Post op blood test in February had my TSH at 22.64 mU/L (range 0.35-5.5) & my T4 10.7 pmol/L (range 10.5-21.0)
I was put on 50mg levothyroxine & retested in May.
TSH had come down to 9.54 mU/L (range 0.35-5.5) & T4 was14.0 pmol/L (range 10.5-21.0)
GP has said he'd review in August which is when next blood test is due.
I've felt OK but in June I developed wandering thigh pains & leg cramps in both legs. Feels like sciatia. My tendency to constipation is worse. I had a private test. The results as in the picture above.
The test was done at 9am & 26 hours after my last levo pill as you suggest.
The May NHS blood test was 4 hours after levo pill.
My levo pill has always been Accord but my latest prescription (after private test) is mercurypharma.
Any advice on what the private test means would be very welcome. As a newbie I'm still learning. Thank you in advance.
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Vivirose
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Even if we frequently start on only 50mcg, most people need to increase levothyroxine dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps (retesting 6-8 weeks after each increase) until eventually on, or near full replacement dose
Consider starting levothyroxine at a dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (rounded to the nearest 25 micrograms) for adults under 65 with primary hypothyroidism and no history of cardiovascular disease.
In the majority of patients 50-100 μg thyroxine can be used as the starting dose. Alterations in dose are achieved by using 25-50 μg increments and adequacy of the new dose can be confirmed by repeat measurement of TSH after 2-3 months.
The majority of patients will be clinically euthyroid with a ‘normal’ TSH and having thyroxine replacement in the range 75-150 μg/day (1.6ug/Kg on average).
The recommended approach is to titrate thyroxine therapy against the TSH concentration whilst assessing clinical well-being. The target is a serum TSH within the reference range.
……The primary target of thyroxine replacement therapy is to make the patient feel well and to achieve a serum TSH that is within the reference range. The corresponding FT4 will be within or slightly above its reference range.
The minimum period to achieve stable concentrations after a change in dose of thyroxine is two months and thyroid function tests should not normally be requested before this period has elapsed.
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement and a week later add a separate vitamin B Complex
Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12
Post discussing how biotin can affect test results
An ultrasound picked up a thyroid nodule. Fine needle aspiration didn’t get enough cells for a biopsy so I had a hemitbyroidectomy to confirm diagnosi
I think you mean you had a hemi thyroidectomy…….not parathyroid tumour removed
There are 4 parathyroid glands in centre of thyroid. They control bone metabolism. Nothing to do with thyroid…..other than located in centre of thyroid
When thyroidectomy is performed, the surgeon will always try to leave parathyroid glands in place
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