Thyroid results

[Sonicfairydust]

Here are my thyroid results from the NHS

Free T4. 15.7 pmol/l

TSH 3.84 pmol/l

I take 75mg of levothyroxine daily.

What are your thoughts?

Many thanks

[Lalatoot]

Sonic we need the ranges for those results. The tsh is high but we need to see where your ft4 result is within its range.

[Sonicfairydust in reply to Lalatoot]

T4 range. 11.1-22TSH. 0.27-4.20

[Lalatoot in reply to Sonicfairydust]

Your result is under halfway through the range and your TSH is high on its range. This points to you needing an increase in levo.

[greygoose]

Impossible to think about the FT4 without a range. Ranges vary from lab to lab, so we need the one that came with your result.

But the TSH is much too high, should be down are 1. So, you are under-medicated and need an increase in dose.

[Sonicfairydust in reply to greygoose]

T4 range. 11.1-22TSH. 0.27-4.20

[Sonicfairydust in reply to greygoose]

Every time I increase I feel unwell

[greygoose in reply to Sonicfairydust]

Most people do, I'm afraid. How are your nutrient levels: vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin?

[Sonicfairydust in reply to greygoose]

Last time I checked they were OK. I increase my levo by 6.25 every 3 days and always feel its a mistake to increase

[greygoose in reply to Sonicfairydust]

Well it is a mistake to increase every 3 days! No wonder you don't feel well. Levo should only be increased every six weeks. By as much as you like but no more than 25 mcg.

OK is not the same as optimal, and you need optimal nutrient levels for your body to be able to use thyroid hormone correctly.

[Sonicfairydust in reply to greygoose]

I mean I stay at my newly increased amount every 2/3 days as every day feels too much

[greygoose in reply to Sonicfairydust]

It is too much. Both Lalatoot and myself have told you that levo should only be increased every six weeks. You're not giving your body time to adjust to increasing levels.

[Starseed56 in reply to greygoose]

Can I jump in and ask you a Question please  greygoose and anyone else?

I started the Erfa switch 1 September on 45mg (1.5x30mg)

Then 4 October mainly on advice from here I upped to 2x 30mg as a split dose.

Then my bloods 16 October showed I was under replaced so the private doctor increased to 90mg (that’s 60mg in the morning and 30mg at lunchtime, she told me taking in the night could worsen my already awful sleep)

I still feel awful, I thought I saw an improvement coming but then the last few days with the palpitations I haven’t been good. I’m asking because can this partly be because my dose has gone up too much too fast? I’ve not much trust in this doctor. She told me she treats people with hyperthyroidism but if this is too quick should she not know this? She certainly didn’t warn me if feel so unwell in the initial switch which was ghastly. She is one of these doctors who goes mainly in bloods not how the person is feeling I’m keeping going because I’m praying ultimately this will be better than T4 which I don’t convert well. 💜

[greygoose in reply to Starseed56]

Personally, I don't think it's a good idea to increase by 30 mg at a time. 15 mg might be better.

There was a decent interval between your original dose and the first increase. So, how did you feel on 60 mg? But that is still only a small dose.

Might have been better to leave longer before increasing a second time, but yes, possibly you are suffering the effects of increasing by too much/too fast.

She told me she treats people with hyperthyroidism but if this is too quick should she not know this?

lol She says she treats them. She doesn't say she treats them well! Wouldn't surprise me at all if she didn't know that.

she told me taking in the night could worsen my already awful sleep)

It might for some people. For others it could improve sleep. But you won't know what it does for you unless you try.

[Starseed56 in reply to greygoose]

You made me smile  greygoose seems like we agree on those points then! I didn’t feel great on 60mg and my bloods backed that up. Guess I went from 45 to 60 about 5weeks apart, but then 60 to 90 was very quick! I’ll continue on the 90 and check my bloods again six weeks after last check I’m thinking I need a private endo if anyone can recommend one in SEKent area please private message me? Not sure I’ve the energy to travel far. I want to change practitioners but need to stabilise and make sure I have sufficient meds in hand first! 💜

[greygoose in reply to Starseed56]

If you want recommendations for a private endo, it's best to start a new thread asking just that. Not many people are going to read through this thread now.

[Starseed56 in reply to greygoose]

ok thanks I will when I’m ready 💜

[Lalatoot in reply to Sonicfairydust]

After I got to a dose of 50mcg, I found that increases made me feel ill. And it is usual to feel ill increasing as the body adapts to the changes but my sicky feely never went away.My endo suggested I took levo in 2 doses to be gentler on the body. I take my Levo first thing and bedtime.

As greygoose says levo increases are done every 6 weeks minimum. By changing every few days the body never gets time to adapt.

[Starseed56]

thanks for raising this question about speed of increase and not feeling well. I think it’s helped me understand too! 💜

[Gingernut44]

I think there is some confusion here. Do you mean that you take 75mcg for 2 days and on the third day you take 81.25mcg recurring. Your TSH is far too high and your FT4 is too low so you definitely need to increase your dose. What brand are you taking.

[Sonicfairydust in reply to Gingernut44]

Yes that’s it I’m gonna lower my increase by half , the brand is accord and I don’t have the other brand here at the moment.

I know the increase is every 6/8 weeks I do not increase every 3 days!

[Gingernut44 in reply to Sonicfairydust]

I didn’t think you did, it was the others who replied to you that were confused 🫤

[Sonicfairydust in reply to Gingernut44]

Yes 😊

[Litatamon]

I am a big proponent of pushing through awful symptoms that can often come with increases.

First one can have the worst reactions early on that totally change after so many weeks. A win.

Second, maybe the symptoms are highlighting purposeful information like a choice in hormones - ie. monotherapy - is not the best for you. And six weeks plus makes that crystal clear. To me also a win.

------------

I was taken from 112 mcg levothyroxine to 200 mcg levothyroxine in one swoop not long after my thyroidectomy. The endocrinologist admitted when she made the decision that it was against protocol. I do believe that quick increases can screw up your body.

However, I myself have gone against advice going from t4 monotherapy to NDT. Zero regrets. I believe a sharp increase was necessary for me, as I took a high level of T4 previously. And my body probably wondered Where the heck did my hormones go? to start so slowly.