Latest Test results

[Justin1967]

FT4: 19.5 pmol/l  (9-19) H
TSH: 0.50 mU/L  (0.4-4.0)
Free T3: 4.4 pmol/L  (2.5-6.0)

Are these results ok?

[kitty9309]

I just know that keeping the TSH truly supressed near 0 can help prevent the cancer form reoccuring.
In fact I just looked into mu Thyroid for Dummies book and it says: "The current technique is to give enough thyroid hormone to keep the TSH between 0.1 and 0.3, which is supposed to supress the growth of new thyroid tissue, including cancer.

My point is :I wonder if your TSH is low enough? ( I do understand the risk of becoming hyper, though.)

[Justin1967]

Yeap you are right.. as long as my Tsh is between 0.5 and 1.0 that is fine.. Anything below 0.4 and you run into hyperthyroidism trouble..
I can't seem the reasoning behind it as you risk heart troubles etc..
  

[kitty9309]

I don't have personal experience, but I have read that the TSH needs to be truly supressed near 0.

I simply have Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism and my endo's (and my) goal is between 0.5 and 1.

Are you in touch with anyone else here that has your history? I am certain others are being kept at a lower TSH.

[Justin1967]

As far as I know as long as the Tsh is below 1.0..

[kitty9309]

I read it. So, should the TSH be more supressed than it is?

[Justin1967]

Yeap I had thyroid cancer.. read my profile!!

[kitty9309]

Well, if you had thyroid cancer, it should be supressed, as you know.
If you feel ok and can handle the fatigue, a supressed TSH is best for you.

Isn't ti supposed to be more supressed?

[Justin1967]

Yeap I was thinking I should lower my dosage but  I think my Gp/endo wants to me in the thyroid suppression range under >1.0..  

[kitty9309]

How did you feel then?

Another dose possibility is 150 6 days a week and 200 one day a week. That should put you between 0.5 and 2.2.

[Justin1967]

Tsh was 2.2 back on June when I was on 150mg (7 days x 150mg ), I think thats about 2 and 1/2 months ago

[kitty9309]

So your TSH is essentially the same on this dose. The TSH can normally vary by as much as 0.75 either way.

Do you have a TSH level before the 0.8? How long ago and what dose?

[Justin1967]

My Tsh was 0.8 six weeks ago and now it is 0.5 on the same dose of
165mg levothyroxine ( 5 x 150mg and 2 x 200mg)?

I can't remember my last Free T4 result six weeks ago..

Other results are:

Thyroglobulin antibodies 2 IU/ml (0-10)
Thyroid Peroxidase:       0 IU/ml (0-10)
Within normal limits

> Thyroglobulin is  Comment- The presence of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies may cause
falsely low  thyroglobulin results, including undetectable thyroglobulin results
>
> Tg was 3.0 unsuppressed before RAI

Justn

[kitty9309]

The free t4 is a bit high. Before you consider a dose decrease, maybe request a repeat blood test to confirm if it goes lower. But you did say you are feeling more tired- a possible sign of being overmedicated.

What is your current dose and what were your results at the dose before this one?

The last time I reduced my dose from 62.5 to 50, my TSH jumped from 1.42 to 5.1. Maybe it would have happened anyway, but I am now at 88 mcg and will need another increase.

The difference between 0.8 and 0.5 is insignificant. (Unless it keeps going down)

[Justin1967]

Hi there..

I did the blood draw about 5pm and I took my meds about 6.30am, is my Free T4 too high? Should I be asking my GP to lower my meds?

My Tsh six weeks ago was 0.8 and now it is 0.5, is it still doing down?

I guess I feel ok, occasionally more tired though..

Justin

[kitty9309]

All but the free t4 looks ok, although the free t4 is only a tad bit high.

Did you by any chance take your medication prior to the blood draw? That could raise the t4 by 20% for 1-4 hours after ingestion.

How do you feel?