Hi
TSH time
In October tsh 1.2
Today 3.2
I take 100mg levothyroxine. Two days ago I changed brand. The gp cannot prescribe a specific brand. Surely the change can’t be because of this?
Does exercise affect tsh levels? The day before I had been off road Mtb riding and had pushed myself right to my limit.
Any insights appreciated.
Or is this my thyroid giving up a bit more. If so is this because I’m taking thyroxine.
I would ask for FT4 and FT3 to be tested alongside TSH, for a comprehensive picture of your thyroid health. If your GP cannot do this, I would look to do this privately (as many members- myself included- do).
What time of day was your blood draw? When did you take your last dose of Levo? Was the above consistent in both Oct and Dec tests?
As TSH should always be under 2, with most members reporting they feel best when this is closer to/ under 1. As such, you may benefit from a slight increase in Levothyroxine.
Could be a mix of the two, quite likely your dose is still settling in and as you are doing more you could do with a tweak more, ideally if you can stick to the same brand it helps but is annoying hard to do as they don't appreciate the difference in brands effects people 😖
Worth adding another 12.5mcg daily or 25mcg every other day, do you ever get results showing your free T3 & 4? Really need to know how well you are converting... as it could be that your fT4 is high but fT3 still low 🙃
They may not be able to name a brand but they can add a note to not supply certain brands
Of course your GP can prescribe a specific brand, they are talking nonsense.
Show your GP this guidance from the government: gov.uk/drug-safety-update/l...
They need to write the brand name in the first line of the prescription or if they prescribe Vencamil which is lactose & mannitol free they cant switchthat out at the chemist.
The trouble is Vencamil is the only named one which is hard enough to get them to right the prescription correctly (I've nagged and they still refuse) the others are all considered generic and the best you can get is a brand added or excluded to the prescription which if it doesn't appear on the first line the pharmacy ignore 😕
It would be lovely if they actually followed the guidance you have linked in
I know its not always easy or straightforward but it is possible, and the more we keep asking for specific brands etc then eventually it will get easier for everyone.
I know some manage it but I've even shown my lot a correctly filled in prescription (possibly yours) and they still can't/won't do it right! 🙄
But they do now dispense the correct ones each time after I've kicked up a fuss about the ridiculousness of it, as I cannot present the prescription at any other pharmacy and get what I need, which they appreciate but still won't correct 🤬
just testing TSH is totally inadequate
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)
Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing
Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins
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Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
support.medichecks.com/hc/e...
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
Monitor My Health (NHS private test service) offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65
(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies)
monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...
10% off code here
thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...
Randox FULL thyroid test including both thyroid antibodies just £29
Test at home or in clinic
randoxhealth.com/en-GB/at-h...
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
endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...
endocrinenews.endocrine.org...
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 if taking
which brand were you taking
Which is the new brand
If you notice any difference you can get GP to specify particular brand
As detailed by Jaydee1507
Bloods should be retested 2-3 months after any brand change
hi I had two months of accord, during which time the oct test was done, then was given vencamil, which felt like it was too strong ( feeling a bit Ra) but gave the opposite result to my expectations (dec) The chances of having a blood test every 6 weeks after the lottery of which brand is dispensed is negligible. I will mention the brand change when I get the call to discuss my results ( knowledge really helps) and my ferritin was also way up on previous results ( flagged as abnormal by the lab) but happily in the normal range of the big survey you linked previously so I can mention this too.
Glad this community exists. 🤗
TSH varies according to time of day it was taken. it is highest first thing in the morning before food. Did you have you blood test at same time?
first thing for both without taking that mornings dose.
Hi Molmo,Your GP can specify a brand. They have to do it, it's actually written somewhere on the Ugov website. Your local MP can get involved if your GP won't specify a brand.
The Chemist needs the GP to write it on your prescription so that if they have to source a more expensive brand they'll get paid for it.
You might need to use an independent chemist as some large high street ones just use generic tablets of whatever they can get and fill the boxes themselves.
I hope this helps, best wishes for Christmas and a New Year 2025
The only way I, personally managed to get around this problem, was to get the Surgery to prescribe Eltroxin. I know Elttroxin does not suit everybody, but for me, at least it did away with the 28 day cycle of ups and downs and put me on a more even keel.Good luck 🙋
interesting
In thyroidpatients.ca there was an article a few years ago explaining that people with healthy thyroids produce more T3 in the winter while those treated with levothyroxine have lower levels of T3.
A lot of us taking T3 or NDT feel like we need to take more during the winter
Patti in AZ
TSH levels all over the place.
Sudden Hyper-pigmentation all over
Thyroid Bloods All over the Place
Update for all of my friends
