So in March 2022 my results were:
- Serum TSH level (XaELV) 1.28 miu/L [0.35 - 4.94]
Then in June 2022 recently it is now:
- Serum TSH level 2.68 mu/L [0.35 - 4.94]
I am medicated 50mg a day currently, my doctor has noted this….
“Serum TSH level Report, Normal, No Further Action”
But to me a raising TSH in three months isn’t a great sign considering I’m medicated? Does this mean my meds are no longer working?
It tends to point to you needing an increase in dose.
Request 25mcg dose increase in levothyroxine
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase
Doctors have said because it’s normal range no further action to be taken and they don’t want to increase. Will be tested again next year 🙄I will now have to test privately in the meantime. I’m not waiting!
Presumably you have autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Have you had coeliac blood test done yet
When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
You may want to initially increase dose slowly, 75mcg and 50mcg on alternate days
Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking
Many people find different brands are not interchangeable
Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine.
Teva contains mannitol as a filler, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half
No i was tested on antibodies back in 2020 and that seemed in the normal range.
I don’t think i have had a coeliac test, where can you get these (presumably private)
I have had very low vitamin d in the past, just waiting to see if doctors tested this and if not will be getting it private.
No vitamins taken
I’m on Mercury pharma as i couldn’t tolerate teva as you said i reacted like most do on it.
How much vitamin D are you currently taking
With thyroid disease we frequently need higher than average continuous daily maintenance dose vitamin D
Vitamin D tablets need to be four hours away from levothyroxine
Vitamin D drops or mouth spray only 1-2 hours
NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required
ouh.nhs.uk/osteoporosis/use...
GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol. Some CCG areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol
leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...
GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)
mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...
But with Hashimoto’s, improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...
vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...
Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.
Test twice yearly once with thyroid and once
via NHS private testing service when supplementing
Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.
There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7. One spray = 1000iu
amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...
Another member recommended this one recently
Vitamin D with k2
amazon.co.uk/Strength-Subli...
It’s trial and error what dose we need, with hashimoto’s we frequently need higher dose than average
Vitamin D and thyroid disease
grassrootshealth.net/blog/t...
Vitamin D may prevent Autoimmune disease
newscientist.com/article/23...
Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7
Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine
betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...
medicalnewstoday.com/articl...
livescience.com/61866-magne...
sciencedaily.com/releases/2...
Great article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium
drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...
Vitamin K2 mk7
Turns out I’ve currently got an infection probably chest, which is why i guess my TSH might be raised.
That’s unlikely
50mcg is only a starter dose of levothyroxine
Typically dose is increased slowly upwards in 25mcg steps until on approx 1.6mcg per kilo per day. Unless extremely petite likely to be at least 100mcg per day
Just testing TSH is completely inadequate
Suggest you order FULL thyroid and vitamin testing…..but don’t test until chest infection cleared
ALWAYS do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
NHS only tests TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are positive. Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies
Approx 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune
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
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis) usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s
Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.
Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.
In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally before 9am
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Are you in the U.K.?
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options and money off codes
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
New Blood Results 27/2/23
Advice on latest test results
My blood test results say, 'Below low reference limit'.
Help with new test results. 
