I finally heard from my Endo about my thyroid tests. He said to take 100 mg for 8weeks. Well I have felt awful during all this. Unable to sleep well feeling freezing cold even though it’s warm. Had IBS symptoms too. Here are results
Free T4. 24.6
TSH 0.7
Free T3 4.3
He suggests taking 100mg one day and 75mg the next.
sounds scary to me. My GP is calling later today to discuss.
Any thoughts will be appreciated
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Metgirl
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Please add reference ranges for your results, as these vary from lab to lab we need the ranges to be able to interpret your results and comment. At a guess I expect the FT4 is either close to the top of the range or over range and might be why a reduction in dose is suggested.
Are you in the UK? If so then your surgery may offer online access to results, if so then register for it and all information will show there. If not then ask the receptionist (not the doctor) for a print out, never accept verbal or hand written results because mistakes can be made and information may be missing. The reference ranges will be alongside the results on the print out, eg
TSH: 2.5 (0.27-4.20)
Come back with the ranges so that we can help you.
Also, did you do the test as we advise:
* No later than 9am
* Nothing to eat or drink except water before the test
* Last dose of Levo 24 hours before test to avoid either a false high or false low FT4 result
* No biotin, B Complex or other supplement containing biotin for 3-7 days before the test
Hi everyone. I wasn’t told to fast or to get blood done early. Consequently it was afternoon. I took levo night before. And didn’t eat till after anyway.
I take Vitamin D3 and B12. Early morning.
I asked my GP for a printout she said she couldn’t do one. I speak t her again via phone call at 3 pm today.
Hi just to add. My Endo is at Uk hospital and bloods done there. I assume the range used is whatever the UK ranges usually are if this helps. It’s first hospital tests I have had since my thyroidectomy in 2015.
I assume the range used is whatever the UK ranges usually are if this helps.
Unfortunately, no it doesn't help. There are no "UK ranges", ranges are specific to the equipment used by the lab and vary from lab to lab, hence it's essential to have the lab's ranges to be able to interpret the results.
You could contact the hospital lab and ask what the ranges are.
Was test done early morning ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription
Do you normally take levothyroxine waking or bedtime
ESSENTIAL to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
When were vitamin levels last tested
Ideally also full iron panel test if ferritin is low (below 60-70)
Looking at previous posts you had thyroidectomy ?
Approx how old are you
Pre or post menopause
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.
OK - as detailed in my last reply to you we generally feel at our best when our T4 is in the top quadrant of the range as this should in theory convert to a good level of T3 at around a conversion ratio of 1/4 - T3/T4 .
So, we haven't the ranges - but we can still work out how well you are converting the T4 into the T3 - as the body runs on T3 and not T4 :
The accepted conversion ratio when taking T4 monotherapy is said to be 1 / 3.50 - 4.50 and we generally feel at our best when we come in this range at 4 or under.
So if I divide your T3 result into your T4 result I'm getting your conversion coming in at around 5.70 - so very wide of centre and showing you struggling on T4 monotherapy.
Even with optimal vitamins and minerals I very much doubt you can make up this differential.
You have had a thyroidectomy and literally ' lost ' your own natural production of T3 and whilst the NHS have guess estimated of your ' lost ' T4 natural production they haven't as yet restored your own natural T3 guess estimate and now need to consider introducing a little T3 - Liothyronine to restore vital thyroid hormonal balance.
Your T4 is likely over the range and the suggestion may well be to reduce your T4 dose - an obvious simplistic knee jerk reaction but this may well reduce your T3 level even further and is only part of the answer as a little T3 - Liothyronine needs to be added back into the mix with a lower dose of T4 and your Free T3 and Free T4 levels measured again after around 6-8 weeks of being on a T3/T4 comb.
but when I took only T3 I was unwell so my Gp said stop it. Trouble is they won’t prescribe it again. Tablets are too small to cut even in half or I would be tempted to try that. X
You need to drop your T4 dose by around 25 mcg and wait a few days and then introduce a maximum first dose of 5mcg T3 -
What dose of T3 did you start on and did you reduce your dose of T4 to ' accommodate ' this new medication?
How are your ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D ?
I replied in some length on your previous post as to ensure your core strength is strong as no thyroid hormone works well until the vitamins and minerals are maintained at optimal .
Well I read that we need to find /convert around 50 T3 daily just to function - but I guess you still had T4 circulating in your body as that takes around 6-8 weeks to fully leave the body.
It's just a shame you weren't instructed on how to introduce, dose and monitor T3 alongside a slightly lower dose of T4.
First things first - no thyroid hormone replacement works well until your ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D are up and maintained at optimal levels.
Ok then - good luck - many of us get refused and need to arrange a full thyroid panel through one of the private blood test companies as listed on the Thyroid UK website who are the charity wo support this patient to patient forum.
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