Dad's blood test results

[tibble]

Hi,

I posted some months back for advice about my Dad's thyroid. I have finally got some private blood tests done after waiting for hospital appointments that keep getting cancelled. He is just getting weaker and weaker and is very unsteady on his feet. He is now virtually housebound and all this started in September 2019. We are both losing hope that he will ever get any better. I have sent the report to his Doctor but I am already having to chase them up and so far, nobody has got back to him. If anyone can give advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

Just a quick update, the Doctor has now rung my Dad and told him to increase levothyroxine from 75mcg to 100mcg and book for a blood test in July. I find it incredulous that they still think they can get this right after so long already trying and getting nowhere.

Many Thanks.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As well as being significantly under medicated his high thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease

Has he had coeliac blood test done

If not get that sorted ..

Assume test is negative he can immediately trial absolutely strictly gluten free diet

If coeliac test is positive, will need endoscopy while still on high gluten diet

Approximately 86% of hashimoto's patients find strictly gluten free diet helps or is absolutely necessary

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Aim of levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps until TSH is ALWAYS under 2

Most important results are always Ft3 followed by FT4

Aiming for Ft3 at least 60% through range

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything apart from water and last dose levo 24 hours before test

Which brand levothyroxine does he get

Is it always same brand at each prescription

[tibble in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for the advcie. I kept asking him if the chemist was sticking to one brand of tablet and he said yes but when I visited at the weekend, he had both Teva and North Star. I have just rung the chemist and asked them to stick to only one brand and they have advised that it would be North Star as this is easier to get hold of at the moment. This journey started off with his underactive thyroid going to overactive and it took a year to stabilise it but he hasn't felt any better in all this time, infact he seems worse. I want to be hopeful but finding it difficult now. He also isn't the easiest of patients, he doen't push hard enough. Your advice is greatly appreciated.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to tibble]

Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg are Accord

Northstar 25mcg is Teva

Accord don't make 25mcg tablet

[tibble in reply to SlowDragon]

oh, o'k. I am sorry, this is all quite confusing for us but hopefully, the chemist seemed to understand.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to tibble]

When he was taking 75mcg dose ....that would have been a 50mcg tablet and a 25mcg tablet

Northstar is just boxed levothyroxine from Lloyds pharmacy

Northstar 25mcg box contains Teva brand (because Accord don’t make a 25mcg tablet)

But Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg boxes contain Accord brand

Same if get via Boots - Boots boxed levothyroxine is called Almus - it’s Accord brand in the boxes. They only offer Almus as 50mcg and 100mcg tablets

Teva brand upsets many people

[tibble in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for the explanation. Hopefully now they will keep him on the same brand. He has cut the tablets before so this could be an option if he needs to go any higher than 100mcg.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to tibble]

Yes exactly....if when on 125mcg ...cutting 50mcg tablets for 25mcg

[tibble in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, I do appreciate all your time and advice.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Blood should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase in levo

What vitamin supplements is he currently taking

[tibble in reply to SlowDragon]

He has been taking Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 but did stop these in order to take the blood tests. I will try to get him an oral spray as I think I read on here that it is a better choice.