We can't know if your ' thyroid is fixed ' as we haven't a full thyroid panel blood test which is a TSH + a Free T3 and Free T4 -
Once on any form of thyroid hormone replacement a TSH is not a reliable measure of anything - and was originally introduced as a diagnostic tool to help confirm a diagnosis of hypothyroidism - and was never intended to be used once any form of thyroid hormone replacement was prescribed.
Considering you took your T4 before the blood test - this could be giving a ' false high T4 ' so suggest if a dose reduction in T4 is suggested, which you feel not the right decision -
explain what happened and ask for another blood test and follow the forum guidelines regarding ' how best to prepare for a thyroid blood test ' : which I'm sure has been advised on previous posts.
Do you still have symptoms of hypothyroidism - do you ' feel fixed ' ?
As we age we likely need our thyroid hormone support adjusted as ' life gets in the way ' and goal posts move.
I dont feel fixed in any way but I have other illnesses so that's not unexpected
My gp has not been helpful with thyroid going back long before I had blood tests which suggested a problem
CFS/ME, Fibromyalgia, hypermobility, IBS (or a damaged bowel) and menopause are my main problems
And I was really hoping optimising my thyroid could help with my symptoms, exhaustion, brain fog, widespread pain, dry throat/cough
But with such a low reading they will try to reduce my levothyroxine which bit do think is helping somewhat
I reckon I might get away with - let's check in 12 weeks as that's how long you said my tsh had to be high for before we medicate & i had taken my levothyroixe so it will have made the reading higher.....but that might not work
Well - if you fix your thyroid you may well find several other symptoms fading away -
In order to try and fix your thyroid - you need to arrange a full thyroid blood panel -
TSH + Free T3 and Free T4 - you also need to know your inflammation and thyroid antibody markers plus ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D readings and ranges.
If you doctor will not help you with this blood test you can arrange it yourself as many of us have been forced to do - and then you simply start a new post with all the results and ranges and you will be talked through what it all means for you and advised on your next best steps back to better health.
If you go into Thyroid UK - thyroiduk.org the charity who supports this forum there is page detailing Private Blood companies who can and follow the instructions as to When to and How to take a thyroid blood test.
A couple of the companies refer to this blood test as a thyroid ' ultra ' or ' extra ' and it is 10/11 biomarkers and offer a nurse home visit to take the venous blood draw for you , at a surcharge, if you find this the best option for you.
We generally feel best when taking T4 - levothyroxine when the T4 is up in the top quadrant at around 80% through its range with the T3 tracking just behind at around 70% through its range and at around a 1/4 ratio T3/T4 :
So your T4 is at 42% with your T3 at around 30 % - so the next step is a further increase in T4 x 25mcg daily and a further retest after around 6-8 weeks at the increased dose :
Did you show these results to your doctor and request a dose increase in T4 ?
Well having a quick look back SDragon details that you already had Hashimoto's and EDS - and so I don't know who to believe without losing this thread now -
How can an endo write anything of any substance, value or meaning when they don't even run the necessary thyroid blood tests.
A TSH over 2 suggests hypothyroid symptoms are starting to emerge - and years ago hypothyroidism was diagnosed on a TSH over 3 -
Once on thyroid hormone replacement it's suggested that the TSH is kept under 2 and that very many patients will have a TSH down towards the bottom of the range and where they feel better.
I dont have a diagnosis of either - I think they know me and my symptoms (possibly from mumsnet) over many years looking for a cure I have subclinical hypothyroidism plus what I mentioned above my antibodies were negative
Tbh this seems to be the way my health works, I get symptoms, I fight to get treatments, they help in some way then I get something else which often takes years to diagnoseNov 23Serum TSH level 5.61 mIU/L [0.27 - 4.2]; Above high reference limit
My brother lives in Sweden and has a very different experience, diagnosed with RA more than 20 years ago with careful and progressive treatment - no rheumatoid factor just a high anticcp
but from what you have described and with these various different blood tests results over the years - it does tend to suggest Hashimoto's Thyroid Auto Immune disease -
Maybe check out this link and see if it makes any sense for you - thyroidpharmacist.com
Suggest you get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done yourself in another month or so
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually
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)
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