Low Tsh

[Maggiemay12]

My TSh is 0.66 and T4 is 20.6 but I feel I need my TSH above 1 to feel well . How to I get it to that level .

[greygoose]

Doesn't matter what level your TSH is, it doesn't make you feel anything. It's totally irrelevant.

TSH is just a chemical messenger from the pituitary to the thyroid to tell it when to make more thyroid hormone. So, in theory - not always in practice - the TSH follows the thyroid hormone levels.. And that's about all it does. So, if you don't feel good, it means that one of your thyroid hormones is off. Your FT4 is good-ish, I'm guessing (please put ranges, because they vary from lab to lab and we can't interpret the Frees without them). But you don't say how much levo you're taking, so again, I'm just guessing, but it's more than likely that you are a poor converter to have the FT4 that high, and so your FT3 is too low and causing symptoms;

Forget the TSH. It really is the least important of the three numbers.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much levothyroxine are you taking

Which brand is it

Do you always get this brand at each prescription

What vitamin supplements are you taking

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

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

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

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

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...

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...

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In days 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