TSH levels article?

[PhotoL]

I have just been for my annual blood tests to check my TSH levels and will therefore have contact with the GP next week to discuss my Levo prescription. I tried last year to get them to increase my prescription when my TSH was at 1.9 but failed miserably to convince them (I was offered HRT to solve my problems instead) this time I am insisting on an actual face to face apt and want to go in armed I know I have seen posts on here about current guidance in the UK for TSH levels for patients with Hashimotos and I would appreciate someone pointing me to this and/or any other information I can take to go into battle with. TIA

I AM IN THE UK so anything specifically UK related would be fabulous.

[DippyDame]

TSH is not the way to monitor dose requirements!

This test was designed to diagnose hypothyroidism....not to monitor treatment. It measures the pituitary response to serum thyroid hormone level....High or low.

It gives no indication of the level of each hormone ( T4 and T3) or the requirement to adjust either

Medics have been wrongly taught about TSH for years and patients are suffering as a consequence....they look for a higher TSH before medicating/ increasing dose.

When correctly medicated TSH should be 1 or lower but the bottom line is that FT3 is the most important lab followed by FT4

Symptoms ( face to face clinical evaluation!) should be an integral part of diagnosis but they are frequently side lined in favour of impersonal numbers on a screen

The following should help you build your case...

John Midgley is TUK's advisor "diogenes"

Anthony Toft is a former physician to the Queen

All are eminent in the field

Not people your GP can dismiss!!

thyroidpatients.ca/2021/07/...

bmcendocrdisord.biomedcentr...

Time for a reassessment of the treatment of hypothyroidism

John E. M. Midgley, Anthony D. Toft, Rolf Larisch, Johannes W. Dietrich & Rudolf Hoermann

[PhotoL in reply to DippyDame]

I totally agree but getting diagnosed during Covid and never actually having a face to face appointment with my Dr makes it all a bit difficult I am going in armed next week. Thanks for you help.

[DippyDame in reply to PhotoL]

Hope consultation goes well!

[Pearlteapot]

The article often referred to is by Dr Toft in Pulse magazine. You have to email admin and ask for it [e-mail]

I did the same a few days ago and admin were very very quick to respond. It's paragraph 6 you want on TSH levels

[PhotoL in reply to Pearlteapot]

thank you I have emailed to request this.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Strongly recommend getting full thyroid and vitamin testing done yourself BEFORE seeing GP

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

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

Is this how you do your tests ?

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 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

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...