thyroid levels & testing - can anyone explain them to me please?

alyth · 7 April 2009 at 8:05PM

Please note I'm not looking for medical advice, just to see whether someone can explain this to me. I had my thyroid removed 17 years ago, and my levels have always been okay. Until about 6 months ago, when I started to get a bit panicky, shaky, etc. I've just had the results back from my thyroid test and my level is 37 - the normal range is 4 and below! So, I've to increase my tablets slightly. However, will increasing my tablets not give me more thyroixine and therefore raise my levels - i.e. higher than 37, or will it lower my levels? I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow to try and understand it, but I can't work the levels thing out at all!

Thanks in advance - and again I don't want medical advice, I just can't understand the readings and levels thing!

no1gymbunny · 7 April 2009 at 8:10PM

I think taking more would lower your levels. I was diagnosed wiht hypothyroidism about a year ago. My first reading was around 37, I was started on 50mg of Levothyroxine, I've had blood tests every 3 months since and I've had to keep increasing although my levels are dropping. I'm now taking 125mg.

Good luck with the doc. Make sure you have in your head all the questions you want to ask (or write them down). My doc has told me about a website that the docs use www.patient.co.uk which is really good and explains everything.

alyth · 7 April 2009 at 8:14PM

right, I see now - I'm honestly not being stupid, I've been on the patient.co.uk website earlier today and it was great. I was horrified at my reading, I've to up my tablets to 225mg for a while. My tablets have never been changed for years and years, and I've also not had my blood checked for a good few years, so I guess it's all catching up on me now!

Thank you - I appreciate your post, it makes sense to me now!

Ted_Hutchinson · 7 April 2009 at 9:05PM

Stephan WholeHealthSource Omega-6 Linoleic Acid Suppresses Thyroid Signaling
This blog explains how the foods you eat may affect the thyroid system.

TomsMom · 7 April 2009 at 10:59PM

The two main tests carried out by your GP/endocrinologist are:

TSH = THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE
This hormone comes from the pituitary to stimulate the thyroid gland into making more hormone. TSH rises when the thyroid is struggling.
The approx. reference range for this test is 0.4 to 4.5.

Anything above 4.5 (along with symptoms) can indicate an underactive thyroid gland and would normally be treated with thyroxine to bring it down within range. [Below 0.4 or supressed TSH can indicate an overactive thyroid and your dose of thyroxine could be reduced.]

FT4 = FREE T4
Thyroid hormones not bound to proteins. FT4 lowers when the thyroid is struggling.
The approx. reference range for this test is 10 to 24

A low FT4 (along with symptoms) can indicate an underactive thyroid and would normally be treated with thyroxine to bring it up into the range. Most people are at their best around the middle of the range, e.g. 17-19, some people need to be nearer the top end of the range to feel well. [Above 24 can indicate an overactive thyroid and your dose of thyroxine could be reduced.]

Your blood tests should be done annually.

Reference ranges taken from Thyroid UK website, I have been a support worker for them for many years.

EagerLearner · 8 November 2009 at 6:36PM

TomsMom can I ask your advice please - I started on LevoThyroxine just over a week ago (50mg for now) and the main thing I have noticed is that before, I would drink say 3-4 glasses of red wine and feel fine. Now, I drink 2 and I feel like a sledgehammer has hit me the next morning. I can only imagine it's the LT? I never binge drink and I pretty much always drink lots of water before bed to avoid as much of the hangover as I can. But this is different.

I thought I must have just had a not-great wine, so on Friday we had some cava bubbly, and yet after 2-3 flutes, again yesterday had a horrendous hangover.

Now I am all for testing it a third time, but seems it's pretty clear my drinking days are over - do I need to just drink a couple of litres of water before/during drinking to help?

poppy_f1 · 8 November 2009 at 7:26PM

EagerLearner wrote: »

TomsMom can I ask your advice please - I started on LevoThyroxine just over a week ago (50mg for now) and the main thing I have noticed is that before, I would drink say 3-4 glasses of red wine and feel fine. Now, I drink 2 and I feel like a sledgehammer has hit me the next morning. I can only imagine it's the LT? I never binge drink and I pretty much always drink lots of water before bed to avoid as much of the hangover as I can. But this is different.

I thought I must have just had a not-great wine, so on Friday we had some cava bubbly, and yet after 2-3 flutes, again yesterday had a horrendous hangover.

Now I am all for testing it a third time, but seems it's pretty clear my drinking days are over - do I need to just drink a couple of litres of water before/during drinking to help?

since i've been on LT on occaisons my hangovers are horrendous and i put it down to the medication

EagerLearner · 9 November 2009 at 11:43AM

Thanks Poppy_f1, I do think that's what it is too, as I used to be able to drink more, but now it just isn't worth it. Probably for the best, no better excuse to get healthy!

Do you find some alcohols are easier on the head than others now that you are on LT?

Also are there any other symptoms on a day to day basis - I did notice that it's best to take the pill early and then snooze for a while, and leave it some time before eating. The first time I forgot that I got a little dizzy!

Also I am wondering if I should take my multivitamins with lunch instead, as I remember reading that iron and calcium can prevent the LT from working properly.

EagerLearner · 9 November 2009 at 2:55PM

Hi all just a bump to ask, in addition to the above, does it do any harm to still take kelp supplements as well as the levothyroxine?

WolfSong2000 · 9 November 2009 at 7:14PM

EagerLearner wrote: »

Hi all just a bump to ask, in addition to the above, does it do any harm to still take kelp supplements as well as the levothyroxine?

Yes, because kelp contains Iodine which is a big no-no if you're on levothyroxine. Avoid *any* supplement with iodine in it as it can cause issues. You'd have to be pretty unlucky to suffer from serious problems with your thryoid, but it can cause major problems in theory.

If you've got a good reason for wanting to continue taking a kelp supplement, then speak to your doctor but I have been specifically warned on a number of occasions that it's a no-no.

poppy_f1 · 9 November 2009 at 10:48PM

EagerLearner wrote: »

Thanks Poppy_f1, I do think that's what it is too, as I used to be able to drink more, but now it just isn't worth it. Probably for the best, no better excuse to get healthy!

Do you find some alcohols are easier on the head than others now that you are on LT?

tbh its hard to explain, sometimes i can drink vodka and not have a hangover sometimes i can have 2 or 3 and feel like im dying the next day
wine - well i only drink rose, 2 weeks ago had a bottle of gallo and a bottle of weightwatchers wine, thought my head was gonna explode the next day, sat night past, had the same and i was fine yesterday

its pot luck for me, although one thing i have learned is that i cant mix drinks so i need to pick one drink (usually vodka) when im out and stick with that

and im your classic binge drinker or i used to be

thyroid levels & testing - can anyone explain them to me please?

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