levothyroxine thyroid levels worried for my wife,help

[Brothergrim101]

hi all,my wife had a full thyroid removal a number of years ago and has really struggled to get her thyroxine levels under control. after her bloods yesterday she was 58? And should of been 4? I think she's now under an endocrinologist She's worried and frightened that they'll never been under control or will affect long term health ater they where initally too low. I'm not sure what to ask or say to help any advice wouldbe appreciated.

[pennyannie]

Hello Brothergrim and welcome to the forum :

Can you please give a little more detail such as when and why your wife had a thyroidectomy and do you or your wife have access to her medical records online and can see what this number of 58 relates to, and the details of her most recent thyroid function blood test ?

[shaws Administrator]

Other members will also respond.

It's no wonder you and your wife are worried but the majority on this forum have found most GPs useless and are not too happy with their enocrinologists.

I am assuming your wife has only been prescribed levothyroxine? If so she may not convert this (T4 - inactive) into the active thyroid hormone (T3). Our brains and hearts have the most T3 receptor cells.

I have my thyroid gland but could only recover when I was prescribed T3 - liothyronine.

T4 (levo) is an inactive hormone and is expected to convert to T3 (active hormone) but many of us cannot do so. Many people seem to do o.k. on T4 but many cannot and I am another who cannot.

I feel for your wife and know how she will probably wonder if this is how her life will be from now on. That's not the case and we have to ensure that our T3 is optimum. My life is now 'normal' thankfully as a problem with our thyroid gland can make us symptomatic and we cannot figure out when given a 'replacement' i.e. T4 or T3 that we can still feel unwell until we have an optimum dose,

This is the procedure we should use when we have a blood draw for our thyroid hormones.

Always make the very earliest appointment. Do not take thyroid hormones before but afterwards. Always take them with one glass of water on an empty stomach and wait an hour before eating.

p.s. you can read my profile if you click on my name.

Other members will also respond.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Can you give us a bit more information

How much levothyroxine is your wife taking

Does she always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Always get printed copies of test results or online access

What was reason for thyroidectomy

She is legally entitled to printed copies of 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

 

For full Thyroid evaluation she needs TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when on levothyroxine, especially if not correctly treated

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 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...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

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...

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Brothergrim101

her bloods yesterday she was 58? And should of been 4?

Every blood test has a reference range, this would seem to be a TSH test as this is the one with the lowest range, usually something like 0.27-4.20. Please find out exactly what tests have been done, full results with reference ranges and post here. If this reesult is the TSH test then a level of 58 means that she is very hypothyroid.

I think she's now under an endocrinologist

Surely she knows?