Advice : Hi I posted the other day regarding my... - Thyroid UK

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Henson1980 profile image
11 Replies

Hi

I posted the other day regarding my Thyroid levels, TSH was 6.5. The doctor wanted to test again a week later, my levels have further increased to 15.6

The doctor has increased my levo to 125mcg. My question is does anyone know why there would be such a big increase in a short space of time?

Thyroid function test

Serum free T4 level 11.5 pmol/L [7.7 - 15.1]

Serum TSH level 15.6 miu/L [0.34 - 5.6]

Above high reference limit

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Henson1980 profile image
Henson1980
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tattybogle profile image
tattybogle

basically because that's what TSH does when the system is working as it should .. because your ft4 was low TSH went up . If thyroid can't produce enough extra T4/3 in response to stimulus from TSH to produce more .. then the pituitary gland still senses low T4/3 and keeps putting out more and more TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone) in an attempt to boot your thyroid into action.. but if there's something wrong with your thyroid it simply can't respond adequately.

tattybogle profile image
tattybogle in reply to tattybogle

just had a quick look back at your old posts .. if you have difficulty raising levo dose then you could do it gradually by increasing to 112.5 for a few weeks first to get used to it before the full increase of 25mcg. You can either split a 25 tablet in half each day or take 100 one day and 125 the next to get 112.5mcg.

But basically you have needed an increase for at least 4 months since TSH was over 3 back then.. and so this explains why it continued to go up and up since then.

Its just a signal to ask for more T4 /3.. if you ignore it ,it will get 'louder' (higher).

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Did you take Biotin in the week before the test?

Or drink coffee before the test?

Or have the second test a lot earlier in the day than the first test?

All those things could have affected your TSH.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

What time of day do you take levothyroxine

Always on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

No other medications or supplements within 2 hours

Some like iron, magnesium, calcium, vitamin D at least 4 hours away

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Are you taking any other medications

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Looking at previous post

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Have you got rid of Teva brand

Previous post before that 5 months ago showed you were very under medicated then

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Have you had coeliac blood test done as recommended a year ago

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Are you now on strictly gluten free diet

Henson1980 profile image
Henson1980

Coeliac test came back fine. I did get rid of the teva brand now trying to find a pharmacy that can give me 125 in the same brand.

I take my levo as soon as I get up with water and breakfast an hour later.

Taking Vit d, magnesium, selenium and vit b complex late afternoon.

Nothing taken morning of the test and no coffee etc

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Henson1980

So you normally get Almus via Boots which is Accord brand Also called Northstar via Lloyds

Accord don’t make 25mcg tablets

So you either need prescription for 50mcg tablets and cut in half

Or try Mercury Pharma brand or Wockhart brand, both make 25mcg tablets

Henson1980 profile image
Henson1980 in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you. Do Mercury Pharma do 100mcg?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Henson1980

Yes Mercury Pharma make 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets

Henson1980 profile image
Henson1980 in reply to SlowDragon

That’s really good to know thank you!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Only 5% of Hashimoto’s patients are coeliac

But further 80% of Hashimoto’s patients find strictly gluten free diet helps, often significantly or is absolutely essential as detailed in earlier replies

The only way to know if that includes you is to try it

But as you are currently very under medicated it’s more important to get levothyroxine dose sorted and increaseD first

Suggest you wait 2-3 months, getting levothyroxine dose optimal FIRST

Plus getting vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 all tested and supplement to bring to optimal if necessary

Vitamin D at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better

Serum B12 at least over 500

Folate and ferritin at least half way through range

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