Quote:
Originally Posted by scrummy
I just called the surgery to find out what tests I have had and I now have all my results:
As follows:
First test which brought about the diagnosis
TSH 9.4
T4 12.6
Second test after taking levothyroxine for 3 months 50mcg.
TSH 5.7 (sorry, I wrote this wrong earlier)
T4 13.8
|
Scrummy, did they give you the lab ranges for those numbers? W/o an actual range to see where you fall the numbers just dont mean as much. Typically women feel best when their FT levels are in the upper 3rd of the lab range (men do best at around midpoint). So the size of the lab range for "normal" is important
vis a vis your actual test result.
I can see that your T4 has improved, however T4 is not as good an indicator as FT4 (T4 is the
total amount of T4 in your system,
FT4 is the amount of T4 that is
freed from the binding proteins and is available for your body to use, it's possible to have a high/ normal T4 but not have adequate FT4). T4 is also suseptible to false readings, high levels of estrogen can elevate T4 results. Also, did you take your thyroxine before the test? This could also have elevated the number.
To get an accureate measure of how well the dose is working for you, you should wait 6 weeks after the increase for the test. Don't take your meds the morning of the test and go as early as possible for the blood draw. Also, ask if they can test your FT4 instead of just your T4 (more accuracy).
It's unlikely they will test your FT3, they don't like to do that (they'll tell you there's no reason since you're not on a med with T3 in it). But I would push for it anyway; your FT3 level will tell you if your body is converting T4 into T3 or not.
Quote:
When I increase my dosage I tend to headaches almost immediately, is this likely to be the fillers/binders or a reaction because the dosage is a shock to the system? Does anyone else get headaches like this?
|
Did you always have this reaction, or is it new since you switched brands? It's not uncommon to have some physiological symptoms when you increase your dose (often feeling flushed, warmer, more rapid heart rate) but it usually abates w/in a week. If it continues it could be a reaction to the binders/fillers.
Nat