Thyroid

[Jaycee40]

My recent thyroid test showed TSH Level 0.62. Doctor says all normal. I’m on 100 Thyroxine for 3 days & 125 for 4 days. I’ve had an under active Thyroid for 22 years but have never had a specific consultation about this & have relied on this site for basic information. Could someone please tell me what these figures mean & should I go for a private blood test. I’ve added 4 stone to my weight during those years & currently am suffering extreme dry skin. I am 81 years old.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Jaycee40

Just measuring TSH is not an indicator of thyroid status. TSH is not a thyroid hormone, it is pituitary hormone. The thyroid hormones are FT4 and FT3 and for a full picture we should also have these tested. Unfortunately it appears that doctors don't realise this, they are taught that if TSH is within range (wherever it be, high, low or middling) then everything is fine and the patient can't possibly have thyroid-related symptoms. In reality, the aim of a treated Hypo patient on Levo only, generally, is for TSH to be 1 or below with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their reference ranges, if that is where you feel well.

So your TSH is where is should be, but that doesn't mean that your FT4 and FT3 are optimal. Dry skin and difficulty losing weight are hypothyroid symptoms. You could be undermedicated but you can't possibly know until FT4 and FT3 have also been tested.

In your position I would do a private test. The cheapest one for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 is MonitorMyHealth, it is a fingerprick test offered to the general public by an NHS lab and costs £26.10 with discount code, details here:

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

It's important for us to have key nutrients at optimal levels for thyroid hormone to work properly. If you wanted to do the thyroid test plus all the key nutrients in one test then the following options are available and can be done with a fingerprick test or, for extra cost, you can arrange venous blood draw:

Medichecks ADVANCED THYROID FUNCTION medichecks.com/products/adv...

Check this page for details of any discounts: thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

or

Blue Horizon Thyroid PREMIUM GOLD bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Check this page for discount code thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

If you opt for a fingerprick test and want some tips on how best to do it, please ask and I will post them.

Always advised here, when having thyroid tests:

* Blood draw no later than 9am. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, an increase in dose of Levo or to avoid a reduction then we need the highest possible TSH

* Nothing to eat or drink except water before the blood draw. This is because eating can lower TSH and coffee can affect TSH.

* If taking thyroid hormone replacement, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then last dose should be 8-12 hours before blood draw. Adjust timing the day before if necessary. This avoids measuring hormone levels at their peak after ingestion of hormone replacement. Take your thyroid meds after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.

* If you take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin (B7), leave this off for 7 days before any blood test. This is because if Biotin is used in the testing procedure it can give false results (most labs use biotin).

These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with phlebotomists or doctors.

[Jaycee40 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you so much for such a detailed explanation. I really didn’t know any of those things you mentioned & I considered myself well informed. I will read & re-read your post & thank you once again for taking the trouble to explain so much to me.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jaycee40]

Low vitamin levels are EXTREMELY common as we get older

Low vitamin levels are very common when taking levothyroxine

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking, if any

Strongly recommend getting full thyroid and vitamin testing done….privately if necessary

ALWAYS test thyroid levels as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

If yes, which brand

Many people find different brands are not interchangeable

Come back with new post once you get results