I’m concerned about my TSH levels. I recently moved back to the U.K. after being abroad and having private medical care. While abroad, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s, and it has been very well controlled on 125mcg of thyroxin for 7 years. Upon returning to the U.K, I was tested, and with a record-low TSH of 0.26 they decreased my meds. Now, upon the retest, it is at 19.3 mu/L (free T4 is 17.3 pmol/L). I have been instructed to just keep taking the same decreased dose for the next 6 weeks when I’m retested, as I’m borderline…but I really think I am not borderline and that my TSH is far too high. I’m unsure what to do honestly, and whether to chase the doctors to increase my meds back up, or if it is actually ok. I called the Doctors and they said I just need to wait 6 weeks….any advice appreciated pleased, I am really concerned.
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LMills
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vitamins were tested and everything, all normal, as usual. Also as has been the case the past 7 years, my test was in the morning and I did all the usual things for best results, as per my doctor from my previous place of residence’s recommendation. The brand I used before- synthroid, is not available in the U.K. I have been told. Other than that, the Only thing not the same this time round of testing are my TSH and T4 levels. This test was 6-7 weeks after dose change. Doctors aren’t concerned with new levels, and I just want to know if I should also be unconcerned, or if it is not quite right, as I’ve never seen my levels like this since being diagnosed (they were even worse then, but never been anywhere near the same numbers since).
Thanks. In the previous test, t4 was above range 32 pmol (10-22), TSH was 0.24 (0.3-4.2), t3 wasn’t tested, but has always been within range for the past 7 years. It was after these results that they reduced my dose. I am starting to think I may need to go private.
So you may (like many with Hashimoto’s) have poor conversion of Ft4 to Ft3
And in order to get high enough Ft3 …..Ft4 would be over range
Or different brand levothyroxine here in U.K. was giving better absorption/higher levels and you were on too high a dose
With Ft4 over range first step would be to (cautiously) reduce levothyroxine a small amount ……personally I would only have reduced to 112.5mcg daily as first step
Thank you for the insight, so I shouldn't be concerned by the TSH level? I guess I should trust the doctors more, the results were just so different to how they have been since I first had it under control, and I was always able to discuss results with my doctor, but haven't been given that opportunity despite me calling and asking to. I was very overwhelmed. Thank you for your help and patience.
How much was your dose reduced to ?.....It would be unusual for TSH to rise so much in response to a smallish dose reduction.
It may not have actually needed reducing anyway (unless fT4 was over range) as 0.26 isn't particularly low .... it's more or less at the bottom of the reference range ....something like <0.05 or 0.001 would be considered really low / supressed'
you are quite right .... TSH 19.3 is definitely not 'borderline' it's very high. .. ask whoever said that to explain what they meant by it .. (sounds to me like they don't know what they meant)
( It's also possible that the TSH 19.3 might not have be correct as there can be things that interfere with TSH results during the the lab , eg ~Mouse antibodies HAMA .. and other stuff .... sometimes dubious TSH results need to be repeated using a different lab method)
It was reduced by 25mcg, and apparently the doctor that reviewed my results said it was borderline, so to keep on the same dose and see how I test in another 6 weeks. I was unable to speak to a doctor to discuss results despite trying, and have been told to call back next week if still concerned...so I will call next week.
Honestly, I have been constantly exhausted and the other typical symptoms, which now I realise is probably because my levels are wonky. When first diagnosed it was 28+, and hasn't been above 5 since first starting thyroid meds, just has needed tweaking when it would peak up a bit.
yes, collected them today, results and ranges. The document even said that if patient is currently taking medication, then the dose is not adequate. I was concerned, that's why I called the Doctor's, as I thought I surely should have received a phone call considering that, but was told not necessary, the doctor said I'm borderline and just to stay as I am for the next 6 weeks and get re-tested then, but I'm not sure I should.
Good grief when will they ever learn that TSH is absolutely not an accurate marker for thyroid function.
Refuse to change what was working...
As SD says, " kick up a fuss".....it's your body and your health
This TSH fixation is leaving people unwell
They are supposed to factor clinical evaluation ( signs and symptoms) in with lab results when diagnosing
With machines it is easy to calibrate an accurate result to correlate the readings of (an instrument) with those of a standard, in order to check the instrument's accuracy.....we are not machines but medics seem to forget this!
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