Hi. I was diagnosed with hashimotos around 10 years ago. I had a routine NHS blood test last week. On the same day my GP phoned and was surprised I was awake. She told me that my TSH was high so knowing that I needed a bigger picture blood test, I went private. My ft4 is normal. My TSH is 51.79 (shouldn't go past 4) and my ft3 is 2.91 ( normal range starts at 3.1). To me it's obvious that I don't convert T4 to t3. I'm waiting to see an endocrinologist. I have my private blood results but I'm anticipating a fight in order to get a t3 prescription. I'm currently on levo 150mcg which is keeping me alive and nothing else. I have no energy and I'm feeling very low. Does anyone know where I can find a list of t3 friendly endocrinologists? I don't know where else to turn. Thank you for reading. Jo
High TSH. Low ft3: Hi. I was diagnosed with... - Thyroid UK
High TSH. Low ft3
Jojo,
Given your TSH you need an immediate increase in levo!
I don't think you can consider how well you convert until your TSH is around 1. At the moment you're desperately undermedicated.
Do you have your actual T4 result ?
Hi. Yes. Total T4 is 92.1 FT4 is 13 and ATH abs is 337
What is the range? On the FT4
Range for total T4 is 66-181. Range for FT4 is 12-22
Free T4 (fT4) 13 pmol/L (12 - 22)
So Ft4 is only 10.0% through range
When adequately treated most people will have Ft4 at least 60-70% through range…..or higher
Do you always take your levothyroxine on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
No other medications or vitamin supplements within 2 hours. Some like HRT, PPI, iron, calcium, magnesium or vitamin D need to be at least 4 hours away from levothyroxine
Just read below you have only been on 150mcg for 10 days
Testing was far too soon after latest increase
You will need to wait and retest after minimum of 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
come back with new post once you get results after 6-8 weeks on 150mcg levothyroxine
Meanwhile get vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels tested
The blood test for the GP was done when I was on 125mcg. I'd been on that dose for a year. That came back as my TSH was very high so she put me up to 150mcg which I've been taking for 10/14 days. The second blood test I got done was so that I could see what the numbers are before I meet the consultant endo.
Welcome to the forum
Was test done early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
What’s your Ft4 result and range
First step is to get GP to increase levothyroxine by 25mcg
Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription
ESSENTIAL to get GP to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
When were vitamin levels last tested
Have you had coeliac blood test done
Or are you already on strictly gluten free diet
What was previous test results
How long have you been on 150mcg levothyroxine
I'm on 20,000iu vitamin D monthly as I was found to be deficient so it's worth checking them again.
Low selenium can cause high TSH with low fT3 and normal fT4. What is your fT4 (and reference interval)? Although selenium deficiency is a cause of this profile I've never actually seen anyone on the forum who has had it, so it is rare in the UK.
How long have you been taking 150mcg levothyroxine?
And how much levothyroxine were you taking when you did the blood test that’s come back with a TSH of 51.79?
I've was on 125mcg until 10 days ago when it was upped to 150mcg. The blood test was a fasting one done at 8.30am. I do everything I'm meant to including gluten free. I was last tested a year ago and I was told I was on too much levo (150mcg). The levo is PLIVA and it's been the same make for years. I forgot to mention that I've had a headache that I can't shift and I was wondering if that was because my pituitary gland is working hard?
please add country you live in on your profile
Pliva ?
Not a U.K. brand
Or did you mean Teva?
Teva. I'm in the uk
Request/insist GP test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels before consultation with endocrinologist
Plus coeliac blood test if not already on strictly gluten free diet
Or test privately
Or get endocrinologist to do testing
Headache is common hypothyroid symptom
Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine.
Teva contains mannitol as a filler, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half
But for some people (usually if lactose intolerant, Teva is by far the best option)
Aristo (currently 100mcg only) is lactose free and mannitol free. May
Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord
Mercury Pharma make 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets
Accord only make 50mcg and 100mcg tablets
Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots, and Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg via Lloyds ....but Accord doesn’t make 25mcg tablets
beware 25mcg Northstar is Teva
List of different brands available in U.K.
thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...
Posts that mention Teva
healthunlocked.com/search/p...
Teva poll
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.
Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.
Government guidelines for GP in support of patients if you find it difficult/impossible to change brands
gov.uk/drug-safety-update/l...
If a patient reports persistent symptoms when switching between different levothyroxine tablet formulations, consider consistently prescribing a specific product known to be well tolerated by the patient.
academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...
Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).
Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime
verywellhealth.com/best-tim...
markvanderpump.co.uk/blog/p...
No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.
Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away
(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
Similarly if normally splitting your levothyroxine, take whole daily dose 24 hours before test
Increasing number of members find it smoother/more tolerable to split levothyroxine as two smaller doses, half dose waking, half dose at bedtime.
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Help!.. tsh is low & ft3 is high
very low tsh and high ft3 on ndt
Low tsh, high ft4 and ft3 - is it hyperthyroidism?
TSH low, ft3 low, ft4 high... Still feel awful!
Low FT4 With Normal FT3 and TSH?
Low FT3 FT4 but normal TSH?
High T4, low range FT3
Normal TSH, FT3, FT4, Very high TGAB
Help for my bro, High TSH yet perfect Ft3 and Ft3
