TSH results

[Judyrabbit]

my TSH came back as 0.07 which is under what it should be but no one has been in touch. I think they should be reducing my dosage from 125 to 100, is that right?

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Just testing TSH is totally inadequate. For full evaluation you need TSH, FT4 & FT3.

Noone can tell you anything from just a TSH results.

How do you feel?

When hypo we get low stomach acid which means we cannot absorb vitamins well from our food, regardless of a great diet. For thyroid hormone to work well we need OPTIMAL levels of vitamins. Have you recently or could you ask your GP to test levels of ferritin, folate, B12 & D3? Private tests are available, see link for companies offering private blood tests & discount codes, some offer a blood draw service at an extra cost. thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

[Judyrabbit in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thank you they will not do other tests on me they say they can’t do them . I’m fine at the moment but had chest pains, anxiety and tremors for the last two months. They have put me on Citalopram and I’ve started taking Centrum 50+ multivitamins. I’m not sure tgey would even take notice if I had private ones done they just go by tge TSH! I’m ringing the test results today to see if a dr is going to ring me about lowering my dose

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Judyrabbit]

Levothyroxine must be taken at least 2 hours away from any supplements or other medication

Multivitamins never recommended on here

Suggest you stop these and get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

ALWAYS test early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

GP would only treat vitamin deficiencies

You will need to take responsibility for improving low vitamin levels to bring to GOOD levels

For good conversion of Levothyroxine (Ft4) to active hormone (Ft3) we must have optimal vitamin levels

Lower vitamin levels are more common as we get older

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...

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65 

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies) 

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here 

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism 

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Judyrabbit]

If you do lower your dose then negotiate a small reduction such as 12.5mcgs. This can be achieved by alternate day dosing. This might prevent the yoyo dosing that has been happening over the past year or so.

Multivitamins are not recommended in this group for a number of reasons, including being too low a dose to raise levels to optimal, including iodine which is not recommended when hypo and including iron which prevents absorption of the other vitamins and should be taken apart from other vitamins/Levo.

Previous test results:

Vitamin D….59.0nmol/L Nov 2022

Folate ….8.3 ug/L

Ferritin … 269ug/L March 22

B12……. Lowest 342 ng/L then after taking tablets went to 950ng/L so told me to stop taking them in 2021

People with hypothyroidism will never have good vitamins if not supplementing. It's really not an issue to have above range vit B12 as any excess is pee'd out.

If you really can't get new vitamin tests done, and do ask your GP, then I'd recommend getting back onto a good B complex long term. This B complex has all the right vitamins at a not unreasonable cost for 90 days supply. amazon.co.uk/Liposomal-Soft...

Vitamin D should be around 100 - 150. Buy one that includes vit K2 to help it go to your bones. Some are available in oil or you can take it with an oily meal for better absorption. Use this calculator to work out how much to take to get your level to 100-150. wildatlantichealth.com/vita...

[Judyrabbit in reply to Jaydee1507]

just a follow up from my results. My TSH was 0.07 which is way below tge norm. I rang last week to see if a dr was ringing me which I was told had been actioned. Have t heard so rang again today to be told that the dr requested a phone call for 3/4 weeks. I said I didn’t think it was acceptable and I’m going away so it will be at least 5 weeks but she said that’s what the dr had said. I have reduced my tablets from 125 to 125 every other day making it 112 1/2 a day. Is that ok for me to do without his permission.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Judyrabbit]

The private blood tests are really for your own benefit. It allows you to see if you are converting well and have enough of the active hormone T3, also where your FT4 is at and if you could be taking more or less. With just a TSH result a proper assessment cannot be made.

It's difficult to go by symptoms alone because many hypo symptoms are also hyper symptoms. Low FT3 in particular can cause horrible anxiety and chest pains. We don't know what yours is.

You need a high dose of B12 which would be in a good B complex that would be much more appropriate for your levels. Your current multivitamin is not suitable for you either as it contans iodine which isn't recommended in hypo people.

This B complex has all the right vitamins at a not unreasonable cost for 90 days supply. amazon.co.uk/Liposomal-Soft...

If you are doing your own bloods you could reduce before speaking to the GP and then let them know what you have done.

[Judyrabbit in reply to Jaydee1507]

I will do that and do private tests when I get back from hols as I wouldn’t get to see the dr before then. Thanks!

[Chriskisby]

I am fighting like mad with my GP/Pharmacist not to get my levo reduced because my TSH is registering below the range! I suppose it depends how you feel. As everyone says it is totally insufficient to just do tsh and no other tests, but things won’t change, I am afraid. It is a bit concerning if you are having palpitations etc. Perhaps you should see someone about that, if you are able to.

[Bearo]

When I lost weight the GP was considering lowering my Levo but she said “I won’t lower it without seeing where your FT4 is.” So some GPs are more clued up than others.