Hi guys
I've been on 100mg of levothyroxine for 2 years but my recent blood test shows my TSH is 12 mIU/L.
GP wants to wait 6 weeks and re-check my blood as she's saying that my recent check infection could cause these abnormal readings.
Could you please tell me is 12 mlU/L bad?
Thank you
Kind regards
Rose
I would say that a TSH of 12 on treatment is terrible.
Are you taking your Levo regularly, on its own, on an empty stomach, 1 hour before food or caffeine containing drinks?
Approximately how much do you weigh? There's a calculation that gives a very approximate final dose (this is not exact science but can be used as a guide).
weight in kilos x 1.6 = dose.
A TSH of 12 is extremely high (this should always be under 2)
What was your previous TSH blood test (prior to 12)?
Do you have results for FT4 and FT3?
Have you ever had antibodies checked to see if your thyroid condition is auto immune (aka Hashimotos)?
Have you checked key thyroid vitamin levels (ferritin, folate, B12 and vit D)?
Victim36 what brand of Levothyroxine are you taking, do you always have the same brand?
Your TSH of 12 is far too high, it should be around 1.00 when dosed correctly. I’d go back to your GP or practise manager and explain that a TSH that high cannot wait 6 weeks to retest. What are your T4 and T3 levels. If you haven’t got them request them. You need both levels to determine which one or both is inadequate. You could always do it privately through monitor my health on line without having to wait 6 weeks. You definitely need an increase in medication/s. How are you feeling? Any symptoms? You will have symptoms if your TSH is above 2.5 my private only endocrinologist explained to me.
Insist in new test NOW (not in 6 weeks ) including Ft4 and Ft3, plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Vitamin levels likely low when on too low a dose levothyroxine
Are you in U.K.?
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)
Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing
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/testing/thyro...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
support.medichecks.com/hc/e...
Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee
on Levo TSH should always be below 2
Dear kind souls that has replied to me ❤️
Where to start... Ok so, l have been diagnosed with Hashimoto in January 2021, previously battled graves disease for numbers of years.
Since my hashimoto diagnosis, withing 4 months I've put almost 3 stones and my life was never the same since 😓
I'm currently 180lbs and was 143.
Bare in mind l had graves disease so my metabolism was on overdrive.
It's easy for some to say but l don't recognise my own body in a mirror and even times has gone l still grieve coz that's NOT who l am.
I'm nearly 43 and some people tell me it's the age or lm in perimenopausal stage but only just less 3 years ago, l had beautiful body with 28% of fat where now lm over 50%. it's hard to accept that.
Anyway ,lm sorry, where was l..
OK so ,lll show you my THS since May 2022 and BTW they never tested me for t4 or t3🙄
THS Ranges [ 0.3-5.5] mlU/L
May 2022 Satisfactory
0.31
July 2022 Abnorlmal
0.07
Oct 2022 Abnormal
10
Dec 2022 Abnormal
0.18
Feb 2023 Satisfactory
1.6
June 2023 Norlmal
3.8
January 2024 Abnormal
12
January 2024
Ferritin - 52ug
B12 - 741 ng/L
Vitamin D 92.8 nmol/L
LDL cholesterol - 3.1 mmol/L
Haemoglobin A1c - 36.0 mmol/mol
Calcium - 2.31 mmol/L
In 2021- lve been diagnosed with helicobacter pylori which was successfully eradicated with 2 antibiotics. Prior to this, they diagnosed me with pancreatitis, which they believe HPylori caused it,with elastase level less then 100 ug/g, where norlmal range is [ 200-500]
This year my elastase is 221 and from today lm of CREON tablets to see if lll again be expierancing nausea Tbh lm feeling a bit funny in my stomuch all day today😒
In 2020 they diagnosed me with 4mm pituitary adenoma, but it's apparently shrinking and it's not secreting any extra hormones.
Prolactin was fine, growth hormone was fine.
I'm scared guys l really am and lm to overwelmed with everything.
The doctor said that my THS is probably hight because of my recent Chest infection ,hence she wants to wait and see me in 6 weeks.
However l do have heart palpitations which worries me so l don't know what to do because lve just had my THS checked on 2nd January hence she said no pont checking it again yet.
I have to say that besides heart palpitations l'm only a little tired where l used to be very fatigued before but lm kind of ok 🤔
I'm looking forward to hearing from you again guys 🤜🤛
Thank you.
You need TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 tested together now
And folate
Privately yes?
My last Folate was done in October 2023 and it was 20.0ug/LIs that bad or good??
What’s the range 8-60 or 3-20 or something else
I take levo on an empty stomuch every single morning and norlmaly wait an hour till l eat or drink cafinated drinks.
I don't always have the same brand of levothyroxine which l asked for but sometimes they're out of stock so they give me whatever the pharmacy has.
I think my elastase levels are still low coz lm feeling funny after food and without digestive enzimes 😕
Yes SlowDragon lm from the UK
So next step is to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3
Always test 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)
Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing
Just TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 test - £32
monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...
10% off code here
thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...
Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65
(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies)
monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...
10% off code here
thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...
Dear SlowDragon
I've ordered THS, T4 & T3 test like you suggested, thank you.
I will be in touch when my results are back.
May God bless you for what you do 🙌
Advice needed on vit levels 
Thyroxine (T4) screening level
are these normal levels
Still unwell despite good thyroid levels.
