Test results help

[endofdays]

In UK my TSH is 0.21 m/U/L. Doc says it's fine but I'm not sleeping & have excess hair loss again. I've seen optimal range for healthy adults at 0.5-1.0 but that in uIU/mL so I'm confused. Is my TSH reading then showing too low or high & do I need to lower my levo meds and or up them? Sorry my memory not great either. 😢

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Obviously just testing TSH is completely useless

Previous post a year ago

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Which brand

What vitamin supplements

Did you retry strictly gluten free for at least 6 months

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...

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

Hairloss

You need full iron panel test

Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

[endofdays in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. I've not worked for over a year so no money for private tests but hopefully soon I can do that. Thank you also for reminding me of post last year & all the links. I'm on 75mcg and 100mcg 3 days a week. Brand is Accord 50 & Wockhardt 25mcg. I know they different brands but requested brand without mannitol if I remember correctly. Not been good doing gluten free but back doing that. Vitamins D3 & C and Magnesium L-threonate & Brazil nuts for selenium. Always do blood tests early morning no food & 24hr or more gap. Thank you for all your help & info again.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to endofdays]

Request/insist GP test vitamin D, folate, B12 and …..because of hair loss …full iron panel test for anaemia including ferritin

Plus request they retest thyroid including Ft4 and Ft3

[endofdays in reply to SlowDragon]

GP said they not testing vitamin D or anything for that matter, simple answer was take Vitamin D October to March. They put me on chronic care where they test my TSH ONLY ONCE a year & nothing else, they not interested. They will not test FT4, FT3 etc. Told "science" has no proof of requiring this or something. I'm so done with it all 😭🙈 I'm in Scotland.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to endofdays]

And they are wrong ….but that doesn’t help you

Yes essential to take vitamin D daily when hypothyroid

Are you currently taking any?

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.

There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7.

One spray = 1000iu

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average

ideally test twice year……but at least once year, especially while working out how much you need

vitamindtest.org.uk

Some people are fine on 1000iu daily, others need 2000iu daily…..and thyroid patients often need 3000-4000iu daily

Suggest you take vitamin D daily at 2000iu daily

Then hopefully can afford to get thyroid tested in few weeks

Cheapest for just TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 test - £32

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

10% off code here

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

test early Monday or Tuesday morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

hairloss

Try different GP for testing iron panel including ferritin

[endofdays in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes they sure are!! Yes I take Vit D from British Supplements, no fillers etc good clean vitamins 10,000 iu. had the Better You in the past also good. Thank you so much for discount codes & links. You are such a great source of info & help at Healthunlocked! I'm so grateful 🥰😊

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to endofdays]

That’s a very high dose of vitamin D if you’re taking it everyday

[endofdays in reply to SlowDragon]

Oh right, I thought that was needed. What should it be daily? Thank you 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to endofdays]

It varies

S

Some people only need 1000iu daily in winter not summer

Some might need vitamin D all year

some might need 2000iu daily

Some people might need higher doses

Test twice year

[endofdays in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok I'll need to get tested. So grateful for all your help. Thank you again 💖

[Lalatoot]

My TSH was 0.19 which was below range but I was still undermedicated. I knew I was undermedicated because my ft4 and ft3 were still low in their ranges When we have thyroid problems tsh is not a good measure of thyroid hormone status because the normal feedback system that links hormone levels and thyroid stimulating hormone is disrupted and broken .

[endofdays in reply to Lalatoot]

Thank you Laloot. Only started a small job this week so haven't had money to private test. I will hopefully get there. Much appreciate your info/reply.

[Insomania]

When my TSH dropped below range the GP did a full thyroid panel, thyroid antibodies, full iron panel, vitD, vitB12 and folate.

It is in the NICE guidance I believe, when you have a TSH outside the NHS range.

[endofdays in reply to Insomania]

I have no joy with GP at my practice. Is the NICE guidance only in England? I'm 8n Scotland.

[Sofie007]

hi endofdays, i just saw your post here but it’s 6 months ago, i also have so much hairloss right now, did you find a solution?

[endofdays in reply to Sofie007]

Hi Sofie sorry for delay in reply. We were away on Holiday. I still haven't got to the bottom of my hair loss but I did start with a parasite cleanse and found I had lots of ugly worms 🤕 I'm now on maintenance as there's always eggs hanging around. Maybe I will see some improvement going forward but I'm wondering if I wasn't absorbing the levo properly due to these horrible parasites. Ongoing trial & error unfortunately. Have you gotten any further?