Advice needed on my TSH, T3 and T4 levels.... :)

[csj-336]

Hi,

I just need a little advice on TSH levels, T3, T4.

I had my levels tested a year ago and the results are as follows:

TSH: 1.1

T3: 5

T4: 12.8.

My doctor tells me these are within normal range, but after a year I feel terrible, my symptoms are as follows:

Raynauds, always cold.

Feel tired all the time, can sleep 17+ hours and would if I didn't have a family or work to deal with!

Arms feel heavy and weak.

Memory is terrible!

Can't stand things around my neck, and throat often feels dry and swollen.

Dry skin especially on legs and feet.

Bowels unpredictable.

Eyes feel funny like they're moving or jumpy.

Sore neck.

Dizzy spells quite often when I'm falling asleep and sat down.

On proton pump inhibitors for stomach cramps and acid.

I'm due to go for bloods checking again next week, but I'm just feeling so down and at the end of my tether with all these symptoms and when I see doc he wants to treat me with anti depressants! I'm not depressed!

I'm not sure what help I want think I'm just feeling sorry for myself

[Clutter]

CSJ, you want help to feel well, not to be told your thyroid results are 'normal'. Do you have the lab ref ranges, the figures in brackets after your results and how much Levothyroxine are you taking?

Your TSH looks good but your FT4 and FT3 are low in most ranges I've seen and a small increase in Levothyroxine or the addition of Liothyronine (T3) may be beneficial.

Ask your GP to test ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate as deficiencies in these inhibit T4 to T3 conversion and symptoms can be very similar to hypoT symptoms. Make sure to get a printout with lab ref ranges.

vitamindcouncil.org/vitamin...

b12deficiency.info/what-to-...

[csj-336]

I'm not taking any Levothyroxine as the doc says I'm in normal range so don't need medicating, I however disagree.....

Thank you both for the advice, I'll ask my nurse to test for the other things also and stop taking the proton pump, strangely I don't suffer from acid reflux, doc put me on them for stomach and intestinal cramps.

Thank you again

[Clutter in reply to csj-336]

CSJ, be insistant about B12 and folate testing. PPIs reduce stomach acid so much you may not have been breaking down nutrients to absorb B12.

[csj-336]

My nurse is pretty good at testing me for what I ask, even she said it was on the low side, but she can't do anything about it! I'm sure if I ask she will test for me, if not my partner said he would pay for a private test to be done if it helps get me back to myself again

[Clutter in reply to csj-336]

Post your results with lab ref ranges on a new question when you have them and members will comment/advise.

[csj-336]

Will do, thank you I feel better having spoke to you guys about it! Was beginning to think it was in my head!

[humanbean]

I agree with the posts saying you should come off the proton pump inhibitors if you can. Many people with stomach acid problems actually have low stomach acid rather than too much stomach acid and feel better if they add acid to the gut rather than suppress it. The best substitute is Betaine Hydrochloride (Betaine HCL) and pepsin. But it isn't suitable for everyone so be careful :

scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/3-...

scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/ho...

scdlifestyle.com/2013/10/4-...

[csj-336]

Thank you, some really helpful info on there. A lot of things I identify with!

[Ritaritarita]

I take betaine with pepsin, wonderful stuff, have not taken a PPI for awhile now. (lonzoprazoli) spelling sorry but yes someone on here recommended it and it works really good x

[csj-336 in reply to Ritaritarita]

I ordered some of the betaine with pepsin last night, so hopefully they be here next week