Hello all. I am In the UK and am currently on Levothyroxine (125) and have been diagnosed as hypo since 2014. I have been feeling unwell for about 18mths with large weight gain, joint pain and irregular periods. I decided to take a private blood test but do not really understand the results. I would like to have a heads up before I go back to my GP and would be grateful for some help interpreting the results.
TSH 1.55 mIU/L
Free T3 4.54 pmol/L
Free thyroxine 17.9 pmol/L
Antibody test thyroglobulin 631 kIU/LL
Thyroid peroxidase antibodies 236 kIU/L
I believe that high antibodies aren’t good so I have been trying a gluten and diary free diet.
I would be grateful for any guidance.
Thank you
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Strangerthings71
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Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine at each prescription
Do you normally take Levothyroxine in morning or at bedtime?
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).
Is this how you did this test?
Ft4 is 59% through range
But Ft3 is only 38% through range
Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range
So conversion rate is not brilliant, improving low vitamin levels can improve conversion
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
Are you currently taking Teva?
Teva, Aristo and Glenmark are the only lactose free tablets
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
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)
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
Dear Slow Dragon thank you for your reply. Hopefully I have answered all of your questions below:-
I did also have some vitamin tested which are as follows
Vit D 67 nmol/L
Vit B 103 pmol/L
Ferritin 97.1 ug/L
CRP HS (inflammation) 2.37 mg/L
The only difference I have noticed with going on a diary and gf diet is less bloating in my stomach.
I used to take Teva last year and because I felt unwell on it I asked to changed to Eltroxcin in January was only on it for a month and felt terrible with severe aching limbs at night and couldn’t sleep. I am now taking Levo anything but Teva as this has been requested on my prescription although I’m sure I actually felt better than I do now on Teva!
I take my Thyroid medication in the middle of the night as usually wake around 2am for a wee!
I have even been considering stoping taking my thyroid medication altogether I feel like an inflated balloon and still have severe limb pain, hair loss, weight gain, mixing up my words, fatigue and very low libido. I am at a loss as what to do next.
Last dose levothyroxine should be 24 hours before test
As you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
Is this how you did this test
If took levothyroxine before blood test, Ft4 is false high result
Hi again no I just took the middle of night dose and blood test in the morning. I didn’t realise there had to be a 24hr gap. Your advice has been extremely informative and I thank you for the time you have taken to reply it’s greatly appreciated.
I am New to Levothyroxine only been on it since January this year. I am classed as Sub Clinical Hypothyroid because I only have one half of my thyroid left which then started playing up. So I am not fully up on what your results mean I’d put it to the whole group, more of them have better experience than myself with results. hope you find useful help from the group. Sorry.
Thank you Glencoewalker17 I actually thought I had put it to the whole group but possibly not this is only my second time posting so have probably done it wrong.
don't worry , you haven't done it wrong everyone can/will see this...... it's just a bit quiet at the moment. Don't stop taking your thyroxine. what usually happens is you feel better for a short time , no one knows why, and then over a few weeks, sometimes quite suddenly you feel terrible. As well as looking at your vitamins like slow dragon says, it is possible that you could have a slightly higher dose of levo, and still keep results in range .
Perhaps ask GP if they would put dose up by 12.5 mcg ie 125 + half a 25 daily.
I'm on same as you ie. 'anything but teva', and find 12.5mcg 's Levo makes a big difference.
Gp may not see the need because your TSH does look good on paper, but as long as it stay's within range they shouldn't worry. I know i'd feel too slow with your results , mine are more like tsh0.05 /ft4 >100% /ft3 50% which does lead to some disagreement with GP , but i feel really unwell and get constipated if i take less, currently on 112.5mcg after pushing GP to put it back up from 100.
Hopfully someone more awake than me will be along in a bit. Maybe they've all been on a wild night out..... but i doubt it.
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everyone can/will see this...... it's just a bit quiet at the moment. Don't stop taking your thyroxine. what usually happens is you feel better for a short time , no one knows why, and then over a few weeks, sometimes quite suddenly you feel terrible. As well as looking at your vitamins like slow dragon says, it is possible that you could have a slightly higher dose of levo, and still keep results in range . 
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