Results

[AppleOrchard]

I have had my thyroid checked. I’m sure my consultant is going to reduce my thyroxine dose because of my suppressed TSH. My TSH has been suppressed ever since I started taking medication (2004). Should he be reducing it? I always do better with my T4 in the top end.

I had my T4 tested (without the T3) a few weeks earlier. It was 18.

Surely my results are okay?

I took the test in the correct way with the doses the day before.

I’m on 10mcg T3 and 100mcg T4. I take both in the evening.

I’m having other health issues and having an SST done in mid April.

Results:

02.04.24

Serum free T3 level:

5.7 pmol/L

Normal range:

3.1 to 6.8

Serum free T4 level:

21.3 pmol/L

Normal range:

12.0 to 22.0

Serum TSH level:

< 0.02 mu/L

Normal range:

0.27 to 4.20

Laboratory comment

**[[Set=TSHR]]**

If on T4 and/or T3 for primary hypothyroidism, suggest use TSH as an indicator of hormone status in conjunction with clinical symptoms. Please note suppressed TSH.

If on thyroxine for primary hypothyroidism, TSH is consistent with over-replacement, assuming no history of Ca thyroid.

Suggest wait for at least 2 months following change in dose before rechecking TFTs.

22.02.24

Serum ferritin:

103 ug/L

Normal range:

13 to 150

[Tina_Maria]

My TSH has been suppressed since I started thyroid medication 22 years ago and I only take T4. My T4 levels are also slightly above the range, but my T3 is 2/3rd through the range and I feel fine. I think, if you take T3 your TSH tends to be suppressed as a reaction to it.

Question is, do you feel okay? Do you have any symptoms? If you feel okay (and actually both your T4 and T3 are within the range), I would not budge! Years ago, my GP advised to lower my T4 dose (I am on 100mcg T4) due to the suppressed TSH. Upshot was, I felt lousy and had a heck of a time getting it all sorted again. Back on 100mcg and feel good again. And the TSH did not come down one bit whilst I was on a reduced dose! So a useless exercise.

If you feel good on your doses, I would stick to it and not risk upsetting your balance.

[AppleOrchard in reply to Tina_Maria]

Thank you for your reply. I have in the past lowered my dose and felt awful. I’m not keen to do that again.

I’m not feeling great, but there are other issues at play. My adrenals are being checked because I have low cortisol. Other bloods came back out of range as well.

I think thyroid wise, I’m okay. I do not think anything should be changed until everything else is sorted.

My TSH sounds similar to yours. It doesn’t rise much whatever happens to the dose.

Yes, T3 does mean your TSH is more likely to be suppressed. I doubt my endo knows that though.

Thank you again for the reply.

[Tina_Maria in reply to AppleOrchard]

No worries. As you have mentioned, if you do not feel okay, I would also be keen to explore everything else first and leave the thyroid medication as it is. There is a very high chance that it is not the culprit anyway and it will not have much influence on your TSH anyway.

Your ferritin looks okay, are you supplementing with a good Vitamin B complex, Magnesium and Vitamin D? Many thyroid patients are deficient and this could help to improve how you feel.

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!

[AppleOrchard in reply to Tina_Maria]

Thank you very much! I’m not at the moment because I’m waiting to have everything checked before adding anything in.

I’m hoping the consultant agrees to leave it as it is given I don’t think my thyroid is what’s causing my issues.

Thank you for replying!