Results

[angel1306]

Hi All So some may have seen my thread on being over medicated so I now have some results from last year and this can anyone make sense.

My antibody test range was 0.0 to 59.8 my reading 767.3

1st March last year TSH on 75mc 3.37 range 0.49 5.23 no change to meds T4 in range.

30th May 5.68 same range meds changed to 75mc alternative days 50mc on other day. T4 in range

2nd Aug TSH 0.38 range 0.34 5.44 dose increased to 75mc daily

7th Feb this year TSH 0.24 same range T4 in range reduced meds to 50mc daily

Waiting for bloods taken Friday.

Had gluten test 0.2 so negative.

What do you think, still feeling rubbish tired and anxious

[greygoose]

Either I've forgotten how to read, or that dosing doesn't make any sense:

30th May 5.68 same range meds changed to 75mc alternative days 50mc on other day. T4 in range

Why was your dose reduced when your TSH was over-range? The top of that range is much to high, anyway. A 'norma' TSH - euthyroid - i.e. with no thyroid problems - is around 1. Over 5 is pretty hypo.

So, if the TSH is high, the dose is supposed to be increased, not decreased.

Then:

2nd Aug TSH 0.38 range 0.34 5.44 dose increased to 75mc daily

So, TSH right at the bottom of the range and the dose is increased??? I don't think your doctor has a clue what s/he is doing.

TSH isn't the important number, anyway. FT4 is far more important. Do you have the numbers for that? Just saying 'in range' doesn't tell us anything. It's not about being in-range, it's about being in the right place within the range.

But, in any case, your antibodies are saying you have Hashi's, so you can expect results to jump around, anyway.

[angel1306 in reply to greygoose]

Hi grey gooseMarch T4 was not checked

May was 16.8 range 11.5 22.7

Aug not checked

Feb this year 18.2 range 11.5 22.7 hospital dropped to 50 said over medicated.

Think what confuses me is before May last year I had been within range for a good 5 years, now we upside down .... having said that was 7 months in-between my dose change Aug to Feb, doctors don't seem to have much idea, in fact was hundred questions why I wanted my antibodies testing acted like I had no need to know if I was Hasi!

[greygoose in reply to angel1306]

Doctors have no idea. Especially not about antibodies and Hashi's. But, as I said, with Hashi's results can jump around a lot.

You were not over-medicated in February and the hospital should not have reduced your dose. But they were only looking at the TSH, and ignoring the FT4 - probably because they have no idea what it is!

But, if you don't want your dose dropped, just say no. They are not there to dictate to you, they are there to advise you. You are not obliged to follow their advice.

[angel1306 in reply to greygoose]

For goodness sake I spent last week's not able to work for the brain fog and anxiety and extreme tiredness, I will see what bloods are tomorrow well TSH because they not done my T4 and maybe go back to alternative days to start

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Feb this year

TSH 0.24

18.2 range 11.5 22.7

hospital dropped to 50 said over medicated.

NEVER agree to dose reduction based on just TSH and Ft4

Free T4 (fT4) 18.2 pmol/L (11.5 - 22.7) 

Only 59.8% through range

Ft4 wasn’t anywhere near over range

Was test done early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

And reducing by 25mcg per day ludicrously large reduction

If you had been over medicated (which you weren’t) a reduction of 25mcg PER WEEK initially would be first step

[angel1306 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi Slow dragonMy est in Feb was done around midday, I had been admitted to hospital with suspected stroke, was wandering not knowing ehere I was, speech had become nonsense and couldn't steady myself on my feet,blood pressure 194/98 I hadn't had a stroke,had Mri day after, then bloods 3rd day. So the reason they gave for all that was over medicated .I had been unwell with anxiety tiredness etc, same as now, but I was just walking home from work when all that happened, think they just looked at TSH and used that for reason.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to angel1306]

Get FULL thyroid testing 6 weeks after reducing dose

Meanwhile see if you can get GP to test folate, B12, ferritin and vitamin D now

If GP not helpful

Get vitamin D tested first while you wait here

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £31 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Aiming for vitamin D as minimum over 80nmol

Between 100-125nmol may be better

NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required

ouh.nhs.uk/osteoporosis/use...

GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol.

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

But with Hashimoto’s, improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly when supplementing

Can test via NHS private testing service

vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.

There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7.

One spray = 1000iu

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average

Vitamin D and thyroid disease

grassrootshealth.net/blog/t...

Vitamin D may prevent Autoimmune disease

newscientist.com/article/23...

Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7

Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Interesting article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium

drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

Too much Vitamin D is toxic…..so Test twice a year

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any dose or brand change in Levo

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG 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

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)