Tiny Levo increase but FT4 well over range - Thyroid UK

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Tiny Levo increase but FT4 well over range

Just got results back from MMH. I’ll add historical results for comparison but they may be irrelevant as I am where I am! I take Levo only. Ranges were 3.1-6 for FT3 and 12-22 for all tests.

2021 on 100mcg

TSH 0.01

FT4 24.9=129% (12-22)

FT3 6.5=91.89% (3.1-6.8)

Note: insomnia much improved, felt good but started losing weight so reduced dose

———————-

2022 on 85mcg

TSH 0.02

FT4 18.2=62%

FT3 5.1=54%

Note: maintaining weight two stone lighter than 2020 and feeling pretty good

—————————

2023 on 75mcg

TSH 0.02

FT4 18=60%

Note: 6 weeks self inflicted 75mcg in an effort to raise TSH for annual blood test

6 weeks dose reduced to 75mcg by GP (who thought I was on 100) when TSH remained low

Felt a bit depressed on this dose; shoulder injury (tendinitis?); jaw shifted out of place

———————-

2024 on 89mcg and split dosing morning and evening. Blood test not til 10.15am and Levo was about 26 hours earlier.

TSH 0.01

FT4 24.4=124%

FT3 4.8=46%

Notes: lack of energy

No vitamins to add apart from vit D 100. Wouldn’t be surprised if iron and B12 slightly low but the test failed so I’m waiting for a replacement kit.

I take vit d, k2, magnesium, omega 3 …..and Thorne b complex which I stopped four days before test.

Looks like I’ll have to reduce dose back to 85mcg and test again in a couple of months.

But why has %FT4 gone up so much? I was expecting a result similar to two years ago as the dose was very similar.

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Bearo

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8 Replies

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DippyDame1 year ago

Have you tested thyroid antibodies TPO and TG for thyroid autoimmune disease/ Hashimoto's.

Hashi's can result in (lab) levels flip flopping between high and low levels of thyroid hormones

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPO Ab) – antibodies that attack the thyroid peroxidase enzyme. The levels of these are raised in Hashimoto’s disease

Thyroglobulin antibodies (TG Ab) – Antibodies that attack thyroglobulin. The levels rise as well as the TPO antibody levels in autoimmune thyroiditis, but to a lesser degree

The treatment is, as for hypothyroidism, but in addition a gluten free diet often helps.

Optimise vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin

This may account for your fluctuating hormone levels

Bearo• in reply toDippyDame1 year ago

I’ve only ever had the TPO antibody test and that was not positive. I’ve always assumed I don’t have Hashis but I could be wrong, of course.

DippyDame• in reply toBearo1 year ago

Pleased to see greygoose has also suggested Hashi's...best to test both TPO and TG.

Good luck!

Bearo• in reply toDippyDame1 year ago

Thanks, DD

greygoose1 year ago

Five months ago you were asking about Central Hypo. Did you abandon that piste? Did you ever get your antibodies rested? Because those labs look a lot like Hashi's, to me. What is strange is that in 2021, both your FT4 and FT3 were high on 100 mcg. Now, only the FT4 is high. And the increase in level is far great than one would expect with only a 14 mcg increase in dose.

So, I would get those antibodies retested now, if I were you.

Bearo• in reply togreygoose1 year ago

Thanks for the reply, @greygoose, hmmm…..Hashis didn’t occur to me!

I didn’t pursue Central diagnosis. I think it may apply to me but I only mentioned it last year because I told the GP that’s what I had when we were arguing about my dose reduction knowing she wouldn’t check my records.

I’m glad you agree that that increase looks strangely high.

I just had the advanced thyroid test from MMH so I’m surprised that didn’t include antibodies. I’ll see if I can get them done.

greygoose• in reply toBearo1 year ago

I think that's best, yes.