Medication options....

[sallyl246]

Hi, I'd appreciate any advice on medications... I am currently on 150mg of Levothyroxine, and my TSH is 2, which the doctor feels happy with. Recently I have been feeling tired again, and feel like I have put some weight on. I have heard lots of people speaking about T3 and other natural supplements. I am keen to try something different, but don't have a clue where to start. I am also conscious of messing around too much with something I don't know, as my husband and I would like to try for a baby in the next year or so.., but this is part of the reason why I am so keen to get things sorted.. I want to feel better, and loose weight.. And feel stable on medication, instead of not being sure that it's working.. Any recommendations?

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

With a TSH of 2 you're not on enough Levo and you need an increase which would be the simplest way of helping. Also get a blue horizons test for your B12, vit D, ferritin & folate to see if they could be improved.

[Jazzw in reply to Jaydee1507]

Completely agree. Sally, you might not need T3 if you're on enough levo. Ask your doctor if you can increase your dose by 25mcg.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

sallyl246 oh, I do love the way 'the doctor feels happy with it's. What about how you feel, did he even bother to ask?

The aim of a treated hypo patient is for the TSH to be 1 or below or wherever needed for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their ranges.

If you can post your current blood test results with reference ranges (usually in brackets after the result) then members can suggest whether an increase in Levo, the addition of T3 or trying natural dessicated thyroid is the best for you.

As for trying for a baby, I'm sure there have been recent posts about this and if I remember correctly then TSH when pregnant has to be kept at a certain level which may be lower than 2. Make a separate post about hat and the more knowledge members can advise.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest you ask GP to check levels of vitamin d, b12, folate and ferratin. These all need to at good (not just average) levels for thyroid hormones to work in our cells.

Also have you had thyroid antibodies checked? There are two sorts TPO Ab and TG Ab. (Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin) Both need checking, if either, or both are high this means autoimmune thyroid - called Hashimoto's - most common cause of being hypo. NHS rarely checks TPO and almost never checks TG.

Make sure you get the actual figures from tests (including ranges - figures in brackets). You are entitled to copies of your own results. Some surgeries make nominal charge for printing out. Alternatively you can now ask for online access to your own medical records. Though not all surgeries can do this yet, or may not have blood test results available yet online, but all should be doing this with couple of years.

When you get results suggest you make a new post on here and members can offer advise on any vitamin supplements needed

If you can not get GP to do these tests, then like many of us, you can get them done privately

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Blue Horizon - Thyroid plus eleven tests all these.

This is an easy to do fingerprick test you do at home, post back and they email results to you couple of days later. Usual advice on this test is to do early in morning, no food or drink beforehand (other than water) don't take Levo in 24 hours before (take straight after).

If you have Hashimoto's then you may find adopting 100% gluten free diet can help reduce symptoms, and lower antibodies too. May also help conceiving and maintaining successful pregnancy

Assume you know that Levo generally should be taken on empty stomach and no food or drink for at least hour after. Many take on waking, some prefer bedtime, either as more convenient or perhaps more effective. No other medications at same time, especially iron or magnesium, these must be at least 4 hours away

[thyr01d]

I love your post food_ie, so positive and encouraging. Would you be happy please to tell me, in a private message cos I'm iterrupting this post, how you knew you needed T3, what symptoms you had and anything else you can to guide me please?

I'm off to an endo soon but can't find one anywhere near who is enthusiastic about T3 and expect to have to try self medicating but find the thought scary, in case it's wrong for me.

[thyr01d]

Thanks food_ie

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This is such a heartbreaking story Food_ie, I'm so glad that you are better now, it gives us all hope.