results

[1lolabear]

hello . I am in 100mcg of levothyroxine .

What advise would you give on these results please ?

[tattybogle]

Hi , it would depend how many hours you left between your last dose of levo and the blood test, as this affects the fT4 results.

[tattybogle in reply to tattybogle]

Hi , so 12 hrs from last dose means that the fT4 result you see is a little bit of a false high , but not enough to make much difference ..... if you'd tested at 24 hrs as recommended it is quite likely that your fT4 result would still be a bit over range, because the biggest effect of last dose on fT4 result is seen during the first approx 6 hrs after taking the dose ... by 12 hrs the fT4 level is more or less back to it's stable level.

More explanation of the effect of time of last dose on fT4 result is shown here ( see first 3 replies from me ) : healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... (suggested-thyroid-hormone-test-timing-protocols)

So you could either retest at 24 hrs , to see if fT4 is in range .

or , (if we just assume that your fT4 would still be a bit over range even if tested at 24hrs), then you could consider trying a very slightly lower dose , to see if it improves/ or worsens how you feel.

its probably not a good idea to have fT4 over range long term unless you have no choice....it used to be thought that higher T4 wasn't a problem , but newer research is starting to suggest T4's involvement in some (but not all) forms of cancer cell proliferation... so to be on the safe side you don't really want to be running a high T4 long term , unless you need to in order to feel well .

So as mcpammy suggests . you could try reducing to 87.5mcg / day .and get retested after 6 weeks to see if that bring fT4 back into range and if it affects how you feel .. (usually prescribed as take 100mcg ne day / 75mcg the next alternate ..... some of us prefer to take the exact same dose each day so we cut a 25mcg tablet in half to get 12.5mcg )

if you decide to try a slightly reduced dose, do give it at least 6 weeks before deciding how it feels .. it is quite likely that you would feel a bit underdosed during the first couple of weeks until, the body started to adjust itself, but this can then start to improve later.

you need to stay on a constant dose for 6 weeks before re-testing.

There's no way of predicting if you will feel better or worse with a slightly lower dose unless you try it .

on one occasion i've reduced dose from 125 mcg to 112.5mcg , due to very high fT4 , and i felt worse for the first 4/5 weeks but then by about 2/3 mths i realised i was feeling a bit better than i was on previous dose.. and my sleep had improved a lot

But another time i reduced from 112.5mcg to 100mcg for the same reason, i felt worse for 5 week and continued to get worse , so i had to put the dose back up and just accept the high fT4 .

(Gp's often adjust dose by 25mcg at a time because that's the size most tablet come in,,, however 25mcg adjustments can sometimes be bigger than is needed).

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How do you feel

Was test done early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

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 at least once year minimum

What vitamin supplements are you taking

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, only drink water between waking and test 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

[1lolabear in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi , the test was done first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything.

I had my Levo approx 12 hrs before the test

I am very up and down with how I am feeling .

Not sure if I should reduce my thyroxine until I go further ?

[1lolabear in reply to 1lolabear]

I also have hashimotos

[Beau55]

Are you feeling well? I would reduce Levo slightly and start adding in some T3 if not. With your T4 over range you are converting but likely not enough to make you feel well ☺️

[McPammy]

You’re over medicated on T4 levothyroxine. I’d reduce the T4 levothyroxine - maybe try 75mcg one day and 100mcg the next then continue that regimen until your next blood test. Importantly it’s about how you feel. Don’t drop too much or you could go under medicated. You should notice an improved within 5-7 days of reducing.

[alansing]

I don't know much about the figures but I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid, was put on levothyroxide initial dose of 100mg, it has been steadily increased to 175mg now, it depends on the times your thyroid has been not functioning properly, I have had lots of issues with severe vitamin D deficiency, folic acid levels too low, uric acids too high ameanic acids too high lowered immune system as well as severe joint and muscle pains, ongoing, the only advice i could suggest is to either take vitamin supplements or have them check your bloods for vitamin levels.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Much cheaper to consider getting T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine

But ……First step is get all four vitamins tested and at optimal levels BEFORE considering adding T3 or NDT

No replacement thyroid hormone will work well if vitamin levels are low

List of thyroid specialists and endocrinologists who will prescribe T3 or NDT if you eventually need it

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[1lolabear in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you