Advice please Dr wants TSH within range. - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

141,182 members166,424 posts

Advice please Dr wants TSH within range.

lisan1 profile image
7 Replies

My latest results on 87.5 t4+10t3 is

TSH 0.02(0.4-4.2)

Ft3 4.6 (3.6-6.3)

Ft4 18(12-22)

Last dose of t3 and t4 taken 24h earlier. I have been on this dose for 8 weeks. Dr wants my TSH within range. Do you think my TSH will increase if I stay on this dose or shall I lower t4 to 75?

Written by
lisan1 profile image
lisan1
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
7 Replies
SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

lisan1

shall I lower t3 to 75?

I think you may mean shall you lower your dose of Levo to 75mcg as you told us a few days ago you were taking 100mcg levo plus 10mcg T3 😊

Last dose of t3 and t4 taken 24h earlier.

You left far too long between last dose of T3 and blood draw.

Last dose of Levo is 24 hours before.

Last dose of T3 is 8-12 hours before.

You have a false low FT3 result.

You are taking T3, your TSH is going to be very low and probably suppressed, that's just what T3 does, and the doctor who prescribes your T3 should know this. You are very unlikely to get TSH within range when taking T3.

There is nothing wrong with your latest results, even taking into account you have a false low FT3 result there.

TSH is not a thyroid hormone, it's a pituitary hormone. It's the FT4 and FT3 that are the thyroid hormones and tell us what we need to know, and if FT3 is over range we are overmedicated.

You are not overmedicated and you don't need to reduce either of your thyroid meds.

How do you feel?

lisan1 profile image
lisan1 in reply toSeasideSusie

Yes, I've edited it now. I have long covid so don't feel well at all. I know it's adviced to take t3 12 h before test but I take it once a day and have read on here that someone else does too and calculate the results by adding 10%.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply tolisan1

10% is not accurate, nobody can say what's accurate, I'd say that was underestimating. Much better to split the dose for the one day and get a measure of your normal circulating hormone so that you can tailor your T3 dose better to your needs. there may be one or two members who continue with their once a day dosing when testing, but I think the majority split the dose.

Anyway, whatever you decide to do about that, adjusting your meds by TSH is wrong and your doctor should know that T3 means a low/suppressed TSH.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply tolisan1

Day before test split T3 into 3 smaller doses at equal 8 hour intervals with last 1/3rd dose 8-12 hours before test

TSH is almost always suppressed on any dose of T3

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually

LAHs profile image
LAHs in reply toSeasideSusie

Yes, I was thinking that, "How do you feel?"

lisan1 profile image
lisan1 in reply toLAHs

I don't feel well but I have long covid... ☹️

LAHs profile image
LAHs in reply tolisan1

Yes, sorry, I responded to your earlier post before I read down to where you said that. I am very sorry you have long Covid, I cannot imagine having such a drag superimposed upon a thyroid problem. You certainly have a double whammy, maybe with time it will clear up - we just don't have the data to say anything with certainty, we just hope. And I hope things clear up for you.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

High TSH, T4 within range

Hi, I’m a 23 year old female and went to see my doctor yesterday regarding my underactive thyroid....
LPS1 profile image

Which one to keep TSH within range please

Advice again please? Which would be better to try to keep TSH as high as possible? Add 5 T3 to 75...
lisan1 profile image

'Within the range' ahhhhh

Just had an appointment with my Dr. I was diagnosised with hypothyroidism a few years ago and the...
Tiger79 profile image

tsh range

hi everyone am in the uk what is the range for tsh, my tsh was 3.7, i did not get a full profile...
jazzanne profile image

T3 & Low TSH Feeling rough Advice Please

Hi all I'm sorry I still havn't completed my profile so a brief history. Undermedicated for...
Otto11 profile image

Moderation team

See all
Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator
PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.