Check t4 t3

[1342fire]

Morning

This is my wife’s private blood test results

I’m getting a very hard time with the gp doctor we both have got the same thing hypo.

She’s only taking 25mcg and for over 2 years now.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

1342fire

Results are typical of all doctors' comments with thyroid tests. You would have had the same comments if you'd used Medichecks, Blue Horizon or Thriva, and from most GPs as well. They just see that they are within range but disregard the fact that her TSH is too high for a treated Hypo patient and her Free T4 is way, way too low.

The aim of a treated Hypo patient on Levo only, generally, is for TSH to be 1 or below with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their reference ranges if that is where you feel well.

NHS guidance which you can refer your GP to:

gponline.com/endocrinology-...

Under the section

Cardiovascular changes in hypothyroidism

......

Replacement therapy with levothyroxine should be initiated in all patients to achieve a TSH level of 0.5-2.0pmol/L.

......

From the British Thyroid Foundation

btf-thyroid.org/thyroid-fun...

How can blood tests be used to manage thyroid disorders?

.....

Occasionally patients only feel well if the TSH is below normal or suppressed. This is usually not harmful as long as it is not completely undetectable and/or the FT3 is clearly normal.

There are also certain patients who only feel better if the TSH is just above the reference range. Within the limits described above, it is recommended that patients and their supervising doctors set individual targets that are right for their particular circumstances.

...........

From GP Notebook

gpnotebook.com/simplepage.c...

target level for TSH during thyroxine therapy

.........

aim of levothyroxine treatment is to make the patient feel better, and the dose should be adjusted to maintain the level of thyroid stimulating hormone within the lower half of the reference range, around 0.4 to 2.5 mU/l. If the patient feels perfectly well with a level in the upper half of the reference range, then adjustment is unnecessary (1)

..........

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine (the professional magazine for doctors):

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l. In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l. This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l).*"

*He recently confirmed, during a public meeting, that this applies to Free T3 as well as Total T3.

You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing Dionne at

[e-mail]

print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.

Your wife has remained on a starter dose of 25mcg (which is normally only given to children, the elderly or those with a heart condition) and her GP seems to be totally ignorant of how to treat hypothyroidism and what the aim of that treatment is.

Maybe a new GP is needed.

[1342fire in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you at some point ask have you Or the site got a template complaint letter

I have got things started just for me

But the two of us have this problem and I’m not well enough to be chasing different doctors.

This one needs to step up. I’m not going to let this go

It’s horrendous we are treated this way

They are treating us.

There’s a lot more going on but I will confuse this post

Thanks for your help

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to 1342fire]

No, sorry, I don't have a template and I don't believe that ThyroidUK has either.

[1342fire in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ok just a idea lol

[Bearo in reply to 1342fire]

If you need advice on whether you have grounds for a complaint about your health care Citizens Advice can help and some branches are offering phone and email advice at the moment.

Most branches would write the letter for you if you don’t feel confident but that would probably need a face to face appointment and these are not happening during COVID shutdown.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Ft4 is only 13% through range

Ft3 32% through range

Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range

chorobytarczycy.eu/kalkulator

When adequately treated most patients need Ft4 and Ft3 at least 60% through range

Usually Ft4 has to be at slightly higher % through range in order to get Ft3 to 60% through range

When adequately treated Ft4 should be at least 18-20

And Ft3 at least over 5-5.5

See different GP and ask for 25mcg dose increase in levothyroxine

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks later

She will need at least 2 or 3 more 25mcg dose increases over coming months

Important to also improve low vitamin levels by self supplementing

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your wife’s vitamin results from 3 months ago healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

Vitamin D - 33nmol - deficient prescribed vitamin D

Folate - deficient - prescribed folic acid

B12 317 - insufficient - need to self supplement to improve

GP should retest folate, B12 and vitamin D

Vitamins are low BECAUSE she’s hypothyroid and ludicrously under medicated

[1342fire]

Private test I had for her After my gp doctor sending her off with no action needed.

That’s Monitor my health results there.

I’ve been trying to Learn.

I’ve got dyslexia and kept it quiet 🤫 for over 35 years.

But We need help with all this and I have got to do my best for both of us.

My wife can’t deal with this this or going for the doctor who is playing us up.

I have had to deal and learn about my spinal problems. And Fail hip replacement so I have had to step up.

This thyroid problem is a different ball game and.

But I’m not going to confuse this post

But the doctor we going to are making a lot of problems for us.

I have got a complaint letter in and they are still trying to wiggle out of it it so stressful.

I understand what I need now it’s getting them to do it.

Monitor my health report yes I was thinking

The same thing.

Thanks for your help