Hi..
I was diagnosed hypo 2 months ago. My tsh was 5.5 and antibodies 1300. I was put on 25mg levo one month and increased to 50.
This is my first test since diagnosis. I asked Dr to test free to and ferritin etc. But these are what I got back. Apparently all results are normal? ?
Sorry... serum folate 6 (3.0 - 14.4). Serum b12 310 (211 - 911) tsh 1.9 (0.2 - 4.0)
I have been supplementing since diagnosis 600mg ferrous sulphate, 5000mg b12, biotin, vit d3, selenium and a few others. But I feel terrible. I said to him I didn't feel well at all..but he basically told me to get off the phone as he had other patients!
You will feel dreadful for a while yet until your tsh is under 1, your free t4 is at the very top or just above the top of the lab range and your free t3 is around the ¾ point of the lab range.
Your B12 would ideally be above 500. B12 deficiency is very common with us hypo's, we are not absorbing enough of it from our food so unfortunately taking a normal B12 supplement will not help as much, as it is going through your gut. There is a sublingual lozenge that you can take or B12 drops.
50mcgs of levo is a starting dose, you should have increases every 6 weeks until your results are as I said above. Having your tsh within the range is not good enough. Your free t4 is how much thyroxine you have in store, this needs to be at the top of the lab range.
Try to see different GP's until you possibly find one who understands this. I send you my sympathy, been there and know how dreadful you feel, you will get there, be as informed as possible.
Sue
Do try and see a different GP, you need your levothyroxine increasing.
Are you taking it with water on an empty tummy and no food or drinks for at least half an hour?
Also always gave thyroid blood tests done as early as you possibly can as your tsh is at its highest in the early hours. Many people don't take their Levo on that morning until after the blood is drawn.
Sue
Thanks for replying. .. I had the draw first thing without levo (on advice from this site). I asked for another Dr to call me as I wasn't happy. Other Dr. said anything below 2 is good. .. but I said my symptoms are still intolerable. . So she agreed to increase to 75 mg. I'm planning on switching to NDT anyway... hopefully it's on its way in the post!
Might not be working if your B12, folate and ferritin are still too low. Bloods (which are nothing to do with thyroid) suggest some sort of anaemia.
Hi angel. .. when I spoke to the Dr yesterday afternoon (a different one) she said my iron was OK. I said clearly not... as lab have highlighted low red blood etc. .. she said we're going to concentrate on your thyroid and sort the rest out later *rolls eyes*. I'm taking jarrows b12 5000mg and ferrous sulphate 600mg a day. I have been taking these for nearly 2 months... and these results are a week old. Do you think I should look at increasing either b12 or ferrous? Many thanks
GPs don't understand how the endocrine system works and specialists only concentrate on one thing, so I'd go to a pharmacy (eg Tescos) and buy 210mg Ferrous Fumarate (x 3 a day) - kinder than sulphate - and treat yourself. Needs to be taken as far apart from levo as possible. It takes months to get your levels up and if you have a gastro problem, well ... If your levels don't improve you can ask for a referral to gastroenterology or haemo (but they won't look at your thyroid).
I wouldn't increase your iron or B12 - if it's not getting nay better it's most likely an absorption problem. My B12 went up with no problem as I was using sublingual, but my ferritin just sits at the bottom of the range whatever and gastro have no idea why.
Are my tests normal?
Are my results normal?
Are my results normal now?
Gp results
