Thyroid Levels

[Clover]

I'm sure that people have asked this question many times but could someone advise me again please? I had a full blood count last week and all was ok apparently but my GP has requested that I see him re this latest thyroid result. I've been told over the phone that my result was 0.08. I'm not sure how this fits in on the scale. I'm 68 now and was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid when I was 50. I was taking 50 mg to start with but the dose has been gradually increased over the years. I'm now taking 200mg. I've had trouble with my weight too and have suffered with depression on and off. The only way to keep my weight down is to have under 1000 calories per day. I'm 5ft 1" and am fed up with yo yo dieting. I can lose weight, I went down to 8 stones last year but my weight has crept up again to 10 stones. This makes me tired and lethargic. I'm healthy in other ways. One of the worst symptoms of my thyroid problem is being cold all of the time. Even my bones seem to ache! I feel really well when I go abroad and can enjoy the hot sun and bright days. Here at the moment I have a goose down duvet on the bed plus a thick blanket and bed socks! I wear bedsocks all year round as my feet always feel cold. At the moment my husband can't understand how I can feel so cold and want the heating turned up! I must say that they did the 'other' thyroid test last year ( I can't remember what that is,is it the TS3 test?) I was told that it was ok! As long as you are on their 'normal' scale, never mind which end of it, GPs seem happy to fob you off!

[shaws Administrator]

Hi Clover

You are obviously hypothyroid according to your clinical symptoms. If you can get a print-out of your latest blood test from the surgery, with the ranges, post them on a new question for comments. Did you take levothyroxine on the morning of the blood test? Did you leave 24 hours between levo and the blood test? Also ask for Vit B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as we are usually low.

Forget the word normal when referring to blood test. We are not 'normal' as we have an autoimmune disease and don't have the same results of a normal healthy person.

When we get the results of your blood tests, I would suggest you go back to your GP and ask for the addition of T3, which is the active hormone we require in the billions of receptor cells in our bodies. Without sufficient T3 we cannot function properly and have clinical symptoms similar to you. If your GP adjusts your meds according to the TSH. This is the result, plus symptoms.

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[Clutter]

Clover, 0.08 is below range but it isn't suppressed. I'm guessing your GP may want to discuss reducing your dose. I suggest you read Dr. A. Toft's comments to Pulse re dosing and thyroid levels in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... If you want a copy of the full article to show your GP to persuade him a dose increase isn't necessaary or desirable email [e-mail]

Ask your GP to test vitamin D, B12, folate and ferritin. Low levels cause musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and low mood. Always ask to have a printout of your blood tests with the lab ref ranges. GP's ok usually means somewhere within range but isn't necessarily te same as optimal.

[greygoose]

Limiting your calories to Under 1000 is only going to make you worse, that's why you regain the weight you've lost.

The other tests are the 'Frees' - FT4 and FT3. T4 is the storage hormone that I imagine you are taking Under the name of Levo. T4 has to be converted into the active hormone, T3. But to do that, it needs calories. If calories are in short supply, convertion is the thing to suffer, therefore your levels of T3 drop, you become more hypo, and you put on weight. But that weight has nothing to do with what you're eating. It is due to water retention due to low levels of T3. So, when you're hypo, you have to eat more to lose weight, not less.

Also, when you are hypo, you usually have low stomach acid, which makes it difficult to absorb the nutrients in what you eat (apart from the calories lol). Therefore you are bound to be low in certain nutrients - ferritin, iron, vit B12, vit D and folate can be tested for and need to be at least mid-range for you to be able to use the T4 you are taking. Zinc can also be tested for, and just taking thyroid hormone replacement (T4) makes you low in zinc because you use it in order to use the hormone. Also magnesium will be low, but that's not Worth testing for, just take some magnesium and see how you feel. There are lots of other vitamins and minerals and they have all been talked about on here, if you search for them, you will find lots of information. They all count!

Hugs, Grey