Hi. I have been going back and forwards to gp surgery for about a year complaint of weight gain and feeling tired. At first I thought it was simply the menopause as I had a hysterectomy 7 years ago. Eventually I had my tfts done.
My numbers were
TSH 4.7
Free T4 12.9
So my gp checked my tpo. Which was 198
I was srarted on 50mcg thyroxine which I have taken for about 10 weeks. I still feel terrible. I fall asleep at about 7pm every night. I'm tired in the afternoon. I feel that my memory is very poor and despite having a healthy diet and forcing myself to exercise I am unable to lose weight. Over the year I have gained about a stone .
I would appreciate any advice and any tips of how to get doctors to understand how I feel as after my last blood test I was told my tfts had normalised although I don't know the result.
Thanks
Written by
Littlealx
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Ask your GP receptionist for your recent thyroid results and ranges and post them in a new question.
The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 1.0 or lower with FT4 in the upper range. FT4 needs to be in the upper range in order that sufficient T3 is converted.
Thyroid peroxidase antibodies are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's). There is no cure for Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Treatment is for the low thyroid levels it causes. Many people have found that 100% gluten-free diet is helpful in reducing Hashi flares, symptoms and eventually antibodies.
For maximum absorption Levothyroxine should be taken with water 1 hour before or 2 hours after food and drink, 2 hours away from other medication and supplements, and 4 hours away from calcium, iron, vitamin D supplements and oestrogen.
It takes 7-10 days for Levothyroxine to be absorbed before it starts working and it will take up to six weeks to feel the full impact of the dose.
You should have a follow up thyroid test 6-8 weeks after starting Levothyroxine. Arrange an early morning and fasting (water only) blood draw when TSH is highest, and take Levothyroxine after your blood draw.
I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.
Stop forcing yourself to exercise and listen to your body. It isn't in a fit state to exercise with a TSH that high. Your FT3 will be low, and exercising uses up your T3, leaving nothing for anything else. And that makes you feel even worse.
Just gentle exercising until your FT3 is optimised. It won't make you lose weight, anyway. Only optimal T3 will do that.
If they have not been done ......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
ALWAYS 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.
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
Blue Horizon - Thyroid plus eleven tests all these.(£99)
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 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
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Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
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