Blood Results

[Aniba]

Morning everyone

Increased Levothyroxine 2 months ago from 25 to 50 mcg

Recent blood tests

T4 15.5 (12.0-22-0)

TSH 8.5 (0.3-4.2)

January Blood test

T4 13.2

TSH 13.8

I presume this means the increase is helping?

Many thanks

[Lalatoot]

It also means that you need another increase as Ft 4 is still low in range and TSH is still too high.

[Aniba in reply to Lalatoot]

Thank you

[fuchsia-pink]

Yes - but not enough so you prob still feel rough. You're now ready for your next dose increase - and more testing every 6 - 8 weeks until TSH is less than 2 (probably less than 1) and free T4 is a good 2/3 through range - it's currently just over 1/3.

See if you feel well then, If not, it's time to test free T3 as well - but your GP won't do that automatically. In the meantime, if the GP is nice, it would be worth asking for key nutrients to be tested next time alongside TSH and free T4 - ferritin, folate, vit D and B12 - I've had some success with my GP by saying that these are the tests recommended by Thyroid UK.

And remember - always have an early morning, fasting blood test (when TSH is highest). Good luck x

[Aniba in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thank you

[tattybogle]

yes they show it's helping .. ft4 has gone up a little and TSH has gone down, which is what is supposed to happen . However, it's helping about as much as pouring a mug of water on a dry lawn!

You need a further increase, and if you managed to increase from 25/50 without suffering any problems ? then the next increase should be another 25mcg to 75mcg. or if you had problems then try alternating 50/75mcg first.

The immediate aim is for TSH to be under 2 ish probably nearer to 1 without fT4 going over range.

You current TSH is still way too high, and it's a message from your pituitary to the thyroid to ask for more hormone. When your thyroid can't do it anymore and you start on Levo , it becomes a message from your pituitary to your Doctor to increase the dose of Levo.

You fT4 is still pretty low, only approx 30% through the range. Levo is synthetic T4 so again the way to increasefT4 is more Levo.

It is common to need a dose between 75-150 mcg. 50mcg is only used as a starter dose so that the full dose doesn't come as too much of a shock to a body that has got used to functioning on too little thyroid hormone.

[Aniba in reply to tattybogle]

Thank you

When I rang up about my results the doctor left a message to say the results were satisfactory and how was I feeling, I said I was feeling ok at the time , but have noticed since I have started to exercise more I’m feeling exhausted.

I have noticed I have a repeat prescription for Levothyroxine at 50mcg, it looks as though I will have to request a blood test every 8 weeks.

Maybe I Should increase the dose to 75mcg?

[tattybogle in reply to Aniba]

Seriously ? a doctor has told you TSH of 8.5 is satisfactory ! it is absolutely not.

Even the pretty crummy NHS guidelines tell them to get it into the lab range , and there is a multitude of other advice to GP's to tell them that they should aim for between 0.5 and 2 or similar for example this one , healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

and there are many others if you ask for links from people on here.

Possibly because they asked how you felt and you said you felt OK you can let them off without without smacking their hands..... but even so 'satisfactory' is NOT the correct comment for TSH 8.5 and i strongly suspect the actual words on that test result say "Abnormal/Over range/ Contact Patient" etc

You should get back in touch and revise your report of how you feel to "improved from where i was but hypothyroid symptoms still not fully resolved so i'd like to try an increase please"

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Aniba]

Aniba

but have noticed since I have started to exercise more I’m feeling exhausted.

Save the exercise until you feel well. Hard exercise depletes T3 and you wont have much of that with such a low FT4. For now, just gentle exercise like walking, yoga, etc, is suggested.

[Aniba in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you, didn’t realise that, I really appreciate everyone’s support and advice