I have been informed i have a TSH of 12.5. I have just started taking medication on 50 and going to be tested again in Feb.
Any advice?
I have been informed i have a TSH of 12.5. I have just started taking medication on 50 and going to be tested again in Feb.
Any advice?
welcome to the forum 😊
I’m tagging a couple people in who will be able to quickly provide you with a lot of info. SlowDragon , SeasideSusie .
Positives, you actually been diagnosed, your doctor has started you on 50ug of Levothyroxine. You have found this forum rich with lived experience and extremely knowledgeable.
You will get far better advice from this forum than most GPs and a fair few Endos. You do need to understand your own condition and not just be ‘doctored’ to ensure you receive the right treatment.
Click on my face on this reply and it will take you to my profile. My bio is an example of what can happen. Finding this forum saved my life. My GP was clueless and started me on 25ug.
SlowDragon and SeasideSusie and others got me on track. My latest post lists the factors that got me well 🤗
One thing I would say is did the doctor ONLY test TSH?😱 AND if you are on 50ug now February may be a bit too long to wait to get a dose increase - my doctors just went with a see you in three months- I needed a dose increase sooner as you can feel symptoms coming back so listen to your body. If you read nothing else I have posted read my last post. 😉 link below
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
And when posting lab results always add the units and the ranges (in brackets) .
You are so lucky to have found this forum. I am well ONLY because of their advice - no exaggeration ❤️
welcome to the forum
First thing is, do you have any other results?
Ideally GP should have tested thyroid antibodies to see if the cause of your hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease
Have you also had vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels tested, or coeliac blood test done yet
You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.
The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results
UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
Link re access
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet
Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.
Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
So that’s late November/early December….not February
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
Good vitamin levels helps improve how well levothyroxine works
About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, 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.
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)
20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis
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 just before 9am 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 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...
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
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...
50mcg levothyroxine is only the standard starter dose
Typically dose is increased slowly upwards in 25mcg steps over 6-12 months until on approx full replacement dose (usually approx 1.6mcg levothyroxine per kilo of your weight per day….some need higher dose, a few need less)
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase
I have got my blood results, i will put them on the forum in a bit. I do not undersrand them so hopfully you can help.
helpful if you add your age and country on your profile info
Was test done early morning
Please add results and ranges (figures in brackets after each result)
Ideally GP would have tested
TSH
Ft4
Ft3+
TPO antibodies
TG antibodies
Vitamin D
Folate
Ferritin
B12
Tests were done at 8.30amm
I am also taking vit D and iron as well as 50 L
iron supplements must be 4 hours away from levothyroxine and 2 hours away from vitamin D
Vitamin D should be taken with food, one with the most fat in it, so that’s usually dinner and at least 4 hours away from levothyroxine
What dose vitamin D have you been prescribed
Do you know how low vitamin D was?
Others have said it already, so this is for emphasis.
Don’t let them make you wait until February!
50mcg is highly unlikely to be enough and following diagnosis you should be tested every 6-8 weeks to see how things are going.
First of all, don't think of what you are taking as 'medication'. It isn't medication in the normal sense of that word. It is thyroid hormone replacement - the thyroid hormone T4 - it is not a drug. It does not cure or heal your thyroid, it just replaces the hormone your thyroid can no-longer make enough of to keep you well.
Did they tell you how to take it for maximum absorption? You can take it whenever you like - first thing in the morning, or last thing at night. On condition that it is on an empty stomach, two hours after food or one hour before food and any other drinks other than water. You should keep it at least two hours away from any other supplements/medication, and four hours away from vit D, iron, calcium, magnesium and oestrogen.
Make sure your next test, whenever it it is - and I agree, February is far, far too long to wait! - make sure that your appointment is before 9 am, because that's when the TSH is highest. Don't eat or drink anything other than water before the blood draw. Leave a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the blood draw.