I have only posted a couple of times on here, the first in 2017 for my results to be explained to me ie
Free T4 14.8 pmol/L 7.5-21.1
TSH 0.21 miu/L 0.35-4.7
TPO Antibodies 42 IU/mL 0-10
Folate 9.9 ug/L 3.1-19.9
Vit B12 282 ng/L 110-914
I received advice, thank you 😊, was advised I had Hashimotos, had negative test for coeliac disease and have chosen not to follow a gluten free diet but I do eat healthily, cook from fresh most days thanks to the Hairy Bikers 'The Hairy Dieters' books, am not particularly overweight but what weight I have is around my middle. I am 64 now and over 20 years past the menopause and petite build.
The first time I saw an Endo was in 2017 and I persuaded him to prescribe T3 (10mcg) and he reduced my Levo to 50mcg. Since then I also persuaded him to prescribe Vit D3 and now take 1000u x2 daily along with a 50ug of Vit K and I am prescribed VitB12 50mcg x2.
I have only seen the Endo once since 2017 but I have ensured I have had spasmodic telephone reviews following bloods. I have continued to have various health concerns but try to address them myself as my GP practice is No. 6 in the top ten worst GP practices in my area.
My last 'Endo' review was in Jan 2023:
Serum ferritan 28mg /mL 10-180
Serum TSH level 1.52 miu 0.34-5.6
Vit B12 level 530 110 - 914
Serum folate 8.4 ug/L 3.1 -19.9
Vit D 57 nmol/L 60 - 150 (At this time I asked for Vit D to be increased hence the 1000u x2 daily)
In July this year I asked GP to do bloods:
Serum TSH level 1.55 miu/L
Serum cholesterol level 5.7 mmol/L 1.5-5.5 It had been 5.9 in Feb but I managed to reduce it a little and was texted to say no action needed
When I was chasing up an Endo review this year (which is as always over due) I asked the Endo sec. to ask the Endo to send me forms so I can have full blood panel including antibodies. This is the form I have been sent to arrange bloods prior to my Endo appointment in Nov.
Could admins please give me their opinion on the above information and any suggestions as to how to approach my Endo in November. Much as I would like to make more time to spend on my thyroid needs, like many of us I am short of 'me' time and to a degree focus on my elderly mum's needs more than mine. I am not as knowledgeable as I should be as regards my own needs and again, like many of us, just plod on.
Thank you for reading😊
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Risetothechallenge
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Have you ever tested privately and got yourself a FT3 result alongside TSH and FT4? Without this it’s difficult to say if you are optimally replaced, my guess is you probably need either an increase or to improve absorption.
To me it still looks like your vitamin D could be higher, you could probably do 4000iu from September to April.
Ferritin and B12 still low for where I’d want them if they were mine.
I know you asked for admins but also saw you haven’t had a reply for 12 hours so by responding I’ve bumped your message back to the top 🌱
Thank you for your response and the reason for doing so. Appreciated.
No I have never tested privately. Money is tightish, but thanks for your suggestions. I have made a note of your suggestions for when I get my endo review.
Thank you for your response😊 I am on 50mcg of levo with 10 mcg of T3. The supplements I am on are VitD3, Vit E, and Vit B12. I will action your advice re. supplements, thank you and will look into private tests as suggested.
Your time is appreciated providing the info and links.
Noted thank you. I was on 75 originally but when the Endo prescribed 10mcg T3 in 2017, he reduced the levo. I will discuss this with him in November 👍 Am hoping my review will be more effective, given this time I am face to face with him🤞 Thanks again.
Absolutely ESSENTIAL to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together
Just testing TSH is completely useless
Highly likely your Ft4 is far too low
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)
T3 ….day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
I can't give you any medical advice but can sympathise. This is a wonderful site for guidance & help. My weight is also round my middle. Very hard to shift. I have lived in North Wales for almost 4 years (previously in England) & my GP here had never heard of Eltroxin which fortunately was prescribed to me prior to moving here. One of the receptionists said that I am the only one in their practice on Eltroxin. I think all the local practices here prescribe a generic levothyroxine. I have little faith in the GP's here regarding our condition. I've adjusted my dosage myself & so far, so good. Regarding yourself, hope your GP gets on board & you have the right questions to put to your Endo. I can imagine you must get very tired but need your energy to cope with your mum. I hope you get the right adjustment to your meds. Unfortunately, it does take a few weeks to regulate.
Thank you for your kind reply. Actually I have never heard of Eltroxin, so will look it up. My pharmacy is regularly changing the brand of T4 and T3 which does not help. We never get to see the GPs at our practice and when I was diagnosed with high cholesterol, I simply got a text from a GP, sending me a link to eat more healthily (which I do anyway) and no acknowledgement that high cholesterol can be as a result of underactive thyroid. The responses I have had on this page are very useful. Thanks again for your kindness.
The Eltroxin product is just Mercury Pharma levothyroxine but branded!
Eltroxin was the brand name given by Glaxo to the first UK levothyroxine product. Initially launched as L-Thyroxine in 1949 and branded Eltroxin in 1951. And, with a few gaps in availability, ever since.
I get lost off whether Mercury Pharma are supplying it as generic levothyroxine, as Eltroxin, or both!
(Mercury Pharma is part of Advanz Pharma.)
Product branded Eltroxin in the rest of the world is a different formulation.
helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines - UK
The UK document contains up-to-date versions of the Summary Matrixes for levothyroxine tablets, oral solutions and also liothyronine available in the UK. Includes injectables and descriptions of tablet markings which allow identification. Latest updates include all declared ingredients for all UK products and links to Patient Information Leaflets, Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d), etc. PLUS how to write prescriptions in Appendix F.
Also includes links for anti-thyroid medicines (but not product details).
Eltroxin is a brand of thyroxine. I was initially started on Wockhardt which didn't suit me. I can't recommend Eltroxin to you but it suits me. There are quite a few brands on the market. It's so sad that your pharmacy changes your brand. How can you ever stabilize? You're right, high cholesterol is a symptom from being hypo. I don't take anything for cholesterol but I'm sure my GP would like me to, along with statins, etc. These meds all make me unwell so I'm taking my chances. I'm currently ok just on thyroxine. 'Eat healthily! Like you don't. There is no magic cure for this condition & I feel that our GP's only have a limited knowledge.
Thanks for the additional info. Yes I want to avoid statins too. I am going to ask the Endo if he will name the brand of T4 and T3 on the prescription so the pharmacy can't keep changing it. All the best😊
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
Thank you for your incredible patience while you have been awaiting the outcome of our ferritin reference range review. We conducted this with Inuvi lab, which has now changed the reference ranges to the following:
Females 18 ≤ age < 40. 30 to 180
Females 40 ≤ age < 50. 30 to 207
Females 50 ≤ age < 60. 30 to 264l
Females Age ≥ 60. 30 to 332
Males 18 ≤ age < 40 30 to 442
Males Age ≥ 40 30 to 518
The lower limits of 30 are by the NICE threshold of <30 for iron deficiency. Our review of Medichecks data has determined the upper limits. This retrospective study used a large dataset of blood test results from 25,425 healthy participants aged 18 to 97 over seven years. This is the most extensive study on ferritin reference ranges, and we hope to achieve journal publication so that these ranges can be applied more widely.
Morning and thank you for your response and all the relevant info. Smashing.
The Endo prescribed VitB12 back in 2017, 50mcg x2 daily and said at some point in the future these would be placed with injections but they have not been.
I am not taking an iron supplement but have noted your advice.
With all my replies, which I really do appreciate, I need to put time aside, read up and make notes. I am sure I am not the only one who feels overwhelmed by the complexities of the symptoms and just put my head down and plod on. It does seem an indulgence concentrating on one's symptoms but I know as I am getting older, I feel older than I am. I have always been very active, fast thinking and fast moving up until my mid50s. Now it's push, push, push all the time and life is more hard work than ever. My mum says I need to slow down but every day feels like ground hog day. Anyway, enough of that. I am refreshed with information and have the tools to make a positive difference. I have changed my bloods appointment to 8.50am so that's a start. I am so sad about our NHS but feel lucky to have the support of Health Unlocked. 😊
The Endo prescribed VitB12 back in 2017, 50mcg x2 daily and said at some point in the future these would be placed with injections but they have not been.
Vit B12 level 530 110 - 914
Serum folate 8.4 ug/L 3.1 -19.9
considering you are taking B12 daily B12 is not overly high
Suggest you add a separate vitamin B complex AFTER this next blood test
This can help keep all B vitamins in balance including folate and will help improve B12 levels too
Igennus B complex popular option. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose and may need separate methyl folate couple times a week
Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 5-7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12
Post discussing how biotin can affect test results
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Hair loss is really upsetting me! Any info pls? :'( 
Cortisol test result
Blood tests results advice please... 
Beginners post: Thyroid antibody test results in plain English please 
Test Result Comments Welcomed Pre Endo Appt
