Re/Thyroid test showing overactive.

[Candyben]

I had my thyroid removed in 1999, My recent blood test revealed overactive. I have been referred to the Endocrinologist . My levels haven't been right for some time now. With the symptoms I'm having, I thought it would show low levels of thyroxine..

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

If you had your thyroid removed it’s unlikely to be able to go overactive.

What were your latest blood results with ranges?

What vitamins are you taking?

What were your latest results for vitamins?

[Candyben in reply to Jaydee1507]

Well I thought the only way it would show overactive would b if too much thyroxine was taken.I don't get info of the ranges

I don't get results for vitamins. I take Vit d. Omega 3. + Magnesium .

I take 100 mg thyroxine. One day and 75 mg alternate days...

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Candyben]

So get a printed copy of your results and post them here.

Ask gp to test ferritin folate b12 and d3.

Thyroid hormone needs all these nutrients to be optimal to work well.

[Candyben in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thank you for that I certainly will look in to it.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Candyben]

By the way, do you remember to take your Levo on the day of test after the blood draw?

If you take it just before then it shows a peak of t4 and not your stable blood level which would be lower.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Candyben]

So you need FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

Which brand is 100mcg

Which brand is 75mcg

Do you always get same brand Levothyroxine at each prescription

How much vitamin D per day

Magnesium at least 4 hours away from Levothyroxine

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...

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

[Candyben in reply to SlowDragon]

25 s r Mercury Pharma.100 s r Almus. N yes they normally same brand.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

ALWAYS test thyroid level early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drinking water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Essential to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 at each test

plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once a year

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Please add most recent results and ranges

[PurpleNails Administrator]

What are your results?

TSH, FT4 & FT3 with lab range for test. (Ranges vary)

What is your current replacement dose? Previous post say you were on 100 / 75 mcg alternating days. Has this changed?

It might be that your TSH is low, which usually equates to high FT4 & FT3 but in some cases the FT4 & FT3 are in range or even low (hypothyroid).

Usually the Levo dose is lowered by GP / primary health care, endocrinology specialist would not be required.

Please can you put country in profile. Much of the advice on forum is UK based.

[greygoose]

I think you mean 'over-medicated' rather than 'over-active'. Over-active means that your thyroid is producing too much hormone. But, if it's been removed, it can produce any hormone at all.

I would just say that if you're - or your doctor - is saying that you're over-medicated because your TSH is low, then it's not necessarily true. You are only over-medicated if your FT3 is well over-range. If you are a poor converter of T4 to T3, you might be taking to much T4 for your own comfort, but that's not the same thing.

[Candyben in reply to greygoose]

Yes I think overmedicated too. I take 1,000 I U vit D.I take 2/ 650 mg magnesium in the evening .

[greygoose in reply to Candyben]

That's a lot of magnesium. Why do you take that much? Excess is excreted but it's a waste of money to take more than you need.

[Candyben in reply to greygoose]

I have just purchased new batch magnesium 2 day. They r 650 mg. But it says take 2 a day. Hiw much do u think I should take..?

[greygoose in reply to Candyben]

One normally takes about 300 to 450 mg a day. Are they just magnesium? Or have they got something else with them?

[pennyannie]

Hello Candyben :

A fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you on a daily basis with trace elements of T1, T2 and calcitonin + a measure of T3 at around 10 mcg + a measure of T4 at around 100 mcg. - with T3 known to be around 4 times more powerful than T4.

So without a thyroid I very much doubt you are ' overactive ' though could be over medicated but looking at your dose - i also doubt that the reson - and I'm guessing you are being dosed and monitored on just a TSH reading which is not a reliable measure of anything once on any form of thyroid hormone replacement.

I would ask your doctor to explain what is actually ' over anything ' - and have a Free T3 and a Free T 4 blood test reading and result been run ?

It is essential that you are dosed and monitored on your FreeT3 and Free T4 readings and we generally feel at our best when taking T4 - Levothyroxine, when the T4 is in the top quadrant of it's range as this then should convert to a decent level of T3 at around a 1/4 ratio T3/T4.

T4 is a storage hormone and needs to be converted by your body into T3 the active hormone tht runs all your bodily functions and optimal T4 to T3 conversion requires optimal levels of ferritin, folate B12 and vitamin D.

Conversion can also be down regulated by any physiological stress ( emotional or physical ) inflammation, depression, dieting and ageing - so not as easy to maintain as maybe vitamins and minerals but something to be aware of.

The thyroid is a major gland responsible for full body synchronisation which includes your physical, mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual well being your inner central heating system and your metabolism.

Some people can get by on T4 only :

Some people find that after a while T4 seems not to be as effective as it once was - and by adding in a little T3 - probably to replace tat little bit lost hen they lost their thyroid - their health and well being is improved ;

Some people can't tolerative T4 and need to take T3 only - Liothyronine :

Whilst others find their restored better taking Natural Desiccated Thyroid which contains all the same known hormones as the human gland and derived from pig thyroids dried and ground down into tablets referred to as grains.

Obviously we need to see some blood test results and ranges to advise you better of your next steps back to better health.