Alternative treatments

[Dismall]

Hi has anyone had any success with reflexology in thyroid support .? I,m taking levothyroxine 75 mg and my latest Tsh was 4.2 I don't think my gp will increase my dosage as I'm now apparently within normal limits but I still have symptoms of low thyroid function.

[puncturedbicycle]

Sorry you're not feeling well. What did your gp say about your symptoms? This can be a problem (meaning that a lot of folk come up against this), but there's no reason your gp can't give you an increase as long as you're within the range. Why keep you at the top of the range and not the middle, or the bottom?

There is a book (and I think an article?) by Dr Toft which says some people don't feel well unless their tsh is below 1. This has helped a lot of us with the gp. If you message Louise Warvill I believe she can direct you.

Imo there's no reason why you shouldn't try complimentary treatments, but not as an alternative to proper, legit treatment for your legit health problem!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Dismall I've had reflexology in the past but purely for the fact that I've enjoyed it. I can't say it brought any benefit to my thyroid health or associated symptoms. But that's not to say someone else wont feel any benefit.

If you'd like to post your test results with reference ranges, presuming you had more than the TSH done, members can make suggestions.

Have you got the range for the TSH you've given, 4.2 is probably close to the top and for a treated hypo patient it should be around 1 or below or wherever it is needed for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper parts of their ranges. 75mcg is more like a starting dose so there is plenty of room for increasing your Levo given your TSH.

You might like to show your GP an article by Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, which was published in Pulse Online magazine which says

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance.

But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

If you email [e-mail] she will let you have a copy of the article which you can print out and show your GP.

Also, for thyroid hormone to work properly it's necessary for vitamins and minerals to be at their optimal levels. You could ask your GP to test Vit D, B12, ferritin and folate, post the results and members can advise how to supplement any deficiencies found. It would be an idea for thyroid antibodies to be tested too, Thyroid Peroxidase and Thyroglobulin (although the latter is unlikely).

[shaws Administrator]

I am afraid you'll have to educate your doctor. They have been very badly educated when they believe as long as the TSH is anywhere in the range that's their job done.

Email [e-mail] and ask for a copy of the Pulse Online article from Dr Toft who was President of the British Thyroid Association and question 6, highlight for your GP, in it you will see that Dr Toft recommends a TSH below 1 etc. Most of us feel best when TSH is 1 or lower or suppressed. A TSH around 4 would cripple most of us.

1. Any blood test for thyroid hormones should be at the earliest possible and fast, although you can drink water.

2. Allow 24 hours gap approx between last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards.

Always get a print-out of the results with the ranges for your own records and post if you have a query.

[Greenwall]

I'd stay clear of the reflexology and save the money for something more scientific.

[alchemilla12 in reply to Greenwall]

what like the GP ??

no experience of reflexology but theres more to life than science

[Greenwall in reply to alchemilla12]

Yes, there is more to life than science and GP's.

I'm from a scientific background, and I like "experimenting" - seeing what works, but there is more to reflexology than advertised, and hence I'd stay well clear.

[alchemilla12]

sorry -what do you mean there is MORE to reflexology than advertised??