blood results

[Elaine22]

can you help with my latest result please. As usual come back normal. Levothyroxine reduced 6 months ago from 125 to 100. I have Hashimotos. Sjrogren

TSH. 4.6

T4 11.6

serum creatine kinase. 81

[pennyannie]

Hello Elaine

Your TSH is much to high and crying out / signalling that you need more thyroid hormone replacement - T4 - Levothyroxine.

As you increase your T4 medication your TSH should start dropping down in its range and ideally when optimally medicated be under 2 and possibly under 1 and heading towards the bottom of the range - and that's ok:

Can you please add the ranges - your T4 looks very low and we really do need to see a T3 as well as a T4 drawn from the same bloods.

Did you feel better on 125 mcg T4 ?

No thyroid hormone replacement works well until your core strength vitamins and minerals are up and maintaied at optimal levels - do you have any results and ranges for ferritin. folate, B12 and vitamin D ?

[Elaine22 in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you for your reply.

The rheumatologist asked for bloods. He thinks I’m under medicated. I don’t see him for another month. I have vit b12 injections. And vit d twice a year. I’ve asked my doctor to increase my levo. He said it’s showing normal. I still have some levo 25 so I’m going to take them until I see rheumatologist.

Thank you

[Elaine22 in reply to Elaine22]

TSH range 0.30 to 4.80

7.7 to 20.6 T4

[pennyannie in reply to Elaine22]

Ok so your TSH is almost above the range - and your T4 just around 30 % through it's range -

On T4 monotherapy we generally feel best when our T4 is up towards the top quadrant of the range at around 80% with the active hormone T3 tracking slightly behind at around 65% through it's range.

The T4 is a prohormone and basically inert until it is converted in the liver into T3 the active hormone which runs all the bodily functions from your physical abilities through to your mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual well being, you inner central heating system, and your metabolism.

It is low T3 that causes all the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Having Hashimoto's does put a spanner in the works as your immune system systematically attacks and destroys your thyroid gland causing ' flares ' in symptoms making you probably feel more hyper than hypo -

but these attacks are transient and once over your thyroid gland is further damaged with you needing more thyroid hormone replacement support.

With Hashimoto's there can be issues with the gut and food sensitivities - you need to be checked out for celiac disease and many people have to check for food intolerances such as gluten, dairy and wheat and first need to heal the gut before any thyroid hormone replacement works well for them.

For all things Hashimoto's - many forum members follow the research and suggestions of Dr Izabella Wentz - thyroidpharmacist.com

[pennyannie in reply to pennyannie]

As promised please check out the post above that I've linked your name into - as it covers the TSH and guidelines in some depth.

[Elaine22 in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you. There are many foods I can’t eat. Interesting reading

[pennyannie in reply to Elaine22]

Well - I think I'd listen to your rheumatologist and ask s/he to write to your doctor as your doctor is doing you no favours at all - research states that once on thyroid hormone replacement TSH should be under 2 - I'll try and find the link for you :

Is there another doctor there who could be more knowledgeable on thyroid ?

[Elaine22 in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you. I knew it needed to be closer to 1/2. Just needed it confirmed as I’ve not had problems for a few years.

[Lalatoot]

Elaine we really need the ranges to be able to interpret the ft4 result.Your TSH on levo only should be under 2 and usually nearer to 1 so that would suggest that you need an increase.

I suspect ft4 is low in its range but can't confirm without the range.