Hi, I have recently been diagnosed and am on 25mg of levothyronine for the last 5 months.
My last results stated TSH 7.37 (0.35 - 5.5) and T4 21.4 (10.5 - 21) both seem high.
Not sure what this means, do I need to increase my levothyronine?
Any comments please
Welcome to the forum
Looking at your forum name are you male?
Standard starter dose of levothyroxine is 50mcg unless over 65 years old
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
Bloods should be done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Is this how you did last test?
If you took levothyroxine dose before test this explains high Ft4, despite high TSH
Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking
Have you had vitamin D, folate and ferritin levels tested
Or thyroid antibodies?
Contact GP for next 25mcg dose increase in levothyroxine and retest again in 6-8 weeks
This continues until TSH is ALWAYS under 2
Most people when adequately treated will have TSH around one
Sorry should have said this is not me but my wife. She is 67 with RA and other autoimmune problems
So as she’s 67 it was correct to start on just 25mcg levothyroxine
But bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase
The only difference in treatment is starting at 25mcg …..rather than starting on 50mcg
But still need dose increased slowly upwards in 25mcg steps until TSH is ALWAYS Under 2
So if she has RA this is autoimmune…..
So thyroid almost certainly autoimmune too
For full Thyroid evaluation she needs TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.
Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test
Thriva also offer just vitamin testing
If she can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3
£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via
If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s.
Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s.
Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue too
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
List of hypothyroid symptoms
thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...
Is she on strictly gluten free diet?
If not getting coeliac blood test done by GP or buy online BEFORE trialing strictly gluten free diet
Often helps with RA too
Welcome to our forum and am sorry you have hypothyroidism. However, members are very helpful and will assist you to recover your health.
This is the procedure for blood tests:-
Always get the earliest possible time - even if you've to make the appointment weeks ahead.
Don't take thyroid hormones before test, but afterwards.
Thyroid hormones are usually taken when we awake, with one full glass of water and wait an hour before eating. Food can interfere with the uptake of thyroid hormones.
The aim is gradual increases (about every six weeks) until TSH is around 1 or lower and Free T4 and Free T3 to be in the upper part of the ranges. (the latter two are rarely tested).
Always get a print-out for your own records and post if you have a query.
Also check B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. Everything has to be optmal.
Tsh and t4
TSH and T4 levels
High t4/High TSH
High TSH and High T4
Is this TSH and T4 too low?
