Latest results

[Doris11]

Good morning my latest test results say my TSH is 0.02 mu/ l (0.27-4.20)

TSH was 0.11 sept 21!

T4 16.7 pmol (12-22) Nov 21

T4 16.2 pmol (12-22) sept 21

I am currently on a dose of 75mcgs levothyroxine

Is this dose too high? I deffo feel better than last year ( maybe I am subclinical)?

Kind regards

[greygoose]

Subclinical what?

No, your dose is not too high, because your FT4 is only 47% through the range. Which means that your FT3 will be slightly lower. And, you are only over-medicated if your FT3 is over-range, you are not likely to be over-medicated. TSH is a very bad indicator of thyroid status, despite what doctors think!

[Doris11 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you 🙏

[greygoose in reply to Doris11]

You're welcome.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Just testing TSH and Ft4 is completely inadequate

Never agree to dose reduction based just on these results

(GP likely to want to reduce dose as TSH is low)

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Do you have autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Low vitamin levels common as we get older too

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 and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

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...

If you 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...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

[Horizon_Hacker in reply to SlowDragon]

I read your detailed reply and had a question. If one was taking Levothyroxine post thyroid removal, should the dose be delayed until after the morning blood test or is that just messing up what the replacement thyroxine is doing? Confused, I am!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Horizon_Hacker]

Yes you should leave 24 hours between last dose levothyroxine and testing

So if you take levothyroxine in morning, simply delay until after test

ALWAYS test as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water

NHS England Liothyronine guidelines July 2019 clearly state on page 13 that TSH should be between 0.4-1.5 when OPTIMALLY treated with just Levothyroxine

Note that it says test should be in morning BEFORE taking levothyroxine

Also to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin

sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploa...

[Horizon_Hacker in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you very much 😍

[JAmanda]

If you feel well then the dose is perfect; if you don’t feel optimal and still have symptoms then you have room for an increase. I’d get full tests done privately before doing so though - Medichecks or Blue Horizon or other - because you really need to see your T3 along with t4 and tsh for full picture. If testing blood, get blood drawn 24 hrs after last dose Levo and a week away from vitamins containing biotin.