low TSH

[Pnut]

just had blood test again and my

TSH is 0.220 mlu/L

For the second time, I take levothyroxine for years now the current dose is 125mg daily

Should I ask for another blood test or agree to have 100mg ever other day/ 125mg every other day

[SovietSong]

Admins on here will probably ask for your T3 and T4 levels and ranges.Was it solely TSH that was tested? They will ask for b12, ferritin, folate, vit d etc.

[Pnut in reply to SovietSong]

It was over 24 hrs before TSH test only,

my gp do not ask for b12; T3; T4; ferritin; vit d

Last test t

In Feb my TSH level was the same, my vit d was low

so I’m taking supplements D’s also b’s

[SovietSong]

Do you have hypo/hyper symptoms?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Just testing TSH is completely inadequate

How do you feel

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

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

Can see from previous posts you have Hashimoto’s

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

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (hashimoto’s)

High cholesterol linked to low Ft3

Low Ft3 either due to inadequate dose levothyroxine or poor conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone)

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)

Is this how you do your tests

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Post all about what time of day to test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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

[Pnut in reply to SlowDragon]

Gp appointment has been arranged for Thursday

I’m always tired , nails thin and flaking , body hair loss, fibromyalgia,have head sweats all the while (I had ovaries removed over 30yrs ago) I have a PSK9 injection twice a month for cholesterol and I have high bp and I’m now on my 5th type of bp tablet! I’ve put weight on , I see a pain management team and have cortisone injections nerve blocks neck and lumber also angina. I have under-active thyroid

Gp only tests TSH,

I’m trying to prepare for my telephone consultation,

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Pnut]

Gp only tests TSH,

NHS these days, rarely tests more than TSH

GP might test Ft4 if pushed.

Extremely unlikely to get Ft3 tested, even if GP requests it, lab invariably refuses to do it

GP should test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

[yorkshiregirl4 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hello SlowDragon

I am testing all thyroid levels next week privately but am fascinated by your comment about low fT3 and high cholesterol levels. My GP has recently recommended statins even though my fT3 has always been low for decades and my cholesterol levels ignored. I think GP simply wants me to go away quietly.

I have been totally reluctant to consider statins but your wisdom continues to point a way forward for me. Many thanks.

[ICE187 in reply to yorkshiregirl4]

I'm going to attempt uploading a picture of my cholesterol just before my hypothyroid diagnosis and when I was ignorantly placed on statins. I quit taking statins against my doctors orders. When I began statins, my cholesterol got worse. I quit taking them and my cholesterol began to drop. I went back down into range. I began levothyroxine and my cholesterol began to rise again before coming back down. Each levo dose increase, my cholesterol drops even more. I can't explain why I dropped back into range without statins or levothyroxine, but I'm pointing out that statins made my cholesterol worse. The first red dot on the left is when my doctor told me to get on statins. The 2nd red dot that shows the highest point was when I decided to quit taking statins. The green dot is when I was officially diagnosed with hypothyroidism and began levothyroxine. As a side note, I was hypothyroid in 2015 as it clearly had shown on my blood test, but it was ignored. My tsh in 2015 was flagged.

Statins

[yorkshiregirl4 in reply to ICE187]

Many thanks for your information. Sorry but I have not been able to reply earlier. I have been taking Levothyroxine for so many years now but you have given me the confidence to continue to ignore my GP's advice regarding statins. I always thought they are not the answer for me. I am awaiting private blood test results for fT3 and fT4 so will be able to review these results on this fabulous site for advice and hopefully begin more appropriate treatment for my hypothyroidism and resolve my raised cholesteral levels. Thank you for sharing your experience with me. Best wishes.

[DelicateInput]

I had the same result last Sep (0.22); the TSH was taken without my permission in conjunction with other tests. The GP wanted to reduce it. I refused and said I would see endo who would do other blood tests. The GP did not reduce my dose. I had a repeat kidney function test and, again without my permission, the TSH was taken and the result was over 1.7, so they have now shut up.

You could just stall it like that, maybe say you want another test and make sure it is at a time when the TSH will be higher. I would not agree to taking it every other day but the others can advise you better on that.

[mrskiki]

Really worth doing your own test first and perhaps getting a retest. My TSH went below range, and FT4 above, he wanted me to go from 150mcg to 125. I also do a self test for FT3 at same time, my FT3 was low so after advice on here I got him to agree to a retest in 2 months, then if it was still low to then perhaps reduce only part way, 125mcg for just a few days. In meantime as my tests were all 8-9 am and I had my FT3/4 results, I have cut out just 50mcg total over the week to see if thats enough to bring me to a range that will stop them messing with my prescription.

[Brucie1961]

My TSH was 0.09, on 150mg synthetic Levothyroxine and a doctor has asked me to reduce to 125mg on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only. If I don't feel any better, I have an appointment with a different doctor and not allowed a blood test for 3 months after the initial consultation.