Under active Thyroid

[ahurl]

Hello, I'm 52 and have been taking 200mg levothyroxine a day. but I'm suffering really badly from the cold (have a bath each day to warm up) and memory is really bad. Watched a BBC "Trust me I'm a Doctor" and this is the first time I have heard of T3, So would love to know if it has worked for anyone else with same symptoms.

[veryangirl44]

Hi, do you have any of your blood test results you can post here?

Do you take your thyroxine in the morning with just water at least half hour before food and any other drink?

It's so frustrating feeling naff this website will help you so much. I'm learning after twenty odd years of being on thyroxine most of it 200 mcg too.

X

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Do you have your latest blood test results, ideally TSH and including FT4 & FT3

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

Also do you know if you have had thyroid antibodies checked? There are two sorts TPO Ab and TG Ab. (Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin) Both need checking, if either, or both antibodies are high this means autoimmune thyroid - called Hashimoto's the most common cause in UK of being hypo.

TPO is rarely checked and TG almost never checked. More common to have high TPO or high TPO AND high TG, but negative TPO and raised TG is possible, though rarer.

ALWAYS Make sure you get the actual figures from tests (including ranges - figures in brackets). You are entitled to copies of your own results. When you get results suggest you make a new post on here and members can offer advice on results

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

See main Thyroid UK website

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

[ahurl in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you very much for taking the time to write back, I will now make that appointment with the Doc and see what results I get and post them. This is my first time joining so appreciate the feedback

[shaws Administrator in reply to ahurl]

We have to read and learn if we want to improve our health. Thyroid Hormones are required to run our metabolism, and one of the symptoms of not being on sufficient is 'coldness'.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Ask for a new blood test, the very earliest and fasting (you can drink water) and allow 24 hours between last dose and test and take afterwards.

Ask for a full thyroid function test (the labs may not if TSH is somewhere in the range).

Get a print-out with the ranges and post on a new question.

Even a rise in dose can alleviate symptoms and the aim is a TSH of 1 or lower. Some of us need an alternative thyroid hormone replacement.

[ahurl in reply to shaws]

Hi, I was lucky to get blood tests taken today at my local GP's surgery. I asked the Nurse did she have records, the last was 6 mths ago. T3 and T4 were normal but i can't remember but I think she said I was -10 for something and the norm was 1-14. I seriously don't rem, but I'm going to wait till I see what these tests bring back and I also have an appointment made with the doctor next wed, so results will be back and we can discuss. Forgot to mention I have numbness tingling on my left side of face, comes and goes not sure if this has anything to do with it.

[shaws Administrator in reply to ahurl]

Always make a practice of getting a print-out of your results, you can tell GP you are doing so (we are entitled by Law to get them). Some surgeries charge a nominal sum and if you have queries you can post them for comments from members.

Never accept the words 'normal' 'o.k.' or 'fine' as that may just mean they are within a range, whereas (apart from TSH) we need them towards the top and TSH lower than 1. Mention the numbness and if not already had:

B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate ask for these at the same time as thyroid tests. We only need these vits/minerals yearly.

[Hidden]

I was on 200mcg Levo and was chronically constipated and felt unwell. Asked for endo referral and she put me on T3T4 combo as she said I wasn't converting T4 properly. Cured my constipation.

[BadHare]

Yes!

My body temperature has increased by a whole degree, to 36.1, & I'm not constantly cold unless there's a heatwave.

Both NDT & T3, or a combination, has worked wonders!

I can now produce body heat for the first time in 40 years, & can eat normally without weight gain.