should 80 year old man be treated for hypothyroid?

[Booba]

Does any male 80 years plus have experience of being given levothyroxine? NHS GP results were TSH 4.78 and FT4 11.7. Is it worth taking drugs. I understand that some research in USA suggest that 4.78 in elderly is ok. I am enquiring on behalf of my husband.....many thanks

[Lalatoot]

It's not the 4,78 you should concentrate on it is the ft4 11.7. What is the range for ft4 and where does the 11.7 fit in that range? If 11.7 is in the bottom half of the range then he may need a higher level of ft4.

[Booba in reply to Lalatoot]

Thank you for your question....range for FT4 is 12.0-22.00

[Lalatoot in reply to Booba]

Booba as you can see your husband's thyroid hormone level is under the bottom level of the range. This means that his body is running on a very low level of thyroid hormones, lower than would normally be expected as the range starts at 12.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest you get vitamin levels tested next

Low vitamin levels extremely common as we get older

Is he currently taking any medications or vitamin supplements

If yes ….what

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

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

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and 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

[greygoose]

Well, if he were hypo, he would be given levothyroxine, which isn't a drug, it's the thyroid hormone T4.

Unfortunately, doctors are very bad at diagnosing anyone with thyroid problems, and only tend to look at the TSH - which isn't even a thyroid hormone! And they like it to get to over 10 before they will condescend to diagnose hypo! Yes, it's a jungle out there in hypoland.

The research on TSH in the elderly has been mis-reported. Yes, older people tend to have higher TSH that young people - and by young I mean under 60 - but not by that much. The difference is only slight, and a TSH of 4.78 wouldn't be good for anyone. But, doctors don't see it that way. They have leapt on this 'research' as an excuse not to treat elderly people - which is disgusting, but doctors often are.

Besides that, they don't even do full testing. What is needed is TSH, FT4 AND FT3, to get a fuller picture - even antibodies should be done. T4 and T3 are the thyroid hormones, TSH is just a message sent to the thyroid by the pituitary. If FT4 and FT3 are very low, or below range, then he cerainly should be treated. But you'd have a hard time convincing any doctor about that.

[Booba in reply to greygoose]

thanks to you who replied. Your comments are really helpful. I will try and convince my husband to push for full tests as suggested

[greygoose in reply to Booba]

I very much doubt he will get them all from his GP. You'll probably need to do private testing, as suggested by SlowDragon .

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Booba]

Does he currently take any vitamin supplements?

Or any medication

[Booba in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes he does....dissolving aspirin and 10 g statin - has aorta stenosis, vit d3, lutein/zeanthesin -for eye, healthy vegetarian diet with occasional meat meals

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Booba]

How much vitamin D

So next step get Vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin levels tested plus thyroid antibodies

Vegetarian diet more likely low B12 and ferritin

[MissGrace]

He should be offered treatment. The idea that because you are old it’s okay is disingenuous to say the least. 🤸🏿‍♀️🥛

[SlowDragon Administrator]

High cholesterol linked to low thyroid levels

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.