Thyroid medication

[Foreverdreaming]

I have just had a blood test and my results are

T4 16.9

TSH 0.92

I have been taking 100 since my test six weeks ago when I was on 125 and my results were

T4 23.2

TSH 0.52

Should I stay on 100?

Sheila Pullen

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Foreverdreaming

So that we can interpret your results accurately, please add the reference ranges as these vary from lab to lab.

Also, how do you feel on the reduced dose?

[Foreverdreaming in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your prompt reply. I have been taking 100 medication. Ref ranges on latest blood test are

TSH 0.92 miu/L (0.27 - 4.2)

T4 16.9 Pmol/L (12.0 - 22.0)

six weeks ago I was 125

TSH 0.52 mu/L (0.27 - 4.2)

T4 23.2 pmo/L (12 - 22.0)

I am 73 and find the whole scenario confusing. I was diagnosed at 60 and was taking 125 until 2 years ago when I stopped taking medication for about three weeks as I had very itchy legs and thought it was caused by the medication, however, that was diagnosed as Lichen Planus so I started taking medication again and it has been a real roller coaster since with my medication and symptoms varying from 70 - 125 and symptoms.

Doctors just don’t know enough about this condition and since reading everything on this web site it proves this. Thank you for your concern,

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Foreverdreaming]

Foreverdreaming

What was the reason for reducing your dose from 125 to 100mcg? Your TSH was in range and even though your FT4 was over range your FT3 wasn't tested, and it's FT3 that tells us if we are overmedicated. I imagine if it had been tested then it would have been in range and would have shown that you need a high FT4 level to obtain anything like a reasonable FT3 level.

T4 is a storage hormone which has to convert to T3 which is the active hormone that every cell in our body needs so testing FT3 is important but doctors don't appear to understand this.

The reduction in your dose has caused quite a drop in your FT4 level from slightly over range to just 49% through range. I expect your FT3 is now very low.

The aim of a treated hypo patient on Levo, generally, is for TSH to be 1 or lower with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their ranges if that is where you feel well.

In your position would increase your Levo, maybe o ly by 12.5mcg for now, retest in 6-8 weeks and see where your FT4 and FT3 lie then. If your GP can't or won't include FT3 then I'd do a private test with one of our recommended labs.

Have you ever had thyroid antibodies tested?

It's also important for us to have optimal nutrient levels so I'd also test Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin.

[Foreverdreaming in reply to SeasideSusie]

Although doctor advised me to keep on same medication, I decided myself after previous blood test to reduce medication to 100 mcg as I saw T4 was above range and I have been putting on weight. I will now go back to 125 mcg. On previous blood tests I did get the following results

Vitamin B 12. 517 ng/L (180.0 - 914.0)

Folate level. (42U5.) 4.5 ug/L (3.0 - 20.0)

Ferritin level (XE24r) 173 ug/L (10 - 307.0)

I really appreciate your help.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Foreverdreaming]

Foreverdreaming

Your B12 is on the low side, it's recommended to be a minimum of 550ng/L (neurological symptoms can be a problem f it's lower than this) and 900-100ng/L is best according to "Could it Be B12" by Sally Pacholok.

Folate is also very low in range, at least half way through range is recommended (11.5+ with that range).

A good quality, bioavailable B Complex will help raise both levels. Consider Thorne Basic B or Igennus Super B.

When taking a B Complex containing Biotin, or any Biotin supplement, it should be left off for 7 days before any blood test as it can give false results.

Ferritin is recommended to be half way through range although I have seen it said that for females 100-130 is a good level. Do you supplement?

It's also important to test Vit D.

[Foreverdreaming in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you so much again for your very informative reply. It’s a shame that our own GPS don’t have more knowledge? I am going to discuss my results in fuller depth as soon as I can get an appointment. Earlier in year I was in suicidal mode, but would never do this to my husband of 54 up years as my dad committed suicide at 41 and I was 18. I was told it was an accident, sometime later I found a newspaper cutting about it and my mum would never talk to me about it. My doctor prescribed me Amitriptyline which I didn’t take but changed my medication when I slowly improved my mental state. I could feel worms/insects crawling round in my ears and I couldn’t go out because I thought everyone was talking about me etc etc. I have science found an article about what I experienced which after research they found it was due to Thyroid etc.

I find the whole thing very confusing but I will take your advice. I am out today to see my 51 year old alchoholic son who also causes me and my husband a lot of worry but that’s another issue which we have had since he was 23 and probably not helping my thyroid problem, as I believe stress is a big contributor?

It’s nice to be able to talk to someone who is very knowledgeable on this condition.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Foreverdreaming]

Have you started a good quality vitamin B complex as Seasidesusie recommended

Also extremely important to regularly test Vitamin D

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Or

Vitamin D NHS

vitamindtest.org.uk