On levo, TSH supressed: Hi lovelies, just had... - Thyroid UK

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On levo, TSH supressed

Sarah5-5 profile image
11 Replies

Hi lovelies, just had private thyroid test after increasing levo to 150mg for the last few months. Previous tests in March indicated (on 100mg) normal TSH and FT4 but low T3 (2.5). New results, am I now over-treating? Thanks in advance!

TSH 0.03 (0.27-4.20) Previously 2.06

FT4 16.5 (12-22) Previously 16.5

FT3 3.7 (3.1-6.8) Previously 2.5

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Sarah5-5 profile image
Sarah5-5
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11 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

TSH is low ...

but Ft4 is only 45% through range

Ft3 only 16.22% through range

Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range

chorobytarczycy.eu/kalkulator

So you have room to increase levothyroxine...but you are very poor converter of Ft4 to Ft3

Do you have Hashimoto’s?

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

When were vitamin levels last tested

Are you on strictly gluten free diet or dairy free diet

Aiming for Ft4 and Ft3 roughly 50-70% through range

But GP will only look at low TSH

Getting vitamin levels optimal can help improve conversion

Sarah5-5 profile image
Sarah5-5 in reply toSlowDragon

Thanks for this. Realised I put in wrong FT4 for previous test it should have been 9.3. So the increase in levo has increased my FT4 and FT3, but TSH is now looking suppressed so worried they will take me straight back down to 100mg.

I had full vits ferretin etc done about a year ago now and vit d, folate, b12 all low end of normal and ferretin lower end of normal at 19 (13-150). I now take a multi vitamin, additional vitamin d and iron.

Do I look over prescribed now do you think?

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toSarah5-5

Sarah5-5

but TSH is now looking suppressed so worried they will take me straight back down to 100mg.

I have just written a reply to an identical situation here, which you might want to read:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Sarah5-5 profile image
Sarah5-5 in reply toSeasideSusie

it does thanks!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toSarah5-5

Low vitamins tend to lower TSH

We never recommend taking multivitamins...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Most multivitamins contain iodine

drknews.com/iodine-and-hash...

Please add results and ranges for

Vitamin D folate and B12

Ferritin is extremely low. Ask GP for full iron panel test

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first

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

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

Links about iron and ferritin

irondisorders.org/Websites/...

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.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones

Helpful post about iron supplements and testing

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...

Post about iron supplements

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Post discussing just how long it can take to raise low ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Strictly gluten free diet does need to be absolutely strictly gluten free to be effective

Sarah5-5 profile image
Sarah5-5 in reply toSlowDragon

Apologies again, no hashimotos my antibodies were fine

Sarah5-5 profile image
Sarah5-5 in reply toSarah5-5

And I'm trying to do lowish carb and low sugar but I do have a regular amount of diary (eggs, milk, greek yoghurt, cheese), guessing I'm really low on the gluten side as no bread, carbs etc. Basically following a keto-ish way but without too much of the fat and more of the protein and veg

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toSarah5-5

Have you had BOTH TPO and TG antibodies tested

Had ultrasound scan of thyroid?

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Getting all four vitamins to OPTIMAL levels frequently helps increase TSH

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)

Is this how you do your tests?

Sarah5-5 profile image
Sarah5-5 in reply toSlowDragon

It is, I take my levo at night so it doesn't interfere with me taking my lansaprazole for tummy acid issues in the morning. When I do blood tests I skip my levo the night before test and do it first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toSarah5-5

Many hypothyroid patients have LOW stomach acid

Similar symptoms to high stomach acid...but very different treatment

Thousands of posts on here about low stomach acid

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Low stomach acid can be a common hypothyroid issue

nutritionjersey.com/high-or...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

healthygut.com/articles/3-t...

naturalendocrinesolutions.c...

Protect your teeth if using ACV with mother

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Ppi like lansoprazole tend to lower vitamins

Only supposed to be used short term.

pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/m...

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/p...

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