My doctor put me on 25microgram of levothyroxine to see how I feel as my blood tests were borderline. I mentioned to him that I didn't fast and he said he didn't think you needed to. Anyway he has gone with my many symptoms and also prescribed 800 D3 which I've been taking for a month. I have also been researching quite a bit ready for my appointment next week when I go back and tell him how I feel. Anyway, I have been taking my temperature with a digital ear thermometer every morning for the last week when I wake up and it averages at 34.1 deg c! I'm gobsmacked! Do I add this to my list of symptoms and talk to him about it?
Written by
Nuttymummyoffour
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Low temperature is a sign of thyroid issues. You must feel cold with that temperature! Yes, you should've fasted before your blood test as the test won't show the true function of your thyroid, only what it's like after food. I don't think doctors accept low temperature as evidence as a poorly thyroid, they used to but not now! Another case of an ignorant GP. 25mcg is low, how do you feel?
I do get cold. My feet are always freezing but having said that I get very sweaty too! I have terrible swollen legs, ankles hands and feet and the past few days my knees have almost seized up. The fatigue is really bad and I really struggle come lunch time and I do sleep in the afternoons as I can't get through the day. I think doc put me on low dose just to see what happens. For the first time in 2 years I have woken up before my alarm but I think that's the D3
Just a thought is the temperature the same in both ears? I had a one degree difference between ears which was down to ear wax in the low recording ear (on syringing it equalised).
I think you will also be another who educates their GP. Low pulse and low temp are clinical symptoms of hypothyroidism but, being in a 'modern' era where symptoms are disregarded for blood tests alone we are often undiagnosed or undertreated.
I shall give you a list of clinical symptoms and also your next blood test should be at the very earliest and fast (you can drink water).
Leave about 24 hours between your dose of levo and the test and take it afterwards.
25mcg is an extremely low dose and hopefully after your blood test it will be increased. At the same time of your test ask doctor for Vit B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate and thyroid antibodies. Always get a print-out with the ranges of your blood tests for your own records and you can post if you have a query.
Your doctor obviously knows nothing about thyroid, or he wouldn't have said you were 'borderline'. A TSH of over three is actually hypo, no 'borderline' about it. That's like being 'borderline' pregnant.
And, even if you were 'borderline', that's no reason to start you on such a low dose. The starting dose is 50, no matter what the TSH is. Because starting on too low a dose can make you feel worse. So, if you go back and say to him, I feel worse, he is capable of saying, well, it obviously isn't your thyroid, then! They are so sneaky! Ignorant-type sneaky. So, the best thing to say is that you feel a little bit better, but feel you need a higher dose.
What was your vit D? Because 800 isn't going to make a different to a gnat! You need a dose in the thousands, not the hundreds. And has he given you D3? Just by itself, not with calcium? They always do that! Give you too low a dose of the wrong type. It's far better to buy your own, in the end.
I'm going to ask him what my levels where are he said my TSH was higher and has been climbing for months, he then went on to say Vit was very low and said I needed to be on it for at least 3 months. I know my iron levels are OK as was very anaemic so I suppliment that. I will ask him to do all the levels this time round. He did say Thyroid Uk would know more than he does! He has been the only doc to make me feel something is up all the rest fobbed me off with Prozac and blamed my age. I'm 44!
You really need to get a print out of the results so that you know exactly what's what. And, if your Vit D was low enough for him to notice, then it must have been very low. So, 800 is too low a dose, as I said. And even taking it for years won't change anything. You need a higher dose. I don't suppose he knows anything about dosing vit D3.
How's your B12?
Yes, doctors are very fond of saying that everything is due to your age, whatever age you are. Blaming it on age means they don't actually have to search and diagnose! It's very lazy doctoring.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.