Recent blood test results

[Sheepy001]

Hi I was wondering if any of you kind people can help me. I’ve have been on thyroxine for 10 years 50mg and had my most recent test last week.

I received a text from my GP a couple of days ago that said Your thyroid blood test was borderline. We need to repeat this in 2 months. Please contact us for this blood test then. You need TSH and TPO blood tests.

I rang the practice to ask what they meant by borderline and they said when you have it done again the GP will decide whether to increase or decrease up or medication! I asked if they knew what my readings were and the receptionist just said it’s a lot of numbers. I can’t get an appointment to have this explained to me until 2 weeks time.

Does anyone know if this means I am borderline getting better or borderline getting worse?

Thank you in advance 🙂

[greygoose]

the receptionist just said it’s a lot of numbers.

🤣🤣🤣 Such a technical reply! Of course it's a lot of numbers. That's what blood test results are: numbers! What was she expecting? Pretty pictures?

Ring back and ask for a print-out of all those numbers. It's your legal right to have one if you're in the UK. Post all those numbers on here and let's have a look. No-one can possibly answer your question (doubt if even your GP could!) without seeing them.

[Sheepy001 in reply to greygoose]

I have called again and got a better receptionist who said my TSH level is currently 7.83

[greygoose in reply to Sheepy001]

Ahh that makes more sense! So, you need an increase in dose. The aim is to bring it down to 1 or under.

[Sheepy001 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you so much 😊

[greygoose in reply to Sheepy001]

You're welcome.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

50mcg is only the standard STARTER dose

So yes it’s highly likely you need dose increase

How are you feeling?

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

Link re access

patients-association.org.uk...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

In reality some GP surgeries still do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist back and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

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

You need vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels tested too

[Sheepy001 in reply to SlowDragon]

I have called again and got a better receptionist who said my TSH level is currently 7.83 - not site what this means though

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sheepy001]

Make an appointment for 25mcg increase in levothyroxine now

On levothyroxine TSH should ALWAYS be under 2

Also request GP test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 now as you have been left on inadequate dose levothyroxine

Levothyroxine doesn’t “top up” failing thyroid it replaces it

Likely to need further increases in dose levothyroxine over coming months

TSH should be under 2 as an absolute maximum when on levothyroxine

gponline.com/endocrinology-...

NHS England Liothyronine guidelines July 2019

sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploa...

Page 9

Test for Deficiency of any of the following: Vitamin B12, Folate, Vitamin D, Iron

See page 13

1. Where symptoms of hypothyroidism persist despite optimal dosage with levothyroxine. (TSH 0.4-1.5mU/L)

Graph showing median TSH in healthy population is 1-1.5

web.archive.org/web/2004060...

Approximately how much do you weigh in kilo

Dose levothyroxine is typically increased slowly upwards in 25mcg steps over 6-12 months

Bloods need retesting 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

pathlabs.rlbuht.nhs.uk/tft_...

Guiding Treatment with Thyroxine:

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.

[Sheepy001 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you I appreciate your help 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sheepy001]

Likely you have been left years on inadequate dose levothyroxine

Sadly far from uncommon

Suggest you get copies of previous test results….going back over last 5 years

Are you currently taking any other medications

What vitamin supplements do you take

[Sheepy001 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi - no other medications at the Moment. I’m going to drop them an email and ask for more information 🙂

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sheepy001]

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

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

if you get online access set up for blood test results you can

A) always get copies of results and ranges going forward

B) see old historic results too