Hi I’ve been on levothyroxine for underactive thyroid, now blood test suggests I’m leaning more to overactive. Is this normal?
And is this connected to cholesterol raised? And I’ve just gone through menopause in 10 months??? According to blood test. (No symptoms) Is this connected? Thank you Lesley.
Didiane, Welcome to the forum.
Members need to see your actual thyroid test results to be able to offer their thoughts.
Also, what dose of levothyroxine were you taking when that test was done?
If you are hypothyroid, you cannot suddenly become hyperthyroid/over-active, it just doesn't work that way. You could be over-medicated, of course, but we can't know unless you give us your full numbers: results, ranges and dose.
Or, of course, you could have Hashi's. Have you had your antibodies tested? 
Hi there I was on 125mgAnd blood test results
Free T4 22.5pmol/l
TSH 0.09 mu/l
Doctor suggested taking 25mg every other day and re test in 3 months.
Thank you
Labs may use different machines and probably have different ranges. Ranges are the figures in brackets after the results and enables members to respond.
It is important to post the ranges of the results.
Do you follow this advice when having blood tests for thyroid hormones:-
Have the earliest possible blood draw.?
It is a fasting one but you can drink water.
Also do not take thyroid hormones before the test and take afterwards.
When you post results, the ranges must also be stated.
If you are currently taking 125 mcg please don't drop to a tiny 25 mcg dose every other day. That would be very bad for you! Any changes should be very small steps - dropping BY 25 mcg a day or every other day ....
But to know if you are really over-medicated, you need your free T3 result, which the GP is unlikely to test - although it's always worth asking. If s/he won't, it's worth doing a private test - of TSH, free T4 and free T3 (altogether, very early in the morning when TSH is highest, with 24 hours from your previous dose of levo) AND if you can, ideally also testing key nutrients - ferritin, folate, vit D and B12. You will see lots of posts here about private blood tests and results - and there are discounts on the main Thyroid UK site.
This is because, you really need free T3 to be nice and high. This is the active thyroid hormone needed in every cell of your body. Your free T4 (inactive thyroid hormone) converts into T3 - so if you are a very "poor converter" you can have high or over-range free T4 but still low-ish free T3, and then reducing your dose would not be a good thing to do.
How do you feel? If you feel fit and well, I'd be inclined to stay as you are - particularly if you can't get a free T3 blood result from the GP x
Didiane 'Doctor suggested taking 25mg every other day and re test in 3 months.'
Your doctor doesn't seem to understand the nature of the disease. Yes, your results do suggest that you need a dose reduction, but most definitely not to that ridiculously low level!
Presumably you were titrated up to the 125mcg over previous months? Typically you might have been on 100mcg at some stage? Can you post your previous test results when on lower doses?
And is this connected to cholesterol raised?
High cholesterol is typically associated with insufficient thyroid hormone, not with too much. However some people naturally have cholesterol results that are above the ranges, so don't be persuaded at this stage to take statins.
And I’ve just gone through menopause in 10 months???
Some people do seem to sail through the menopause with little to no symptoms, so you might be one of those fortunate women
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
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription
Just testing TSH and Ft4 is completely inadequate
You’re only over medicated if Ft3 is too high
NHS rarely tests Ft3
High cholesterol levels suggests low Ft3
Common to have poor conversion of Ft4 to Ft3 if vitamin levels are low
Before considering changing dose strongly recommend getting FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
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 once year minimum
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...
NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via
Come back with new post once you get results
If you were over medicated (unlikely) you would only reduce by TINY amount, eg 125mcg and 112.5mcg on alternate days
Well, those labs don't tell us much, I'm afraid. Your TSH is low, but not surprising with that high FT4 - just how high is is we have no way of knowing without the range.
But, the most important number isn't there: the FT3. Could be that you're a poor converter and although your FT4 is high, your FT3 could be low. And, you're only over-medicated if your FT3 is well over-range.
And rising cholesterol is telling us that your FT3 is much too low.
Is that what you mean by 'leaning towards overactive', low TSH and high FT4? Doesn't mean a thing without the FT3.
Your doctor is an idiot! He knows nothing about thyroid. Less than average, I would say.
But, even if you needed to reduce your dose, such a huge drop would make you very ill! You shouldn't reduce by more than 25 mcg every six weeks.
So, how was this test done? Was it doen early morning, before 9 am - after fasting over-night? Did you leave a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the blood draw?
You didn't answer my question about the antibodies. That is important to know.
Hi Didiane,
I breezed through the menopause about 6 months prior to Hashi's dx. I was 48yrs, and yes I think it is connected.
"Doctor suggested taking 25mg every other day and re test in 3 months." If this Dr is suggesting 100/125 every other day then he/she is better than most. If the suggestion is to drop to 25 every day then he's clueless.
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