My thyroid function blood test came back abnormal
Serum TSH level 0.11
Should be between 0.27 - 4.20mlU/L
Dr wants decrease my levothyroxine from 75mg to 50mg.
I’ve lost over half a stone and dr said it could be becaausevmy meds are to high.
Is this normal?
Hi yes overmedication can certainly cause weight loss, as well as other symptoms of overmedication... but a low TSH by itself does not necessarily mean the dose is too high for you .
Symptoms and fT4 level (and preferably fT3 level) need to be taken into consideration too .
Do you feel well on 75mcg ? .. or have you developed other symptoms as well as loosing some weight.
How long have you been on 75mcg ?
Do you have any previous TSH / fT4 results from taking 75mcg ?
Hi Tattybogle,
Yes I’ve been feeling very anxious and palpable and weight loss. I have not been feeling 100%. Been on 75mg for about 6 months. My last TSH level in august was 1.38
that does sound like it could be overmedication then.
Anxiety and palpitations on their own can be either over medication, OR undermedication , but having them PLUS weight loss, following a dose increase with a below range TSH, this does suggest that dose has become a bit too much.
bear in mind that this might only be temporary .. if you have autoimmune hypothyroidism ? , that can cause periods of too much thyroid hormone when some is released from the thyroid when it is being damaged by the immune system ... these higher levels eventually go down again by themselves. and then the dose usually has to be increase again .
were you previously taking 50mcg when TSH was 1.38 ? did you feel undermedicated then ?..... if so I wouldn't recommend reducing to 50mcg again , as that may be too low for you .. Instead i'd ask Doctor if you can try 62.5mcg (usually prescribed as 50mcg one day / 75mcg the next, alternate ..... or cut a 25mcg in half to get 62.5mcg /day if you prefer)
TSH only gives us very limited information though, so it can't always be trusted .. to really know what is going on you want at least TSH AND fT4 tested by GP , (and preferably fT3 but NHS unlikely to be able to do that )
thank you for your informative message. I was on 50 mg and I feel in myself that the 75mg maybe to high.
Was test early morning
Just testing TSH is inadequate…..especially before considering reducing dose levothyroxine
75mcg levothyroxine is a low dose…..are you very petite?
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once
Have you had thyroid antibodies tested ever?
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s
Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.
Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease
20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis
In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
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...
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee
Come back with new post once you get results
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