Advice on test results after 3 months on levo:

[Gehh]

Hi everyone,

Can anoyone provide any insight on these test results please? I've been on 100mg Levo for the past 3 months and TSH came back very low, does this mean my dose is too high?

I have felt such a change in energy since starting and my muscles don't feel weak anymore yay and i haven't noticed any negative side effects! However i am still struggling to lose weight despite doing more exercise and controlling my calories, is this normal? Maybe i need to give it more time.

Any advice would be much appreciated - thank you so much

G

[SlowDragon Administrator]

FT4: 15.6 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 only 36.00% through range

FT3: 4.1 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 only 27.03% through range

Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range

thyroid.dopiaza.org/

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

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Vitamin D….look at reducing dose vitamin D to maintenance dose

Have you folate tested

Definitely not over medicated

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo

[Gehh in reply to SlowDragon]

So i don't actually supplement any vit D and i the only supplements i take are a female hormone support (containing Vitamin B6, Ashwaganda, Chasteberry, Omega 3, Magnesium, Turmeric)

I haven't had folate tested since starting levo but it was good back in May (pic of results attached)

I'm 60kg.

Thank you so much

test results

[DippyDame]

Don't be concerned about the TSH....though medics are frequently still fixated on this unreliable marker....science proves otherwise!

thyroidpatients.ca/2021/07/...

TSH is a pituitary, not a thyroid hormone....it reflects the overall hormone level in the serum, not the level of each thyroid hormone/ FT4 and FT3.

Don't be persuaded by GPs to adjust your dose on the basis of a TSH reading.....they MUST also factor in your symptoms

FT3 followed by FT4 are the important labs....in your case both are too low leaving you undermedicated

3 months is long enough for levo to have settled into your system so adding 25mcg now ( to 125mcg) will very possibly help.....you have plenty room to increase your dose

So long as FT3 remains in range you will not be overmedicated.

FT4 and FT3 should roughly be approaching 75% through their respective ref ranges.....note SlowDragon's calculations and link to calculator

Ensure vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin are all optimal to suport thyroid function

Good luck

[pennyannie]

Hello Gehh ;

Once on any form of thyroid hormone replacement the TSH is the least important measure of anything and we should be dosed and monitored on our Free T3 and Free T4 results.

We generally feel at our best when our T4 is in the top quadrant of the range as this should convert to good level of T3 - at around a 1/4 ratio T3/T4 - as it is T3 that runs your body and metabolism.

T4 - Levothyroxine is a storage hormone and the body converts T4 into T3 as needed, with the brain and cognitive functions taking the lions share.

Your ability to convert T4 into T3 can be compromised by non optimal levels of ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D and antibodies, inflammation, and any physiological stress ( emotional or physical ) depression, dieting and ageing will also compound one's conversion of T4 into T3.

Dieting is not recommended and would suggest until you find a dose that you stabilise on you should also ease off the exercise as both these regimes can restrict and deplete T3 and you can find yourself in a vicious circle.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

please add to profile wether male or female and approx age

And which country based in

[Gehh in reply to SlowDragon]

yes sorry - Female 29 yrs old, based in UK and Dubai (approx 6 months in each)

[silverbelle51]

My only advice is to share my experience with you and let you be your own judge. First I believe I was mis-diagnosed. I was diagnosed on a single TSH and immediately told I needed Levo. I had no sx of hypothyroid. After 4 3/4 years of feeling like I was on some type of "speed" first with 50mcg and the next year bumped up to 75mcg. I was quite literally falling apart and that is for someone who was walking 2 miles a day / 3 days a week and managing a goat herd of about 45 goats and managing their kids as they were born. Fatigue and crippling joint pain were unbearable. At the end of the 1st year my BP which was always an athletes vital sign was creeping up and I was started on low dosage BP drugs. It was an ugly 4 3/4 years, but after we sold our herd I started to do some serious researching and decided that my TSH # could have been off for a number of reason my doctor never went farther than a single TSH, but why? What was the root cause? To cut to the chase I weaned myself and started to take reasonable supplements to support a healthy thyroid. Haven't recovered totally , but after all my body suffered insults for 4 3/4 years I may never fully recover cause Levo shuts down healthy function and replaces it with a chemical. My suggestion is be sure of your diagnosis, the etiology of your problem cause if you are treating symptoms you will never be well. Read other people's experiences and do your own research, but most of all know the etiology of your symptoms or you will always be like a kitten chasing his tail. God Bless you and I pray restored health for you.

[kellyjm02]

Hi, your TSH & FT4 are not to dissimilar from mine. I have discussed it with my GP and he has suggested alternating between 100mcg & 75mcg every other day to raise my TSH. The problem for me is that the brand of Levothyroxine I prefer (Mercury Pharma) do not seem to manufacture a 75mcg tablet size but if you cam manage it with your choice of supplier then it might be worth a try….

[Gehh in reply to kellyjm02]

Thank you, so good to know