Exhaustion, hot flushes, insomnia.

[Bobbysgirl301]

I have been taking 50mg Levothyroxine for about 9 years. I am exhausted most of the time and often crash, by this I mean I have to lie down and sleep , usually out cold for several hours. I have had so many blood tests over the years but get the same reply that my level is perfect. I also have sleep apnoea and use a mask during sleep. My diet is excellent although I am overweight but slowly loosing. I do a physical job and excercise when not too tired. No diabetes, blood pressure perfect. On vitamin D tablets . Completely fed up with the exhaustion and aching bones, lack of sleep, hot flushes for over 12 years and general un wellness. Doctors just shake their heads and tell me they can find nothing. Is there somewhere private I can go to find out. I asked about T3 but was dismissed as being covered by Levothroxine. I even changed surgeries.

[greygoose]

Doctors have no idea what they're doing when it comes to thyroid. You are probably grossly under-medicate. 50 mcg is just a starter dose. The best thing you could do for yourself is get private labs done, before you go to the expense of a private doctor. You need :

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPOab

TgAB

vit D

vit B12

folate

ferritin

These can be done really quickly - details on TUK main page - and then you can post the results on here - with ranges - and members will be better able to advise you what to do next.

[KimJeffrey in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for some really useful advice, but where do you go to get the blood test and private lab tests?

Thanks,

Kim

[greygoose in reply to KimJeffrey]

The details are on the TUK main page. Slowdragon has given you the link below.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Bobbysgirl301 The first thing you need to do is ask your surgery for a print out of all your test results, certainly the most recent but any previous ones you can get. You are legally entitled to these under the Data Protection Act 1998 so they can't refuse but you may be charged something for printing.

If you can persuade your GP to do up to date tests see if you can get the following

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO antibodies

TG antibodies

Ferritin

Folate

B12

Vit D

That will give a good picture of how things are with your thyroid and your vitamins and minerals. When you have these results, make a new thread and post your results with reference ranges, then members can comment.

I see you're on Vit D tablets. Do you have the result of the test? What are you taking, something GP prescribed? What dose? Are you taking the Vit D co-factors which are K2-MK7 and magnesium?

You certainly sound under medicated, but getting your vits and mins to optimal levels is important.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

you may find this link helpful

All about low vitamin D, affects the production of vitamin B (especially B5) and how when we then start supplementing vitamin D, this can cause/reveal low Vit B.......so the two need correcting together - using vitamin B complex (all the B's need to keep together)

Also mentions sleep apnoea too

drgominak.com/vitamin-d-hor...

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 (our own or replacement ones) to work in our cells.

(Checking for B5 would be good.....but no idea if they even do a B5 test )

Vitamin and minerals levels are very important, but standard NHS thinking, doesn't at the moment seem to recognise this.

You will see, time and time again on here lots of information and advice about importance of good levels of B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D, leaky gut and gluten connection to autoimmune Hashimoto's too

When you get results suggest you make a new post on here and members can offer advice 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.

vitamindcouncil.org/tag/aut...

Do you have Hashimoto's ? Have you had your thyroid antibodies tested?

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

[Blairer in reply to SlowDragon]

slow dragon thanks for you very informative post. I have been educated!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Usual advice on ALL thyroid tests, (home one or on NHS) is to do early in morning, ideally before 9am. No food or drink beforehand (other than water) If you are taking Levo, then don't take it in 24 hours before (take straight after). This way your tests are always consistent, and it will show highest TSH, and as this is mainly all the medics decide dose on, best idea is to keep result as high as possible

Assume you know that Levo generally should be taken on empty stomach and no food or drink for at least hour after.

Many of us 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

verywell.com/should-i-take-...

[Blairer]

well I would like to thank you all very much for opening my eyes into what (for me) has been bit of a brick wall. Now I understand why I feel so bad. I am on levothyroxine but still feeling awful. Hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, pins and needles, palpitation - you name it its there. What has shocked me is the food that I eat also has an adverse affect in the absorbing thyroid tablets. What is normal TS3/readings might not be normal for me. I am also a coffee drinker (2 a day) but this also has an affect or absorbing thyroxine. I also didn't realize that vitamins played a big part also. So I am back to my docs with a very different attitude.

[alexamarie]

Please, to all on this website, I believe in PMR but I also believe in Lyme. Please be checked for your clinical diagnosis of lyme. I have anaplasmosis and since they have put me on antibiotics , I hardly have the pain I used too. Please not all of you