hypo/hyper

[Coco1230]

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism last year. i got my bloods checked recently,

TSH sitting at 1.74

Free T4 sitting at 14

what does this mean?

[T808]

Please post ranges because different labs have different ranges. It helps the people here assist you more. Are these results 24hrs after last levo dose? Thanks

[Coco1230 in reply to T808]

ive posted my previous results with ranges im guessing ranges will be the same as same clinic etc

these results are 12-16 hours after last dose.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Coco1230]

It really does help members to respond if you put the ranges with the results each time you post, this means that members don't have to go trawling through your old posts for ranges

Also, how much Levo are you taking?

And how do you feel?

[Coco1230 in reply to SeasideSusie]

true its because i just phoned the doctors up and asked. they did not print the results for me but i can ask..

I am currently taking 50mcg.

I am feeling ok have had upset stomach some days, still get a little tired not as much. mostly anxious and irritated i guess

[tattybogle]

So assuming ft4 range is same as it's from same lab , then fT4 14 [9-21] which is 41% through range

and TSh is 1.74 which is ok if you feel ok.

if you feel well at the moment then these results are fine ,and say you can carry on on this dose of levo ,, but if you feel slightly undermedicted / have any residual symptoms of hypothyroidism they show you have room to increase your levo dose a little bit .

Were these result taken after you'd been on 50mcg for at least 6 weeks ?

and was the blood taken 24 hrs after last dose levo or was the last dose taken closer than that ? ( this affects interpretation of fT4 result )

What time of day was the blood test ? ( this affects interpretation of TSH result)

[Coco1230 in reply to tattybogle]

thank you for your reply. it was taken around 5/6 months after being on that dose. not exactly sure when but has been good couple of months as the blood test is recent from last week.

i had taken my tablet at night time and blood test was around 12-16 hours after it.

thank you

[tattybogle in reply to Coco1230]

So assuming test was around midday ? then TSH would have been a little higher if done at 9am . also, if levo had been taken 24 hrs before instead of 12-16 then fT4 would have been a little lower .

Both would suggest a slightly increased dose of levo is likely to be a good idea .

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Coco1230]

Last dose levothyroxine should be 24 hours before test

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

Many people find different brands are not interchangeable

[Coco1230]

yeah it was around 3pm for blood test. yeah i just don’t want to fall into hyperthyroidism

[tattybogle in reply to Coco1230]

Don't worry , you can't fall into hyperthyroidism.

hyperthyroidism is when your own thyroid is continuously making too much T4 /T3 by itself .

if you take a higher dose of levo than you need , you may become overmedicated , but the solution to that is simply to reduce dose slightly , it's not really the same problem as hyperthyroidism ( although obviously the symptoms can be the same )

if test was 3 pm then that is close to lowest point for you TSH that day. so your 9 am TSH would definitely have been higher .

So a small dose increase to 75mcg / day is highly unlikely to take your TSH below range or your fT4 over range and should not present any danger at all of overmedication.

[Coco1230 in reply to tattybogle]

thank you. makes sense yes. also i lost about 2kg so was assuming i was going into hyper

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Always test thyroid levels early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH and lowest Ft4

Essential to get vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels tested

Request vitamin testing done

Thyroid results suggest you need dose increase in levothyroxine to 75mcg or initially to 50mcg and 75mcg alternate days (62.5mcg) daily

Looking at previous posts you were very hypothyroid and started on 100mcg …..then dose was halved.

Many people need to start levothyroxine slowly and increase dose slowly upwards

Standard starter dose of levothyroxine is 50mcg

Dose is typically increased slowly upwards in 25mcg steps over several months

Anxiety is common hypothyroid symptom