Please could some one take a look at my results and help me as I am seeing the doc tomz, and want to get something sorted feel awful

[Tigger215]

Really want some advice I am on 150 Levo, been on it for a year and still feel awful, swollen legs feet hands, itching skin and generally run down.. Don't know how to get through a day without napping 😞

[shaws Administrator]

Hi Tigger,

There is something far wrong with your thyroid medication if your TSH is 74+ when you are taking levothyroxine. Were you feeling so unwell that you stopped taking it for a while?

Levo appears to be doing nothing for you whatsoever. I don't understand what your doctor is doing. On your copy, the ranges cannot be seen but your B12 too is very low and ask your GP to test your intrinsic factor before you supplement with sublingual methylcobalamin B12. I cannot see your vitamin D result.

Don't worry too much as members will come up with a solution, even if your doctor is incapable. You have to see a decent Endocrinologist (it's like having a lucky dip at times).

[Tigger215 in reply to shaws]

Thank for answering, my vit D is 26,

I have taken my Levo since the first day and never missed any so maybe it's not working so good.

Really want to get something sorted as I say, I just feel

Rotten. Thank you for taking the time to answer me

[shaws Administrator in reply to Tigger215]

You are quite right, you're levothyroxine is not working for you and it may be due to you being resistant to levothyroxine and may need to go on T3 alone. T3 is the active hormones every one of the billions of cells in our body needs to function. T4 is supposed to convert to sufficient but it doesn't seem to be doing it's job in you. T3 is also called liothyronine but GPs are reluctant to prescribe so you I think you should be referred to an Endocrinologist. You can ask for a recommendation if you put up a post and ask for a Private Message to be sent to you as we don't put information about doctors on the forum without their permission.

Did your GP do anything about your Vit D. It should not be less than 50. This is from the Vitamin D Council.

The Vitamin D Council suggests that a level of 50 ng/ml is the ideal level to aim for. This is why the Council recommends that adults take 5,000 IU/day of vitamin D supplement in order to reach and stay at this level.

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

The Endocrine Society recommends taking a vitamin D supplement of around 2,000 IU/day to reach and stay above a level of 30 ng/ml. This is what the Endocrine Society recommends as the ideal level to aim for. Lastly, the Food and Nutrition Board recommends 600 IU/day of vitamin D supplement because they believe 20 ng/ml is the ideal level to aim for.

If you supplement with B12, it should be methylcobalamin sublingual B12. We cannot overdose with B12 as excess is excreted but all our minerals/vitamins have to be at optimum as we are usually deficient and it could cause problems to be deficient.

You have come to the right place as many now know more than doctors or Endocrinologists. We also find out eventually what makes us feel much better, whether it be an optimum dose of levo or another hormone.

We have to read and learn in order to recover our health and sometimes it does take a while or trying an alternative to get back some good health.

Some doctors are helpful and some stick to the guidelines only which isn't the best way as it can cause us to have more clinical symptoms than before we started.

[ROMM53 in reply to Tigger215]

Hi

You must insist that your GP refers you to an endocrinologist. I don't know how you are functioning at all with those TFT results. And in addition to the hospital referral, your levothyroxine needs increasing.

Ask the GP if he would also consider prescribing T3?

Could you see another GP in the practice?

Are you taking levothyroxine first thing on an empty stomach with water only, an hour before food/ other drinks, especially those with milk, and away from any iron meds?

Hope it goes well tomorrow

[Clutter]

Tigger, TSH 74, Ouch! Something's gone wrong. Possibly malabsorption due to gut issues or other medication or resistance to thyroid hormone. If you take Levothyroxine on an empty stomach, an hour before or two hours after food and drink and 2 hours away from other medication and supplements your GP should refer you to a gastroenterologist to check out malabsorption and an endocrinologist to check resistance to thryoid hormone.

vitD 75-200 is optimal in the UK. Your GP should prescribe something like 40,000iu per week. B12 is very low. As Shaws said ask for Intrinsic Factor to be tested to rule out pernicious anaemia before supplementing. NHS won't prescribe unless you have PA as it is within range but you should supplement 5,000mcg methylcobalamin sublingual lozenges, spray or patches daily for 6weeks and then maintenance dose of 1,000mcg daily.

[Tigger215]

Thanks so much for the info,

I certainly will ask for the tests and hope I get some where.

Sorry to be a bother but I just didn't know where to start with all these numbers, I tried looking it up myself online and just got my self more confused . I take my

Levo, an hour before any thing else with a large glass of water . And as yet I am on no other medication.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Tigger215]

When you get a blood test for your thyroid hormones, allow 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test which should be as early as possible. Take levo after it, and if you've eaten leave 2 hours gap either side of levo as some foods interfere with the uptake.

[Treepie in reply to Tigger215]

You are in danger of other serious illnesses with a continuing high TSH level especially heart problems so it is very important to be referred to an endocrinologist.