Latest Thyroid Tests

[Griffo_]

Hi all,

These were done at 10:30am, so a bit later than ideal. I was on 75mcg of levothyroxine at the time. Before I got the results the Dr already gave me a prescription for 100 mcg, which I have now been taking for around a week:

Free Thyroxine: 15.31 pmol/L [10.4 - 19.4 pmol/L]

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone: 0.937 mIU/L [0.55 - 4.78 mIU/L]

Free T3: 5.63 pmol/L [2.6 - 7.1 pmol/L]

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies: >1300 U/mL [<60 U/mL]

Thyroglobulin Antibody: 2.5 U/mL [4.4 IU/mL.]

Triiodothyronine (T3): 1.98 ng/mL [0.6 - 1.81 ng/mL]

T4: 140.4 nmol/L [59 - 154 nmol/L]

The Drs comments were:

"As you can see from the results your TPO antibodies are still high, so you are obviously still in the active phase of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Your TSH is quite suppressed and your T4 high in range and T3 just above normal range, if you get sweaty or have palpitations we may need to reduce the thyroxine a little. Keep an eye on your symptoms and let us know how things go".

Interested in hearing your thoughts. I'm going to work on increasing my vitamin and iron levels.

[greygoose]

Your TSH is quite suppressed and your T4 high in range and T3 just above normal range,

Yes, but we don't care about the T4 or the T3. It's the FT4 and FT3 that interest us because those are the forms of thyroid hormone that the body can use. And they aren't high at all - may even be on the low side, for you. And it's those that need to be optimal. sounds like another doctor that doesn't really know what it's all about.

Palpitations are not necessarily a symptom of over-medication. Under-medication can also cause them. So, be very sure of yourself before saying anything to your doctor about symptoms, or you might find yourself with an unwanted dose reduction.

[Griffo_ in reply to greygoose]

This dr actually has Hashimotos herself too! 😂

Yeah I was already having palpitations before my increase - I actually think I get them when I’m under medicated and got them when I wasn’t medicated.

[greygoose in reply to Griffo_]

Just having a disease doesn't mean you know all about it. And she really doesn't appear to! It's not high T3 that is going to cause symptoms because it never leaves the blood. And in the blood it doesn't do anything. It's the FT3 that gets into the cells that causes symptoms if too much gets in. Silly woman!

[Charlie-Farley]

Oh greygoose you are such a task master!😂 So yes she likely doesn't know enough, but there are plenty of doctors who would have issued a dose reduction (wrongly) on those results alone. Griffo_ Always symptoms and the 'frees' are the most important diagnostics as greygoose says. Even a doctor with the same disease will have been indoctrinated to such an extent they will use TSH (even though it frequently disagrees). Also if she were to go 'off piste' too much in order to treat patients it could get her in trouble. I think deep down a proportion know the guidelines are flawed, but the NHS is a ruthless echo chamber - people who don't follow the dogma are hounded out.

[greygoose in reply to Charlie-Farley]

Can't see anything wrong with that when it's our lives at stake.

[Charlie-Farley in reply to greygoose]

Yes a point that is lost on most Drs when we have to see them - honestly I prefer not . After keeping them at arms length for so long and doing quite well (keep signing the prescriptions doc that all I need from you) I am dreading the doctor I have been assigned trying to take charge. By heck they are in for a shock 😂

[greygoose in reply to Charlie-Farley]

Same here. I haven't seen a doctor since 2014 - and long may it continue!

[Charlie-Farley in reply to greygoose]

The less I see them the better I feel

🤪👍

[greygoose in reply to Charlie-Farley]

Oh, absolutely!

[Griffo_ in reply to Charlie-Farley]

Yeah, I see her privately - my NHS GPs wouldn’t even start treatment!!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

previous post shows low vitamin levels

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Improving these essential

[Griffo_]

Last night I was having crazy palpitations, but my heart rate was low (51 bpm) - would this indicate I’m getting them due to being under active? If so, I can’t wait for the increase to get into my system - it was quite scary! I’ve had palpitations recently and in the past, but not like that!

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to Griffo_]

You have just replied to yourself so noone will know that you have replied and get a notification. You can use the reply button directly below where someone has replied to you if you would like them to respond.

A low heart rate and palps are common when thyroid levels are low so likely this increase will help you when it starts working in a few weeks.

[Griffo_ in reply to GlowCoach]

Whoops - tagging greygoose SlowDragon Charlie-Farley though i think you've probably answered the question

[Charlie-Farley in reply to Griffo_]

Hi Griffo

yup sounds like undermedication. Take it easy and try to ride the bumps. Don't take on too much during this period if you can help it. 🤗

Easy to say with Christmas looming - try to delegate 😉

[Griffo_ in reply to Charlie-Farley]

Indeed - the only thing I won't be delegating is the Christmas eating 😀😂

[Charlie-Farley in reply to Griffo_]

hubby and I used to be such pigs before Christmas! Before we went gluten-free, we ate five Christmas cakes (one year) before the end of November! We went to get another to cut for Christmas and they had sold out😱🤣😂🤣

[Bearo]

TSH is, of course, the least important number, but I don’t understand why your GP describes your TSH as ‘quite suppressed’ when it is not only in range but a pretty good number -the ideal being 0.4 - 1.

[Griffo_ in reply to Bearo]

🤷‍♂️ I guess she knows more than a lot of GPs, but still not enough!