Tsh

[Reed2]

My Tsh is 4.078 what's that mean

[fuchsia-pink]

It usually means it's too high although it may not yet be over-range [ranges vary from lab to lab]How do you feel? If not great, it would be worth getting more bloods done - as a minimum TSH, free T4, free T3 and thyroid antibodies, and ideally also key nutrients - ferritin, folate, vit D and B12, as for many of us hypos these nutrients are poor and need supplementing.

You may be able to get your GP to do these additional tests - I have had some success by saying these are the tests recommended by Thyroid UK; otherwise you will see LOTS of posts here about private testing. SlowDragon does an excellent summary of the tests available, costs and discounts x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at previous posts you are currently on 100mcg levothyroxine

Is that correct

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine

Which brand?

See/contact GP for next 25mcg dose increase in levothyroxine up to 125mcg per day

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

TSH should be under 2 on levothyroxine as absolute minimum. Many people will have TSH well under one when adequately treated

ESSENTIAL to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

These are frequently very low when hypothyroid and almost always need vitamin supplements to improve all four vitamins to OPTIMAL levels

Just testing TSH is completely inadequate

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Ask GP to test vitamin levels and thyroid antibodies if not been tested yet

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)

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 antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£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/thyr...

If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue to.

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org/signs-symptom...

The aim of levothyroxine is to increase dose upwards until Ft4 is in top third of range and Ft3 at least half way through range (regardless of how low TSH is) ...important to have optimal vitamin levels too as this helps reduce symptoms and improve how levothyroxine works