I am new here.

[Vonnie34]

I have suffered from Hypothyroidism for 10 years and am on 100mcgrm Levothyroxine.

I am constantly feeling exhausted. No energy at all. It is really getting me down.

Any ideas would be welcome.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Hi Vonnie34 Have you got any test results to share? The answer probably lies there. If you don't have them you should ask your surgery for a print out, it's your legal right to have them under the Data Protection Act.

What you need for a full picture is:

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO antibodies

TG antibodies

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

If you can't get them done at your surgery then you can do a private fingerprick test at home.

Post any results, with reference ranges, and members will comment.

You are probably under medicated and could possibly have low nutrients, we need optimal levels of vitamins and minerals for thyroid hormone to work properly.

[rachyrach in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you I am going to get on this as I have thyroid under active and I am not feeling too good cold chills and too much sleep .

[shaws Administrator]

First thing to do if you haven't had a blood test for a while is to make the earliest possible appointment, fasting although you can drink water. If you were taking thyroid hormone replacements, you'd allow 24 hours between last dose and the test and take afterwards.

This gives good results. For instance the TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)is usually the one the doctor takes notice of alone, but we need a bigger picture so T4, T3 (both thyroid hormones) and vitamins/minerals, i.e. B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

Get a print-out with the results plus the ranges (figures in brackets after results) and put on a new post for comments. Some surgeries ask for a nominal sum bor paper/ink.

[Learner1]

Could be you're no longer converting levothyroxine to T3, the active hormone. In addition to tests already mentioned, you could also do these, which relate to the T4/T3 conversion:

Reverse T3

Selenium

Iodine

[Vonnie34 in reply to Learner1]

If only it was that easy to get a test done. 🙁

[Clutter in reply to Vonnie34]

Vonnie34,

FT3 is rarely ordered in primary practice and rT3 is rarely available on NHS. You can order private thyroid tests from Blue Horizon. Thyroid Plus 12 includes rT3 but you will need a phlebotomist to draw blood. Thyroid Plus 11 excludes rT3 but can be done as home test using blood from a finger.

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

[Learner1 in reply to Clutter]

The reason is that T4 can be converting into the inactive rT3 rather than the active T3.

[Vonnie34 in reply to Learner1]

Oh dear! It's all so confusing. 🙁

[Learner1]

Keep asking questions!

Also the Stop the Thyroid Madness website has a lot of great info. 😆

The selenium and iodine are also involved in proper conversion.

Good luck, and keep learning!

[Vonnie34 in reply to Learner1]

Thank you. x