16th January and as I thought Dr said to stop taking the extra .25 mg but I had already stopped as I had arranged a private test with Medichecks and the results received on the 20th December were TSH 0.012 (scale 0.27-4.2) freeT3 4.2 (scale 3.1-6.8) and freeT4 25 (scale 12-22) they advised my medication may be too high they also advised my Vit B12 was on the low side so I bought a B12 spray and started that. On the phone call the Dr wanted another blood test done which was arranged for the 20th February the results of that test are are TSH LO 0.15 mU/L (0.27-4.2 U) NK and Free T4 18.7 pmol/L (10-22 U) NK improving - see task (DEV). As I expected my weight has started to creep up again and I am retaining fluid, my joints are painful which affects my sleep at night and I find I am falling asleep if I sit down during the day. It was discovered in February 2024 my blood pressure was high and I was prescribed Amlodipine which did not agree with me so was changed to Ramipril in April 2024 and I am now wondering if blood pressure medication affects the thyroid results. The final blow is I collected my prescription last week got home to find they have given me Teva again instead of Accord and will not change it.
Looking for more advice please: 16th January and... - Thyroid UK
Looking for more advice please
Brand of Levo
Request new prescription from GP and ask that they add note to all future prescriptions to say “No Teva”
Always check the bag in pharmacy before leaving the counter
Government guidelines for GP in support of patients if you find it difficult/impossible to change brands
gov.uk/drug-safety-update/l...
If a patient reports persistent symptoms when switching between different levothyroxine tablet formulations, consider consistently prescribing a specific product known to be well tolerated by the patient.
academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...
Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).
I will contact the surgery and try but I don't hold out much hope it took me over 13 weeks to arrange a phone call from the Dr who wanted to speak to me and as for seeing a Dr haven't done that for years it's nurses or other staff you see. Thank you so much for your help.
Email or write a letter in requesting new prescriptions to say “No Teva”
Include copy of Government document on brand levothyroxine
December results
Was last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Free T4 (fT4) 25 pmol/L (12 - 22)
Ft4 over range at 130.0%
Free T3 (fT3) 4.2 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8)
Ft3 very low at 29.7%
Shows extremely poor conversion rate of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone)
Looking for both Ft4 and Ft3 roughly 70% through range
Feb results
Free T4 (fT4) 18.7 pmol/L (10 - 22)
Ft4 72.5%
So this is better
But Ft3 likely dropped lower than December test
Obviously test pretty useless as doesn’t tell you much as no Ft3 or vitamin results
Is your hypothyroidism autoimmune
What other vitamin supplements are you taking apart from B12
Folate should always be tested with B12
And you need to test vitamin D and ferritin as well
Test all four vitamins 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)
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
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...
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
Yes the both tests were 8.30 am and last levothyroxine taken 24 hrs before test. Unfortunately they do not test T3 here not even if asked to do so. I have to arrange another blood test in 3 months. I was fine until I went in for a replacement knee and the hospital discovered my blood pressure was high. The first bloods taken after my op the folate was low Folate LO 3.2 ug/L (3.9-26.8 U) NK so I was precribed folate for 3 months. This was the folate result from Medichecks Folate - Serum 13.5 nmol/L Please note: A Folate result between 7-13 nmol/L may indicate a possible Folate deficiency. The only other Vit I take is Vit D.
You will need to test your self privately at least annually
This was the folate result from Medichecks Folate - Serum 13.5 nmol/L
Folate too low
Many, many thyroid patients need to supplement vitamin B complex continuously to maintain good B vitamins
supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)
This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too
Difference between folate and folic acid
healthline.com/nutrition/fo...
B vitamins best taken after breakfast
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 2 per day and/or may need separate methyl folate couple times a week
Post discussing different B complex
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 5-6 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
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 last test result serum B12 was below 500 or active B12 (private test) under 70
I was fine until I went in for a replacement knee and the hospital discovered my blood pressure was high.
anaesthetic can significantly reduce B12
How much vitamin D are you taking
Test ideally twice year. You may need higher dose in winter than summer
Better u Oral Spray 75ug (3000) iu per daily serving. I don't take a calcium supplement as my Mum had Pagets disease.
Is that the green spray - one spray = 3000iu
betteryou.com/products/vita...?
Or the red spray- one spray = 1000iu
betteryou.com/collections/a...
Test twice a year
NHS private testing service
It is the green one 3000iu I have taken it for years. Medichecks said in their feed back your vitamin D level is normal. Taking 400 iu (10mcg) per day will help to keep your vitamin D at healthy levels. Result 76 nmol/L (range 50 - 200).
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