Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: warwick01 on July 14, 2016, 12:11:21 PM
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Hi
GP Sec just rang to say my T3 is too high. Had blood test Tue and already take Thyroxine.
Any advice to what this means??
Wx
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Used to be an advisor for a thyroid charity. Basically you are taking too much thyroxine as your body converts thyroxine medication into T3 to be used by the body. Usually the blood tests would be TSH and Free T4 levels and sometimes the do T3 as well.
I would expect your TSH to be low if you are taking too much thyroxine and your free T4 to be high and your T3 to be high.
I am guessing the first action is to reduce your medication dose for a few weeks and then retest. HIgh T3 can cause heart damage if left long term so they will want to reduce it for your health.
I would be interested to know what happens next for you.
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My T3 is always around 4.4 - 5 and I take a T3 suppplement with my thyroxine because I do not convert. I am told that this level is a good level to have.
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Thanks Ladies
The GP is calling me tomorrow. I am confused as the Sec only said T3 was high so not sure what is going on.
Will let you know tomorrow what she says. Not felt well for ages and always put it down to menopause???
I was told GP doesn't request T3 bloods so want to find out if labs picked it up.....
Wx
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My T3 is always around 4.4 - 5 and I take a T3 suppplement with my thyroxine because I do not convert. I am told that this level is a good level to have.
How did you find out that you didn't convert? I have a thyroid outpatient appointment soon as i am not convinced that my thyroxine level is right. My blood tests in the past have never tested T3 as far as I know.
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a GP request will only test TSH, a T3 test can only be requested by a consultant as far as I know.
I was referred to an endocrinologist many years ago as my thyroid levels were just not stabilising on thyroxine alone. I needed a higher and higher dose and I was still symptomatic. I read about T3 and not converting on the Thyroid UK website and discussed this with the endo who put me on combination T4/T3 replacement and I soon stabilised. My particular endocrinologist is at the top of his field and has written papers about the T4/T3 question and failure to convert and I trust him totally. I still see him twice a year and have my levels monitored and the dose of thyroxine tweaked if necessary
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Hi
GP just rang to say my TSH is 12 and I need to increase my Leveroxine from 100mc to 125mc. I told her the sec who rang yesterday told me my T3 was high and she told me it is TSH. Not sure I'm happy about increasing >:(
Any advice please
Wx
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oh that explains it and yes, 12 is too high for a TSH which ought to be between 0.5 and 4.5. A 25mcg increase is not a lot warwick otherwise you will start to get hypothyroid symptoms. I feel cold, sluggish and constipated if my TSH goes over 3. 125mcg is a very acceptable dose. I am on the equivalent of 150mcg a day and my mother took 150mcg thyroxine a day for many years.
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Hi Babyjane
Thanks for your reply.
This time last year I was told to reduce my medication as I was over medicating. I always worry about increasing my Leveroxine. Stared on 25 around 18 years ago. If I go on 125 will I need to increase again in the future??
Funny thing the last few days I feel foggy head, cold (have my heating on) and want to sleep all afternoon. Do you use HRT??
Going to increase tomorrow
Wx
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If I go on 125 will I need to increase again in the future??
Funny thing the last few days I feel foggy head, cold (have my heating on) and want to sleep all afternoon. Do you use HRT??
Maybe and maybe not. I was warned years ago that when I hit the menopause my levels could fluctuate and they did but since I am post meno they are more stable again.
Those symptoms show that you need more thyroxine and you should increase as you have been advised by your doctor. Don't be scared of it, thyroxine is not a drug, just an essential hormone replacement
I only use topical Vagifem for vaginal atrophy, I never used full HRT because I wanted to avoid too much instability in my thyroid hormones and I never felt I needed it.
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oh that explains it and yes, 12 is too high for a TSH which ought to be between 0.5 and 4.5. A 25mcg increase is not a lot warwick otherwise you will start to get hypothyroid symptoms. I feel cold, sluggish and constipated if my TSH goes over 3. 125mcg is a very acceptable dose. I am on the equivalent of 150mcg a day and my mother took 150mcg thyroxine a day for many years.
This is the problem with thyroid health! The ref range is up to 4.5 but those who are being treated are being told they should aim for a lower level and also feel rough at levels being left untreated in others.
I am convinced the difference in how I feel, tiredness etc is due to increasingly underactive thyroid - but only mildly - but enough to notice. Mine was 2.98 at last measurement and doc says it has shown a small but steady rise over the years it has been measured - but they do nothing - as expected on NHS. However as with oestrogen levels different women will be affected differently at different TSH/T3 levels - some feeling well or ill at the same level!
It is such an under-recognised area and probably not so well known about especially at subacute levels or whatever the term is for those whose (TSH) levels are higher than ideal but not treatable.
Hurdity x
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oh that explains it and yes, 12 is too high for a TSH which ought to be between 0.5 and 4.5. A 25mcg increase is not a lot warwick otherwise you will start to get hypothyroid symptoms. I feel cold, sluggish and constipated if my TSH goes over 3. 125mcg is a very acceptable dose. I am on the equivalent of 150mcg a day and my mother took 150mcg thyroxine a day for many years.
This is the problem with thyroid health! The ref range is up to 4.5 but those who are being treated are being told they should aim for a lower level and also feel rough at levels being left untreated in others.
I am convinced the difference in how I feel, tiredness etc is due to increasingly underactive thyroid - but only mildly - but enough to notice. Mine was 2.98 at last measurement and doc says it has shown a small but steady rise over the years it has been measured - but they do nothing - as expected on NHS. However as with oestrogen levels different women will be affected differently at different TSH/T3 levels - some feeling well or ill at the same level!
It is such an under-recognised area and probably not so well known about especially at subacute levels or whatever the term is for those whose (TSH) levels are higher than ideal but not treatable.
Hurdity x
Do any of you have the problem of aching calves and feet? I have had this since peri menopause and it got worse as I progressed towards menopause. A GP suggested reducing my thyroxine so we tried 150mcg instead of 200mcg (which I have been taking for a very long time). I tried reducing it for a few weeks but it didn't help and possibly made it worse so I went back to the original dose until I see a consultant. My last readings were T4 20.8 and TSH 1.51 (I was then on 200mcg).
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MY daughter's T3 is also high and my thyroid doc said this could be due to low iron or low vitamin D which could cause the T3 to pool in the blood and not be used by the body. Did you have these tested aswell?
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From what I am reading it appears that the receptionist at the surgery gave you the wrong information as your T3 had not been tested and it was your TSH that was high at 12?
You really do need to increase your thyroxine with a TSH of 12. The reference range for my lab is 0.3 -5.6 but all labs have slightly different ranges. One thyroid specialist recommends we keep our TSH no higher than 1.5 for max benefit but thats just one opinion.
I am now 4 years post meno and not on hrt but when I was on the cusp of post meno I had about 3 years of yoyoing thyroid results and had to constantly change my dose of med until it settled down past 2 years. This is normal with hormonal upheaval and best thing is closer monitering. I ended up having bloods done every 3 months for a few years.
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I totally agree with countrybumpkin. My levels were never the same twice running over the meno years but in the past 18 months and three checks they have remained stable.
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Hi
Yes countrybumkin.... the receptionist got it wrong.
I have increased my Tyroxine to 125 hopefully things will improve. Feeling really tired every afternoon, going to bed around 2:00 till 4:00. then ready for bed at 9:00.
Anyone know how long it takes to feel better, more energised etc???
W xx
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quite a while, your TSH will gradually decrease now but be patient, it isn't a quick fix.
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As babyjane says it takes time and to be honest the worst thing you can do and it can be dangerous is to increase too quicky - your body needs time to adjust safely. Usually you would have another test in 8-12 weeks preferably 8 weeks.
I have found there is quite a time lag whenever I had to increase or decrease my meds so the first repeat test 8 weeks later would not be a true reflection of my dosage change but another one 8 weeks after that would be how it was stabiliting.
patience is all I can say ;D
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when I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto's my TSH was 52 and my haemoglobin was just under 6 and I was on the verge of needing a blood transfusion. It was a good 18 months before I stabilised on 150mcg thyroxine. I was started on 25mcg for a month then 50mcg for 3 months and then slowly increased but I did not start to feel better or see an improvement in my symptoms for about 4 months.
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Hi Ladies,
Thanks for your reply together with your interest.
reading the comments above, is there a link between Iron deficiency and low thyroid? The reason for my question is I'm feeling really tired with no energy all the time. I keep trying to do house chores but I need to keep sitting down. Also the weight is creeping on ??? already 2 stone over weight. I have only felt like this for around 5 weeks...... so it may be just my low thyroid.
7 weeks and blood test again. Should I ask for Iron levels too??
Wxx
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I would warwick, it can't do any harm and if they are low you don't want them dropping any further.
Think of the thyroid as the conductor of the orchestra, which is your body. If the thyroid is not working properly the whole body will be out of sorts. My mother had the same condition and we both had severe constipation, feeling cold, weight gain, anaemia and sluggishness.
The first indication that my levels have dropped a bit low is difficulty with constipation.
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Did you Gp not do routine bloods at the same time as your thyroid tests? I always have full blood count and kidney and liver tests at same time as thyroid.
If you haven't had a full blood count in past 6 months then its def worth asking for one.
I have never ever been anaemic in the 30 years I have had a thyroid condition but I can imagine a combination of the two won't be good :o
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I wonder if it is GPs countrybumpkin. My endo always does all the bloods including vitamin D and he requests a DEXA scan every 3 years because of the possible effects of long term thyroxine.
I don't think everyone gets all the symptoms but my low thyroid affected my red blood cell production because it took such a long time to get picked up. I was having treatment for constipation, dry skin, heavy periods for at least 2 years until my mother was diagnosed with Hashimoto's and the symptoms all fell into place. I went and asked for a thyroid function test and the GP said it was unlikely but he humoured me. A few days later he rang me at home to say I was severely anaemic and my TSH was 52! When my levels could still not be stabilised over 2 years later I was referred to endocrinology. The consultant I have now is brilliant and I trust him with my life. I would not be as well as I am without his care.
Many women don't realise the importance of the thyroid and how an imbalance can affect your whole body and the doctors do not seem to take it seriously either. I mean a reference range of 0.5 - 4.5 is silly. If my TSH was 4 I would be classed as 'normal' but my own 'normal' is 1.5. Everyone is different.
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I wonder if it is GPs countrybumpkin. My endo always does all the bloods including vitamin D and he requests a DEXA scan every 3 years because of the possible effects of long term thyroxine.
I don't think everyone gets all the symptoms but my low thyroid affected my red blood cell production because it took such a long time to get picked up. I was having treatment for constipation, dry skin, heavy periods for at least 2 years until my mother was diagnosed with Hashimoto's and the symptoms all fell into place. I went and asked for a thyroid function test and the GP said it was unlikely but he humoured me. A few days later he rang me at home to say I was severely anaemic and my TSH was 52! When my levels could still not be stabilised over 2 years later I was referred to endocrinology. The consultant I have now is brilliant and I trust him with my life. I would not be as well as I am without his care.
Many women don't realise the importance of the thyroid and how an imbalance can affect your whole body and the doctors do not seem to take it seriously either. I mean a reference range of 0.5 - 4.5 is silly. If my TSH was 4 I would be classed as 'normal' but my own 'normal' is 1.5. Everyone is different.
I saw an endo yesterday but she didn't inspire me. Will have to wait for blood test results. She tested for T4 T3 and also vits D3 and B12. Thinks my Levo should possibly be reduced but I am not convinced. Did try 150 mcg. For about 6 weeks but didn't notice any improvement. Wondering whether it would be worth seeing a private consultant once I have the full test results.
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At least the T3 test will tell them if you are converting thyroxine to a usable form. This is the test that is so hard to get nowadays and almost impossible to get via GP on nhs grrrr.
If you are willing you could try and find an endocrinologist that specialises in thyroid disorders privately, depending on where you live as too how far you will have to travel.
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At least the T3 test will tell them if you are converting thyroxine to a usable form. This is the test that is so hard to get nowadays and almost impossible to get via GP on nhs grrrr.
If you are willing you could try and find an endocrinologist that specialises in thyroid disorders privately, depending on where you live as too how far you will have to travel.
I am wondering whether to try a private consultation or not. I am in London so i imagine one is not too far away. A colleague (who has Graves) has already mentioned one to me in the Paddington area. I assume though that T3 treatment/medication is not available on the NHS so patients have to pay for private prescriptions?
One symptom which started very recently is a muscular tight feeling front and back on the left hand side. I feel it when i breathe in. I mentioned it to the endo She did an external examination and didn't find anything but also didn't seem to think it was relevant to hypothyroidism. However it is listed on Thyroid UK as a symptom of underactive so I am not convinced. http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_the_thyroid/hypothyroidism_signs_symptoms.html
I took a copy of this list with me and ticked the boxes which applied but she barely glanced at it.
I have just made a GP appointment and may ask for a chest Xray. I can't decide whether to worry about it or not
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I assume though that T3 treatment/medication is not available on the NHS so patients have to pay for private prescriptions?
I get my endocrinology consultant appointments, blood tests, thyroxine and T3 treatment on the NHS. If a consultant endo prescribes then the prescription has to be filled by the GP surgery.