Hi there, I'm Kat, I'm 33 and was diagnosed with Hashimotos 4 years ago about 3 months after I had my son. My TSH was over 400 (my Dr reckons I had been undiagnosed for about 15 years) and I was put on Levothyroxine. I am on 125mcg and my most recent blood results showed a "normal" TSH level of 2.75 (or thereabouts). Despite this though I am still feeling absolutely awful. All of my symptoms have remained, no weight loss, hair falling out etc etc.
Until now I had taken the advice of my Dr and let him lead the way however, having done some research I am now thinking that I need to go back to my Dr and ask him to do more.
My understanding is, and please correct me if I am wrong, although my TSH is "normal" my body may not be converting the T4 into T3 and this may be the reason I still feel so bad. Should I ask my Dr to test for T3?
I have decided to go gluten free to try and ease off the symptoms. Can my Dr test me for food allergies or do I need to go to some place like Holland and Barrats?
I have heard good things about Armour? Does anyone take this after being on Levothyroxine? Was there any difference? I'm thinking about asking my Dr to let me try it.
I'm seeing him next week and I want to go in with a list of things I want him to do. Is there anything I should be asking him?
Any advice is greatly appreciated as I cannot spend the rest of my life feeling like this.
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kat1980
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Hi Kat. I think your understanding is extremely good and your questions are logical and feasible reasons for why you may still be feeling unwell. You may well not be converting T4 to T3 very well and an FT3 test may help to answer that question - if your doctor will order it and even then the lab may refuse.
Again, you may be on the right track regarding Armour.
However, a systematic approach before you get to the stage of trying to change medication and possibly getting into a merry go round may be in order first.
I'm not medically qualified so this is just my thoughts.
Your TSH could do with being lower for someone on levothyroxine. It might be a small increase might do the trick. On the other hand starting off with making sure you are absorbing and converting thyroxine well enough may be the first step.
Some people find going gluten free gives a marked improvement both in symptoms and test results. You need to make sure the vitamins and mineral levels are optimal too.
All of this is complimentary by helping the body utilise the thyroid hormones. So checking B12, vitamin D, ferritin, folates and iron levels which are often low with hypothyroidism may give a better picture if where to go next.
There is no quick or easy answer but having a step by step plan working towards getting all your levels optimal is in my view a good course of action.
If that doesn't improve things after giving it sufficient time - then start looking to other medication.
In a nutshell - start with the 'easy' stuff first then move onto the more challenging (for GPs and endos) if that doesn't work.
Thank you so much for the reply. It is a lot to take in after being uninformed for so long. I agree, I am going to take small steps at a time. I have been completely gluten free for 1 week now, no change but obviously this is going to take time. (Doesn't help that I've had the flu for the past week as well so I'm ot really able to tell if there has been much of a difference).
I am going to ask my GP for a referral to an Endo to see if that helps. Hopefully it will.
You're welcome. I think this part of your post is the best and will see you making progress:
Until now I had taken the advice of my Dr and let him lead the way however, having done some research I am now thinking that I need to go back to my Dr and ask him to do more.
...as you have Hashimotos take a look at thyroidlifestyle.com/#! where you will see the book by Izabella Wents. I have read it and it is excellent. I too have Hashimotos and other AI issues and firmly believe that your health starts with the gut - so try and think of your conditions as auto-immune rather than a thyroid issue....albeit the thyroid is ultimately affected.
The advice given above is perfect too. There has been quite a bit of discussion on Hashimotos - so may be good to look at other posts this week.....
Kat - I was also diagnosed with hashis 3 years ago just before I fell pregnant with my first child. I'm still trying to get myself well but I now think I'm never going to be well on a daily basis. I have bouts of being well and not so well. I am hoping that next year we can try for another baby but I have my doubts, hopefully this wretched condition will not take that away from me xxx
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