Hi lovely people.I have just had my annual thyroid test. I have checked my results and my TSH was 2.3. Unfortunately I can't compare previous years as they are no longer on my online health records due to a system overhaul!! I am currently taking 75mcg of thyroxine which because I am unable to tolerate mannitol I take a whole 50mcg and a half 50mcg tablet.
I am 49 years old so my hormones are probably all over the place although I take a very low dose of HRT to help keep things in balance. I have noticed that my hair is falling out and getting quite thin. My instincts are telling me that I should try and speak to a GP about these results. Fortunately, there is a very nice understanding GP at the practice which I know that I can do an e-consult to her in the first instance
Before I do that though, I just wanted to know if anyone had anything similar and /or any advice.
Thank you in advance
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Shaldon
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But with TSH over 2 yes, if you have hypo symptoms you need dose increase in levothyroxine
When did you start HRT
Is it pills or patches
HRT frequently results in needing dose increase in levothyroxine
Approximately how much do you weigh in kilo
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
Hairloss frequently linked to low iron/ferritin
Request GP do full iron panel test for anaemia including ferritin
is your hypothyroidism autoimmune
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
Thank you for all the information. I will do an e-consult. Just out of interest do you know what the range should be when you're on Thyroxine?I will have to go through my prescription records (that is one thing that I can view historically) and find out when I started HRT. I currently take one pump of Oestrogel (minimum dose is 2) and then a Progesterone tablet (should be 2) in the latter half of my cycle. If I take the 'full' minimum dose, it's too much for me.
Not sure about my weight, just need to be brave enough to step on the scales!!
If symptoms of hypothyroidism persist despite normalisation of TSH, the dose of levothyroxine can be titrated further to place the TSH in the lower part of the reference range or even slightly below (i.e., TSH: 0.1–2.0 mU/L), but avoiding TSH < 0.1 mU/L. Use of alternate day dosing of different levothyroxine strengths may be needed to achieve this (e.g., 100 mcg for 4 days; 125 mcg for 3 days weekly).
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