Purchasing Levo?

[DoeStewart]

Hello everyone, hope you are all keeping well in these very peculiar times. I had my last thyroid test at GP surgery on 18th November 2020 and only TSH and T4 tested, results as follows on 100mg Levo daily:-

TSH 0.34 (0.30 - 5.50)

T4 18.2 (11.5 - 22.7)

Last T3 was tested in 2019 through Medichecks and was

4.41 ( 3.1 - 6.8)

As you can see my T4 is only 59.82% through the range.

I have had a conversation with the GP and suggested I had room for an increase in my Levo. I thought the Dr was going to combust and she actually went purple in the face. This is the first time my TSH has been "in range" in years, normally below range which is another argument. I just wondered if it would be worth me purchasing some more Levo myself to add to my prescription 100mg? If anyone has any advice or thoughts I would be grateful for your replies.

Thank you.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

DoeStewart

If I were you I'd be getting a full thyroid/vitamin panel from one of the private labs. You need an up to date FT3, it has to be done at the same time as TSH and FT4, also to check whether your nutrient levels are optimal as they need to be for thyroid hormone to work properly.

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

Agree with SeasideSusie

You need to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

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?

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...

Ferritin 52 (13-150) previous 64

Folate 19.8 (3.89 - 26.8) prev 4.84

Active B12 96.9 (37.5 - 188) prev 58.1

25 OH Vit D 63.7 (50 - 175) prev 53.6

Vitamin results from 2 years ago

(Couldn’t see any more recent results)

Vitamin D and ferritin were still too low

Aiming for

Vitamin D at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better

Ferritin at least half way through range

Active B12 at least 70

Folate at least half way through range

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

[DoeStewart in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for your reply. Last vitamin test was carried out at GP surgery November 2019, as follows:-

Ferritin 59 ( 14 - 186)

Folate 13.09 (3.9 - 20)

B12 444 (223 - 1132)

Vit D 64 (50 - 125)

Thyroid blood tests taken as per your reply, earliest appointment and no Levo until after the blood test.

I normally have private testing through Medichecks and a nurse calls at my home to take the blood but obviously with Covid this has not been possible.

[pennyannie in reply to DoeStewart]

Hey there

Just for reference I aim to maintain my ferritin at around 100 : vitamin D around 100 : B12 500 + and folate at around 20 : for optimal conversion of T4 into T3 :

Since your vitamins and mineral results over a year old a follow up on everything would be sensible :

If you are still taking a little NDT this might have lowered your T4 result a little - but if your symptoms of hypothyroidism are creeping back in a dose increase in either hormone replacement is probably necessary.

I read quite often of people feeling they need more support during the winter months, maybe this applies to you - and if me, I'd go with a little more NDT to keep you topped up to optimal.

[DoeStewart in reply to pennyannie]

Hi penny Annie- thanks for your advice. I'm stuck at the moment, GP surgery not doing any unnecessary blood tests, vitamin tests aren't needed in their eyes and I cant get blood drawn anywhere else due to covid. They only did my TSH/T4 at the surgery for their yearly prescription review. Your idea of taking a bit more NDT sounds like a plan, maybe worth upping my dose to see how Ifeel.

[pennyannie in reply to DoeStewart]

Well, if my memory serves me right you're only taking a smidgeon so taking a bit more isn't going to deplete your stock drastically and cause an immediate problem for you.

Most of us on here are waiting on back orders to be delivered and it seems stock availability isn't there until around Spring 2021.

You can purchase T4 from that same wholesaler if you so wish.

[DoeStewart in reply to pennyannie]

Yes I only take a quarter grain so I can up it to half grain and will have enough left to see me through until the stock becomes available. Ah ok, I didn't realise the wholesaler also stocked Levo, thats good to know thank you.

[pennyannie in reply to DoeStewart]

I think it's a different brand - but in brackets you'll see it's T4 ;

There are no doubt, other wholesalers, maybe closer to home, just thought of the convenience as you have used this site before.

[DoeStewart in reply to pennyannie]

Great idea thank you, I just need the facility to have private bloods done again so I can get the full picture.

[pennyannie in reply to DoeStewart]

Well your vitamins and minerals were a bit low in 2019 - I don't know if you are supplementing anything, but if not, they may have dropped further if your metabolism is a bit on the low side and not optimal.

[DoeStewart in reply to pennyannie]

I had been taking B Complex/Vitamin D +k2 and magnesium but I must admit that during the lovely summer I let things slide. I have started retaking these vitamins now so hopefully things will pick up again.