hi all - have been hypothyroid for over 15 years and my dosage of thyroxine just keeps going up. On 250 mcg daily and am still struggling with fatigue plus all the other symptoms (cold,slow weight loss etc).
Have previously been up to 300mcg a day and then a go swapped me to T3, was referred to an endo who took me off T3 and lowered my dose right back down and put me on any-depressants for a short while (something to do with making my mind feel better so my body could heal)
Anyway my results were that one reading was stupidly low and the other stupidly high (can't remeber which way round am seeing gp tomorrow so will get figures) - and I have had a 'virus for nearly 5 months now...really starting to get me down, am finding myself falling asleep at work in the afternoon - not good.
Any advice would be great.
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Ask your GP for a printout of your recent thyroid results with the lab ref ranges (figures in brackets after your results) and post them here or in a new question as it will help members to advise.
Hypothyroid patients are often low or deficient in ferritin (stored iron), vitamin D, B12 and folate and these deficiences can cause musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and low mood similar to hypothyroid symptoms so ask your GP to test them and post the results in a new question and members will advise whether you need to supplement.
A sign should be put up in most up in most Endocrinologists' Offices " 'What main hormone runs Metabolism? I don't know but I'm sure my Patients will inform me!"
Why don't they keep up-to-date. Read Research Papers. Look on Forums such as this as there are quite a few and learn from their patients. Particularly when ones recover their health with alternative thryoid hormones. Why do they mess up our metabolism by adjusting doses Up or Down according to the TSH, thus making most of us more unwell - they know nothing about metabolism or what it takes for us to be well. Why is this?
If you want to get well you have to take the health of your thyroid gland into your own hands. Read and learn. Even although you would think that the UK would be amongst the 'knowledgeable and caring' doctors re thyroid - there are some but it' like looking for a needle in a haystack and many cannot afford private fees.
After fifteen years, it is time for you to get better.
This is an excerpt and there is lots of good info in this site but some links within the topics may not work as Dr Lowe died two years ago.
"Conventional doctors do no thinking at all for themselves when it comes to thyroid hormone therapy. They’ve long left that chore up to two entities: the marketing departments of corporations (currently Abbot Laboratories) that have promoted sales of Synthroid, and the endocrinology specialty—whose endorsements of Synthroid boil down to parroting of marketing hype from the corporations' marketing departments.
Your attempts to educate your current doctor are most likely a waste of your time. Keep in mind an old aphorism: Exposing a closed mind to facts is like shining light on the iris of the eye—it just closes more tightly. In my experience, facts are useless in rescuing such a doctor from his state of non compos mentis. I’ve seen only one thing bring such a doctor around: His mother, his wife, or he himself becomes hypothyroid, and despite using Synthroid, they or he continues to suffer from hypothyroid symptoms. Whereas the suffering of his Synthroid-using patients didn’t change his mind, his personal anguish does.
Short of such a personal experience for your doctor, his mind will most likely remain putty in the hands of Abbott Labs and the endocrinology specialty. Because of that, you’d best cut your loses and find yourself an alternative thyroid doctor. Plenty of them are available nowadays, and your health and well-being most likely depends on you finding one in your area. By taking that course of action, thousands of patients have quickly recovered their health, and I hope you soon join their ranks. Very best of luck."
This is your first day of trying to bring back your health. It was right that the GP gave you T3 and wrong of the other switching you back to T4 and then giving you anti-d's (some might need them). In general if you cannot convert T4 (levothyroxine) to sufficient T3 (liothyronine) (T3 is the driving force of our metabolism. Some do o.k. when T3 is added to T4) we cannot get better.
First thing is, if you haven't had a recent blood test for your thyroid gland, make an appointment and ask for a Full Thyroid Function Test which includes TSH, T4, T3, Free T4 and Free T3 (they may not but ask) as your T3's are important. Also Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as we are usually deficient.
Do not take levothyroxine before your blood test - take it afterwards.
Always get a print-out from the surgery and make sure the ranges are there as labs differ for your own records and so that you can post them if you have a query.
Tell your doctor this is your New Year's Resolution, to get well.
For many levothyroxine doesn't work for them and you have had a long enough 'trial'. For some T4/T3 works but there are a few other alternatives unfortunatley not supplied by the NHS.
Great advice from everyone - however as I have Hashimotos - I always think it important that the Thyroid anti-bodies are tested - anti-TPO and Anti-Tg.
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Can you come off Thyroxine permanently?
Cold, tearful, tired in afternoon
Feeling so tired and not listened to!
Thyroid/Extremely tired!
