More confused about test results!

[KayS68]

Hi.

Haven’t spoken to GP yet, but I know you guys will know best anyway!!! And it might inform how I speak to him.

6 weeks on 50mcg levothyroxine

TSH 1.41 (0.3 - 4.2)

FT4 10.9(12 - 22)

Before I started thyroxine they were:

TSH 3.78

FT4 11.3

So BOTH gone down. I thought the FT4 should go up. But I really know very little!

Any ideas? Thank you!!!

[greygoose]

The basic idea is that they should go up, yes. But, it looks like the 50 mcg you started taking was enough to stop production by your thyroid, but not enough to replace it. When you have your increase of 25 mcg the FT4 should start going up again.

[KayS68 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you. GP just called - he doesn’t want to increase it & do bloods again in September. Lol.

He keeps saying the FT4 is “low end of normal” and it makes me want to scream! 😂

At least I think I can switch my brain off about my blood tests until September & see then.

[greygoose in reply to KayS68]

But it isn't 'low end of normal', it's below range. And that is definitely NOT normal! What the hell is the point of having ranges if they're just going to ignore them like that? What's more, most of the damned range isn't 'normal' at all!

50 mcg is just a starter dose. Nobody is supposed to stay on it. The protocol is that you get tested every six weeks and increase the dose until the FT4 is in the top third of the range and you feel well. He needs to go back to school for a refresher course!

[KayS68 in reply to greygoose]

This is what was going through my head!!! I was channeling all your answers on here.

I love this GP - it’s his surgery & he’s not the youngest, but not old. He has been so supportive in other ways, but I think this is going to be one where I go back armed with info.

Why does it have to be so hard????? 🤬

[greygoose in reply to KayS68]

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

I had a go at explaining why it's so hard in this thread.

[KayS68 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you so much!! I truly appreciate all your help. I’ll go read that now.

[greygoose in reply to KayS68]

You're very welcome. Good luck!

[KayS68 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you!

[tattybogle in reply to KayS68]

Silly GP. (even if he is lovely !)

he's probably looking at the page that say's he's not allowed to re-test thyroid function before 3 months.

But he's already got the information from this blood test to tell him he needs to increase Levo by 25mcg.

Because your FT4 is below the flippin' range.

Please don't put up with feeling crap until september, (if you are feeling crap? )

When i started , i just put myself up, and then told em what i'd done at the next blood test. just make sure you have been on a dose for 6 weeks before testing.

Assuming you are not a frail elderly person with a heart problem ? otherwise there is no problem with increasing by 25.

I'm not sure what he thinks is going to happen between now and september, other than your body struggling to work on less T4 than even a 'normal ' person. Maybe you should ask him?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Was this test done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking any thing apart from water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

When were vitamin D folate ferritin and B12 last tested

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

50mcg is only a standard starter dose

Clearly Ft4 is too low and you need dose increased

[KayS68 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes. I took your prior advice & did the test at 7.45am. Hadn’t eaten or had coffee. Or taken my thyroxine for 24 hours.

Last vit d, folate & ferritin were 5 Feb

B12 481 (160 - 925)

Folate 5.8 (2.9 - 50) - it was 2 in May last year

Ferritin 100 (>30) had been 16 May ‘19 & they given me iron supplements

Vit D 47 nmol/L (no range given) - that was when I was taking Better You high dose spray.

Currently taking no supplements as I thought best til they kept an eye on these other results.

I was thinking earlier that I should start - esp Folate (do I just take folic acid?)

and Vit D

GP has said he’s not testing again til September. 🤷🏼‍♀️

My WBC is still high. And platelets. And CRP. Kidney function had gone back up. Sugar is still 42 (43 is start of diabetes level).

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to KayS68]

Vitamin D need to be at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol may be better

How much spray were you using?

Important to supplement magnesium too

Calm vitality magnesium powder is cheap and easy to use.must be four hours away from levo

Will add links tomorrow

Yes folate too low

A daily vitamin B complex....one with folate in not folic acid

Will add links re this tomorrow

[KayS68 in reply to SlowDragon]

The vit D was Better You spray 3000IU

I’ve got magnesium taurate from the nutritionist - I know there are different “types” this one was to help regulate my blood sugar & help with sleep.

I don’t have a vit B.

Thank you again.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to KayS68]

See my second reply in this post from few days ago re B vitamins

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[KayS68 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you! I’ve got the vit b on order, I’ve got some iron they prescribed me (which I thought I had finished) I’ve got vit d here too, and magnesium. I’m going to start the ones I have today.

Thanks again!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to KayS68]

Only start one supplement at a time ..

See if any reactions..after 2 weeks add another

Vitamin D, iron and magnesium all need to be four hours away from taking levo

Time gap doesn't apply to vitamin D mouth spray

Don't take magnesium at same time as iron

Take iron with vitamin c or orange juice

[KayS68 in reply to SlowDragon]

Ahhh thank you! I just took them all together earlier. Oooops! I’ll take your advice & start one at a time! I’ll start with the iron & vit c as I have these here & they helped massively with my hair which had been falling out.

Thanks a million!