Results sound concerning as tsh 0.08, T4 20.3. Both out of normal range?
Dr phone appt not for 3 weeks unless I request an urgent appt . Do you think I ought to or am I ok to wait?
I have been taking 100mcg a day for a few yrs
Feeling very well at mo, energetic and fit Decided to lose weight last jan as near the top of BMI for my height- now 1.5 stone lighter. Lowest weight for 25yrs! Middle age spread -gone. Done by low carb diet
Any advice gratefully received or comments on results
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suzieh
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I did it really slowly jan -July 1lb a week! Nhs calorie counting app- daily, 1200 cals per day. Only hungry for first 2 weeks. Had a cup a soup to fill me up when needed, an apple or rice cake as snacks. Basically - very low carb but not low fat!
Was this test done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Recommend you get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done yourself privately BEFORE considering any dose reduction
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription
For full Thyroid evaluation you need 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)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
Great you’ve lost the weight. But please be careful you don’t lose the vitamins you need to help in converting T4 to active T3. I did what you have done some years ago losing 1lb a week for ages. I didn’t realise I was also losing vital vitamins due to my eating habits. Have you had your vitamins checked recently. B12, ferritin, folate and vit D.
Thank you- just considering a private blood test, to check, if Dr won’t agree to this. I do take a multi vit every day and some vit d supplements 2 x a week
If you feel well on this dose , then even if TSH is slightly under range (and fT4 ? slightly over range, might not be until you know the range some are [12-22]) .. then i wouldn't worry about your current results ... GP may disagree and tell you they worry about heart and bone risks.
I was concerned about my long term low TSH (0.05 ish with fT4 slightly over range sometimes) and so i did a lot of reading of research papers.
I found a large long term study showing the risks associated with low TSH were not a problem until TSH goes below 0.04
The risks for TSH 0.04 to 0.4 were in fact no greater than risks for TSH 0.4 to 4 (ie. normal range), and even then, the risks for 0.04 - 0.4 were still less than than risks of TSH over 4.... and we don't hear any doctors trying to frighten people about the risks of TSH over 4.
GP's are unlikely to have looked at it in this much detail .. they just see the bullet points that "low TSH =risk"
These threads contain a link to that evidence , and also contain other useful discussions on the subject of risks of low TSH vs quality of life.
IF you/GP do wish to reduce dose i would try to negotiate a very small reduction in dose rather than accept a 25mcg reduction just because that's what size the tablets come in. You could reduce by 12.5mcg/day or less.. for example by taking alternate doses or halving a 25mcg tablet.
I once reduced dose due to blood results when i was feeling relatively well ... it left me on the sofa again and even though we later put the dose back up, to be honest it was very difficult if not impossible to regain my former sense of well being and fitness.
So since you feel well on this dose, think carefully before you agree to a reduction.
I have once been overmedicated and with hindsight it was obvious .. i had over frequent bowel movements and a fine tremor in my fingers.... classic signs of overmedication, and in that case a reduction of 12.5mcg meant i gradually felt improved But then based on my bloods still being out of range they wanted to reduce it by a further 12.5mcg.. which i did and it led to chronic constipation and loss of wellbeing.. so GP put dose back up , even though TSH /fT4 were still out of range. saying he didn't want to make me ill.,, but that little adventure messed me up for months .
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