Recently diagnosed

[Barrister]

Hello, Everyone, I have recently been diagnosed with underactive thyroid after suffering with exhaustion for many many years and a three stone weight gain over the last few years. I also have Psoriatic Arthritis and colitis. Deep joy sigh! I am still a bit at sea regarding the underactive thyroid (although I do have a very good English doctor - I am currently in Saudi Arabia- and he seems to be on the ball). So far I've only had TSH done and I've been taking 25 ug for 6 weeks (next blood test next week and will see doctor the next day). Are there any other tests I should be asking him to do and can anyone recommend any good books, as I'm finding it difficult to get all the information I'm reading, straight in my head? Thanks. Clemmie

[Marz]

Hopefully your Doc will increase your dose. It is important to ensure you also have the FT4 and FT3 tested along with anti-bodies - Anti-TPO and Anti-Tg in case you have the Auto-immune version of Thyroid illness. Hashimotos is the most common of thyroid conditions.

Also it is important to ensure B12 - Ferritin - Folate - Iron - VitD are all tested and high in their ranges.

The main website of Thyroid UK is an excellent source of information and is updated on a regular basis.

stopththyroidmadness.com also covers things well.

Books :- The Thyroid and How to Keep it Healthy by Dr Barry Durrant-Peatfield is a very good read. There are many books displayed on the Thyroid UK website too.....

[Barrister in reply to Marz]

Thanks for this, Marz. I take folic acid 6 days a week as I am also taking Methotrexate, but will ask about the rest. When I get my TSH done next week they are also doing Vit D and I know that he will increase the thyroxine but he didn't want to do it too quickly as am on so many other medications and I have been particularly unwell lately. Clemmie

[Marz in reply to Barrister]

Sorry to hear you have been unwell lately. Are you taking the Methotrexate for RA ? If that is the case then it should be very important for you to have your thyroid anti-bodies checked - as auto-immune illnesses like to hunt in packs - the two often go together....

I have Crohns and Hashimotos....

thyroidchange.org/newstalk/...

Sorry just discovered site is down....lots of other references can be found....

[Barrister in reply to Marz]

Hi Marz, I take M tX for Psoriatic Arthrits. Only started it a couple of months ago and then developed colitis which has been unpleasant to say the least! And we seem to have lots of auto immune disorders in the family so what's another one? Clemmie

[Marz in reply to Barrister]

Just been reading up on your Arthritis and I see that anaemia is mentioned. May I suggest if your B12 - Iron - Folate - Ferrtin etc. are low and the MCV is High that you have further testing. Could the drugs be causing the inflammation in the colon ? Can't help thinking that everything is connected to the thyroid in some way.

When the T4 is converted into the Active hormone T3 - the brain takes most of what is circulating. The second highest demand is the lining of the gut - our immune system...so when T3 is low things start going wrong. it will be interesting to know where your is....

You say you have a good Doc - but he only tested your TSH - umm that is really not so good. Also low VitD is linked with many on going chronic conditions. It is anti-inflammatory and a steroidal pre-hormone - so I am expecting yours to be low. Easy to rectify.....

grassrootshealth.net

There is a chart there explaining the dose required to be Optimal - based on your results.

Most inflammatory/auto-immune conditions begin with the gut - so wondered if you had considered going gluten free ? It seems to improve the health of many.....

Hope all goes well and will look out for your future posts....

[Barrister in reply to Marz]

Thanks a lot for your hard work in sending all this info. I know that I'm not anaemic as having bloods done every 2 weeks at the moment but TSH will be 4 weeks. My doctor said that once he's seen this one he will see whether I need T3 adding in. But I will ask him about all the other tests and as it's private healthcare, I expect I will get them. He really wasn't expecting the TSH result I think but he understands about the auto immune link and said that the thyroid issue is probably part and parcel of the PsA. I thought that it was the MTX causing the bowel problems but my rheumatologist says it's very unlikely and as I have restarted it and things seem to have settled a little, I have to presume he is right. I'm not sure if my fatigue comes from the PsA, MTX or thyroid, likewise, my increasing loss of hair. I just hope it stops soon. Clemmie

[Barrister in reply to Barrister]

By the way, regarding the gluten free part - I hadn't realised the link but have obviously been reading about it on here so nay well try it. It won't be too difficult as my husband and son are gluten/wheat intolerant so most of my cooking is gluten free already.

[Marz in reply to Barrister]

...glad you are on your journey to wellness. If you look at my profile you will see the edited version of my journey - hence I respond to people who have multiple conditions that may be linked - just in case I may be able to help

[shaws Administrator]

Hi Clemmie

Welcome to our forum.

You take levothyroxine first thing with one glass of water and breakfast about 1 hour later.

Always get copies of your blood test results, with the ranges so that you can post if you have a query and also for your own records.

Do not take your medication on the morning of your blood test take it afterwards as it can skew the results and have test as early as possible a.m. Some prefer an evening dose, in that case you would miss out the evening dose and take it after blood test.

Marz has given good suggestions.

[Barrister]

Thanks Shaws, I have been doing all this, and being abroad I make sure I get copies of everything to bring home anyway. I'm very lucky in that my doctor has been great and will test for most things but I just want to make sure that I am prepared! Clemmie