Gone back to levo after 12 years on Armour

[Redditch]

HiI recently decided to go back to Levo as I have been paying privately for Armour and Levo is free

On Armour my FT4 sat at 10 my FT3 at 5 and my TSH at 0.3

3 weeks into levo I have had a blood test

FT4 is 23 TSH is unchanged

I feel good

My question is .... Would I already feel rubbish if I wasn't converting properly? As I don't have an FT3 result

Also... If I wasn't converting what would happen to TSH?

Does TSH take it's level from FT3, FT4, both or none? Anyone know

[Rainbow-Lover]

it’s not really possible to comment on how well you’re converting without an FT3 result.

[Redditch in reply to Rainbow-Lover]

I know that. I'm getting one

[Rainbow-Lover in reply to Redditch]

Good to hear 😉

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Too soon to test

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

I would wait at least 8 weeks after changing from NDT to T4 only

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

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 too

With likely drop in Ft3, vitamin levels may decline

What vitamin supplements are you taking

Lower vitamin levels more common as we get older

For good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone) we must maintain GOOD vitamin levels

What is reason for your hypothyroidism

Autoimmune?

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)

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

[Hypo50]

Sorry I can’t give you my opinion, I am considering doing the same due to the cost of NDT. Do you mind if I ask if your GP is supporting you with this and monitoring your bloods?

[Redditch in reply to Hypo50]

My GP is an unhelpful, idiot. Luckily my consultant wrote to him telling him to prescribe and he will never ever test my blood so I can sort myself out with medichecks

[Hypo50 in reply to Redditch]

You made me laugh! Glad to hear you have a good consultant.

[tattybogle]

re. TSH control

in my case , i think the evidence suggests that my TSH is mainly influenced by my fT3 level rather than my fT4 level.

and also that my fT4 level is not remotely related to my symptoms ~ my fT4 level has been anything from 60% to 242% without having symptoms of overmedication.

i have been overmedicated , and my TSH did relate to being overmedicated , ie. when i was ok it was usually around 0.05ish or over , but was 0.016 when having symptoms of overmedication. unfortunately this time the NHS didn't do the fT3... fT4 was 119%

my TSH is now much higher at 5.3, despite fT4 still being at top end.

my assumption is that my TSH has risen because my fT3 is now much lower (previous fT3 were all between 40-60% when TSH was lower, but more recently 24%.. then 24% .... now 13%

[Redditch in reply to tattybogle]

Ooh but that might indicate a conversion issue..

I think symptom-wise I must be converting because I am feeling well

I will test in 2 weeks to see how this levo is doing.

But a high FT4 is the Cardiff's study idea of cardiac risk so I don't want it high for long

[Incoguto]

Just sharing my own experience moving from Naturethroid to Levo years ago. It took 2-3 months+, started to feel increasingly hypo, my ft4 was 80%, but ft3 around 30-40%, I have put about 14 kgs over a year on t4. Only when added 20 t3 and more the weight gain stopped. You may have a different experience altogether! Bear in mind you still had T4 from NDT in cells when you switched.