Levothyroxine and energy levels

[Tina-h]

Hi everyone, I'm new here.

I've been on Levothyroxine 100mcg for 13 years, diagnosed after the birth of my 4th child, and still feel constantly tired with intermittent joint pains.

I am interested to know if anyone has found any supplements that help with energy levels and metabolism at all?

Thank you 😊

[greygoose]

Hi Tina, welcome to the forum.

Supplements can help with all sorts of things - if you need them. But they should not just be taken willy-nilly, so to speak, just because someone said they helped them. First of all, you should get your vit d, vit B12, folate and ferritin tested. Those all need to be optimal for you body to be able to use the hormone you're giving it. So, you need to know if you need to supplement them, and if so, by how much. Get those under-way first, and you can build from there.

[Clutter]

Tina-H,

Ask your GP receptionist for a printout of your recent thyroid results and ranges (figures in brackets after results). Post the results and ranges in a new question and members will advise whether you are optimally medicated.

Under medication can cause joint pain and fatigue as well as vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

[Tina-h]

Thank you all for your replies, I am due to get my annual blood test done in the next couple of weeks so will see what that reveals. Will my GP test for vitd, b12, folate and ferritin routinely or do I need to ask for these to be done additionally?

[humanbean in reply to Tina-h]

You need to ask. Doctors are so strapped for cash that they don't do blood tests if they can get away with it.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Tina-h]

Tina-h When you have your next blood test, make the appointment as early as possible in the morning, take no thyroid meds for 24 hours, fast (water only, and have breakfast when you get home. This should all ensure that your TSH is at it's highest point and is key to doctors raising or lowering our dose of thyroid meds. As you are experiencing symptoms then you may be on too low a dose of Levo, so to have any chance of an increase you need your TSH to be as high as possible as most GPs tend to dose by TSH alone.

As already mentioned, optimal levels of vitamins and minerals are also needed for thyroid hormone to work. If your GP wont test for them then you can get them done privately through Blue Horizon with an at home finger prick test.

When you have all your results members can make suggestions.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As others have advised

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.

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

vitamindcouncil.org/tag/aut...