mannitol as a filler, which seems to be possible cause of problems. 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
Teva and Aristo are the only lactose free tablets
Northstar 25mcg is Teva
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Teva poll
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...
Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).
Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime
verywellhealth.com/best-tim...
No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap. Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away
(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)
GP will say any vitamin test that is within range is OK....but we need OPTIMAL vitamin levels
ALWAYS get actual results and ranges on all results
Ferritin- typically the range is 30-150
GP would say 31 is fine.. But most thyroid patients need ferritin over 70
drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
Suggest you get hold of last test results
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
Similarly with vitamin D, with Hashimoto’s we often have very low levels...regardless of sunshine
Very important to test annually.
GP often reluctant to test
£29 NHS test kit
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/286...
Vitamin D deficiency is frequent in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and treatment of patients with this condition with Vitamin D may slow down the course of development of hypothyroidism and also decrease cardiovascular risks in these patients. Vitamin D measurement and replacement may be critical in these patients.
endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/...
Evidence of a link between increased level of antithyroid antibodies in hypothyroid patients with HT and 25OHD3 deficiency may suggest that this group is particularly prone to the vitamin D deficiency and can benefit from its alignment.
With Hashimoto’s....Optimal vitamin D is at least over 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better
Lots of posts on here about low stomach acid and how to improve
healthunlocked.com/search/p...
Obviously also need to test B12 and folate
Wow thank you for all this info! I'll be making notes and checking links to better understand all this at some point this week. This is so so helpful!! THANK YOU!!!
Come back with new post once you get vitamin results and ranges
Thank you I will do. 🌻
TSH Result
TSH result
TSH result. Confused 
Test result low TSH high T4
