New and Looking For Answers!

I will bet that no one has ever bothered to check

ferritin

folate

b12

all 3 must be above halfway in their ranges or your body cannot even utilise the levothyroxine

also never never take your thyroid meds in 24hrs before a test

100mcg is a pretty low dose

what results do you have?

Welcome to our forum Amy

No, I don't think you are a cynic and I believe you have hit the nail directly on the head in that it is most probably all down to being undermedicated with thyroid hormones, i.e. levothyroxine. Levo does work for many who wont be on this site looking for help but for everyone else, we usually have problems. Either with the doctors prescribing too little by keeping us within the 'TSH reference range'. Ignoring clinical symptoms (they don't know them) and treating the symptoms with medication other than thyroid hormones which you probably need.

So, first things first. Make an appointment with your GP. Tell him it's now a New Year and you are now, after 20 years, going to attempt to remedy your ill-health and you would appreciate his help as this is your New Year's Resolution.

Ask for a Full Thyroid Function Test (after 20 years, it's the least the NHS can do). This consists of TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, and Free T3. Some labs wont do these if your TSH is 'in range' (how I hate that word when the person is suffering) but I hope GP requests them. Also ask for a Vitamin B 12, Vit D, iron ferritin and folate as we are usually deficient. After a few days go to the surgery and ask for a print-out, tell your GP you will be doing so. We are entitled to them. Post on a new question your results (with the ranges as labs differ) and members will comment.

Please do not take levothyroxine on the morning of your blood test and make it as early as possible. Take levo afterwards. You should take levo on wakening with 1 glass of water and wait about an hour before having breakfast. If you take your tablet at bedtime, miss this dose and take after blood test (you can also take your bedtime dose as usual).

We have to read and learn if we are to get better. I am, thankfully, now well and others nearly there even if they self-medicate it is making them better than being treated by the medical profession.

Hi thank you so much for your kind words , I have heard that you have to go Private for the full thyroid test is this so ?

Thanks !!