Endo appointment help - bloods taken

[KillashandraRee]

Hi all. I have a follow up Endo appointment next week and would appreciate your advice.

Currently taking 5mcg T3 x 3 times a day (total 15mcg daily) and T4 - 75 mcg per day for 5 days of the week and 50mcg for 2 days per week. After previous results (see June below), endo was concerned about TSH being 0.01. My GP however is not concerned and is comfortable if I am feeling well (which I am). I reduced T4 after June results below and retested 6 weeks later in late July which shows a difference in taking less T4. My question is, should lowering T4 affect TSH? (from my results below I would say not) and to ask what Endo might try to do to get the TSH up again at my appointment and why etc. Can low TSH really affect heart function etc.? Would I be better on T3 only?

Thanks so much as always.

Results

July 2022 - T3 - 5.1 (3.1-6.8). T4 - 14 (11-22). TSH - 0.01

June 2022 - T3 - 6.0 (3.1-6.8). T4 - 16(11-22). TSH - 0.01

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

KillashandraRee

endo was concerned about TSH being 0.01

Endo ought to know that taking T3 is going to lower, and often suppresses TSH.

I reduced T4 after June results below and retested 6 weeks later in late July which shows a difference in taking less T4. My question is, should lowering T4 affect TSH? (from my results below I would say not)

It taking Levo only then taking less would normally lower FT4 and TSH would rise to some extent, but TSH can be slow to react, certainly not as quickly as FT4. But because you're taking T3 chances are TSH wont rise or, if it does, it will be minimal.

and to ask what Endo might try to do to get the TSH up again at my appointment and why etc.

To get your TSH back into range you would probably have to reduce or stop your T3 and that's going to make you unwell, you wouldn't be prescribed it if you didn't need it.

Can low TSH really affect heart function etc.?

It's a myth, along with low TSH causing osteoporosis.

See replies by our advisor and thyroid researcher Diogenes, here are a couple:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...are-my-doctor-and-endo-correct-that-my-tsh-being-suppressed-is-not-good-and-i-should-lower-my-levothyroxine?responses=148335853

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

and the myth about osteoporosis is towards the end of this article:

thyroiduk.org/further-readi...

[KillashandraRee in reply to SeasideSusie]

Awesome! Thanks SeasideSusie

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You really need another blood test now

How much was levothyroxine reduced from

Ft4 dropped by 2 points between June and July

Ft4 might now right at bottom of range …or lower

You are quite likely to need to increase levothyroxine dose back up

Many people find on levothyroxine plus T3 they need BOTH Ft4 and Ft3 at least 50% through range

July

FT4: 14 pmol/l (Range 11 - 22)

Ft4 only 27.27% through range

FT3: 5.1 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 54.05% through range

June

FT4: 16 pmol/l (Range 11 - 22)

Ft4 only 45.45% Through range

FT3: 6 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 78.38% through range

You might need to reduce T3 to 10mcg per day if you increased levothyroxine…..eg as 5mcg waking, 2.5mcg mid afternoon and 2.5mcg bedtime

When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

[KillashandraRee in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks so much SlowDragon, I have my endo appointment today so will take this info with me. Much appreciated!

[KillashandraRee in reply to KillashandraRee]

I only dropped T4 to 100mcg for two days of the week, taking my normal 125mcg for the rest of the week. No vitamin tests of late. I’m taking selenium D3, K2, folate and B12, but might have not been every day around that time to be honest!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Also …looking through previous posts

Don’t think you ever had both TPO and TG antibodies tested

NHS only tests TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are high

As your TPO antibodies were negative you would need to test privately via Medichecks or Blue horizon