Help with results please

[Bollieforme]

Hi I’m currently on 75/100 alternate days of levo after feeling under medicated on 75 for the past 6 months. I chose to up my dose. My results-

TSH 4.38 (range 0.27-4.2)

T4 16.6 (range 12 - 22)

T3 4 (range 3.1-6.8)

Do my results look ok? Decided to have a private blood test to see how the T3 looked as Gp not testing but I don’t know if I’m converting? Don’t feel great and piling weight on. Vitamin levels all ok and mostly gluten free. Any advice much appreciated.

[fuchsia-pink]

I'd say you need to increase by 25 mcg a day. TSH is OVER-range - once on levo you should increase meds until it's less than 2 and probably less than 1. Free T4 and free T are both less than half way through range at 46% and 24% respectively. You need these both to be higher - both to feel properly well and to be able to lose weight. Conversion isn't great, but both are so low it's worth increasing until free T4 is at least 2/3 through range, and then see where free T3 is.

Good luck x

[Bollieforme in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thank you for this reply very useful xx

[DuchessOfCatford]

Are you defo ok in particularly iodine levels (don’t just take it though get it checked as too much as as bad as too little), plus selenium, vit D and B12, magnesium. They do iodine patch test on thyroid care group Facebook page and notes are in the files section. But some people prefer blood test.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to DuchessOfCatford]

Levothyroxine contains all the iodine anyone needs

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

Iodine patch test is extremely unreliable and never recommended

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Was this test done after 6-8 weeks on increased 75/100mcg dose

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine

Essential to test vitamin D , folate, ferritin and B12 too. These are frequently very low if been under medicated

The aim of levothyroxine is to increase dose upwards in 25mcg steps until TSH is under 2

When adequately treated, TSH will often be well under one. Most important results are ALWAYS Ft3 followed by Ft4.

When adequately treated Ft4 is usually in top third of range and Ft3 at least 60% through range (regardless of how low TSH is)

Extremely important to have optimal vitamin levels too as this helps reduce symptoms and improve how levothyroxine works

Ft4 is only 46% through range

Ft3 only 25% through range

Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range

chorobytarczycy.eu/kalkulator

[Bollieforme in reply to SlowDragon]

Test was done day before I increased as I felt like I was under medicated. Thank you for the advice and the calculator.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bollieforme]

So you will need to retest in 6-8 weeks

When were vitamin levels last tested?

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Just reread this previous post

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

So you need folate, ferritin and B12 tested

Gluten free diet has to be absolutely strictly gluten free to be effective