new to this and all very confusing- any help would be gratefully received - Levels serum thf level = 5.74. serum free t4 level = 12.9

[malone1]

Doc suggests Im borderline but I have many symptoms, weight wont move, sinus pain, hand, feet and leg pain , hairbrush full of hair and of course totally exhausted. Any advice please and thank you.

[Moggie]

I take it from your doctors "borderline" comment that he/she has not started you on any medication. Has he done any other tests other than the above?

Moggie x

[malone1]

those results were in June, I was tested again in July but dont have the results but the lady doctor this time said that tsh had gone up slightly and as I was experiencing sypmtoms she put me on Lev 50 mgs. I felt I improved a bit on these - got another script for same thing about 4 weeks ago - this time werent in bubble pack just in little brown bottle and it was like was taking different meds and all symtoms came back with a vengeance! Due to get retested Wed this week. Oh yes other tests were don - Cholest was 7.4 and liver elevated - liver came down significant on 2nd testing (when tsh went up). Sorry to ramble so much!

[malone1]

forgot to mention I seem very intolerant to wheat products to the point I suspected I was celiac at one point. Hate that when we finally push ourselves to go to docs (in my case rarely and only when Im desperate) that we feel we have to "convince" them all is not right!

[Moggie in reply to malone1]

Ask your doctor to test for a thyroid illness called Hashimotos as this is an Auto immune illness and can effect the gut - causing a lot of pople to be intolerant to gluten/wheat.

Moggie

[tegz]

Some get along better on one or another make of Levo.

It does take time for your body to adjust. Levo is converted in the liver so it needs a healthy one to work. I don't get on with it for unknown reasons.

It's early days for you yet but you're on the right course now- just a matter of finding what dose [not too low,.either] suits you- and how your symptoms respond.

That's the bit GPs find hard to accept- so keep pushing till you feel better- could take months and you may need to learn more yet before you convince GP- you wouldn't be the first.

[malone1]

thanks for the support tegz. I do get the importance of liver health and have tried to decrease the amount of pain meds I take for the various symptoms.

[Moggie]

If this was me I would take the little brown bottle back to the chemist and ask exactly what make/brand they are. There has been issues lately with a brand made by Mercury Pharma, it is their own brand and has caused a lot of people on here troubles, myself included.

You need to ask your chemist to keep you on the same brand as swapping and changing levo brands can, and does, have the effects you are discribing, especially if you have been given the mercury pharma brand (mine came in a little brown bottle also).

Thyoid suffers can also suffer with vitamin deficiencies and, unfortunately, these vitamins are vital for our bodies to be able to use our thyroid medication properly. Ask your GP to test your VitD, B12, iron, ferritin (the amount of iron you body has stored) and folates.

Did your GP advise you to take your thyroid medication, at least, two hours away from food and drink (except water) and four hours away from any iron or calcium you may be taking, which includes milk as milk contains a lot of calcium. Some people, myself included, find it easier to take our meds last thing at night as the body can absorb it better overnight without being hindered by any food or drink.

I think your troubles are down to the levo brand you have been give, mention this to your GP and definately take them back to the chemist as they may be able to swap them over for you.

If you take your levo in the mornings and are having your bloods taken in the morning it might be better to take your levo after the blood test.

Moggie x

p.s. A little tip when using this site - if you want to reply to someone use the "reply to this" button by their name and this will stop people missing your answers as they get an email to say you have ansered them.

[malone1 in reply to Moggie]

Goodness Im so touched by the responses to my question Moggie- more advice than 2 visits to doc. Wasnt given ANY advice on taking the lev and feel you are totally right regarding the brand- probably my fault for going to a different chemist - will stick to one I know in future! What do you think about the level 5.73? There seems to be alot of dispute online about the normal range - some stating that over 3 is high and that over 5 was an older range? I beginning to suspect that I may have had thyroid issues for many years and been fobbed off from sinusitus/depression to eating too much! Ive asked a few times over the years about thyroid and been told level normal - now suspect "normal to whom"!!!!!!!!!!!! Nightmare. So grateful for your expertise!

[Moggie in reply to malone1]

If you lived in America you would be treated when your level was over 3 (I suspect this is were you have got that from) but in this country, although the NHS range is approx 0.3 to 5 (can sometimes be a little higher or a little lower as different labs have different ranges), the NHS do not recommend treatment until your TSH reaches 10, which is absolutely criminal. You can start to feel really unwell by the time your TSH reaches 5, although other people feel unwell with a lower TSH. You will realise that the "one size fits all" approach taken by many GP's is totally wrong as this illness effects different people in totally different ways. What may work for me will not work for you and this is why it is such a complicated illness.

Read as much as you can on this site and others as the more knowledge you have of this illness the better equiped you will be for arguing your case with GP's and other medical professionals. Also keep copies of ALL your blood results and other tests you my have along the way as three years down the line they may come in handy (mine certainly have).

Another good site for info is this one. It is American so the blood ranges and test names may be different but it is a good source of information.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/

Moggie x

p.s. I dont think any of us are experts we just have experience and are passing on that experience to others.

[Heloise]

Hi malone, This is a very informative series which you may find apply to your situation. You should have at the very least your free T3 and antibodies tested.

youtube.com/watch?v=ljRWZ9g...(Not working as expected?)

They are all very interesting. This is #20.

[malone1 in reply to Heloise]

Fab! Wish he was my doctor - thanks so much x

[shaws Administrator]

Always get copies of your thyroid gland blood tests for your own records and it should also include the ranges as labs differ and it makes it easier for members to comment. If you have a query post the results. Also have a Vit B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as the first two are usually deficient.

You've been given good advice above and when you get to optimum medication your symptoms should diminish and you should feel well but sometimes doctors believe keeping your TSH within the 'normal range' is the right thing to do but it is recommended we have a low TSH. We also have to read and learn as much as possible in order to get better.

[malone1 in reply to shaws]

Thanks for all the great advice. Yes I will ask for print out in future. x

[malone1 in reply to malone1]

Went to see surgery nurse today for blood test again. Managed to get print out of all thyroid tests as follows

Nov 2007

[malone1]

oops - continued!!

nov 2007 3.07 June 2013 5.74 July 2013 - 7.3 (put on 50 mg lev then)

Test results tomorrow. Asked nurse if painful lower leg feet and wrists hands can be a symtom - "no not usually" ????????????? Im now beginning to think my thyroid should have been at least monitored yearly from the result in 2007!! Its outrageous how we have to investigate all this stuff ourselves when medics paid highly to look after us!!!!!! Sorry but had to rant to people who will "get it" xx