Results help.

[caroland53]

Can anyone help decipher my blood tests please? They were done early am, fasted and no thyroxine for 24 hrs. Doctor would only do these tests and I can't afford private testing now. I've got extreme fatigue, thinning hair and dry skin. I'm on daily... 75mcg levothyroxine and letrozole for breast cancer. I also take calcium/D3, K2, magnesium and B12. I was on statins but couldn't cope with the additional joint pain.

Results

TSH 10.44 (0.27-4.2)

Free thyroxine 17 (12-22)

Cholesterol 6.2 (3.3-6.5)

Thanks,

Carol

[shaws Administrator]

You are very hypothyroid with a TSH of 10.44. Your GP should prescribe levothyroxine now!. Statins are not useful if the pain is caused through hypothyroidism (which I'm sure yours were) but doctors are ignorant of any symptoms and only look at the TSH.

You should be prescribed 50mcg with increases of 25mcg of levo every six weeks until you are symptom-free with a TSH of 1 or lower and Free T4 and Free T3 towards the upper part of the range (these two are rarely tested) but you should have F3 and F4 plus antibodies tested. If you have antibodies you'd have Hashimoto's (Autoimmune Thyroid Disease) which is the commonest form of dysfunction of the thyroid gland.

Higher cholesterol is an obvious clinicial symtpom caused by a slow metabolism (hypothyroidism) and I will give you a link and tick of the others.

The aim of levothyroxine (also called T4) has to convert to T3 and T3 is the only active hormone required in our receptor cells. We have to have an optimum of levo.

Blood tests have to be at the earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards.

Ask your GP to check B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as we are usually deficient which can cause symptoms too.

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

You now have to be pro-active as doctors are poorly trained about symptoms of the thyroid gland and many believe, once you are on hormone replacement, that anywhere in the range is fine. No it isn't - we need a TSH of 1 or lower.

We have to read, learn and ask questions.

Always get a print-out from now on of your results for your own records.

[caroland53 in reply to shaws]

Thanks for your in depth reply Shaw. I've been on thyroxine for 25 years now. My current dose is 75mcg per day. My doctor will not do any other bloods. I had private testing done a few years ago but no one in my practice would even look at them!

[Clutter]

Caroland53,

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, magnesium and oestrogen.

If you are observing the above you are very undermedicated and need a dose increase. 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. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email [e-mail] if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.

[caroland53]

Thanks Clutter, I do follow all of the suggestions for taking my meds that you suggested. I will email Louis for that article tho.

Carol

[humanbean]

I agree with the other people replying - your doctor is keeping you ill and very under-dosed and very hypothyroid, which is disgraceful in a patient that is supposed to be getting treatment.

If you can't get your doctor to raise your dose I would suggest changing your doctor ASAP, and, if you have the energy, once you've changed, make a complaint about the current one.

One thing you need to ask for is testing for calcium and vitamin D3. People shouldn't take calcium unless they have been tested and shown to have low levels. It is easy enough to get vitamin D3 on its own in lots of different dosages online from sites like Amazon, and it is usually one of the cheaper supplements people can buy.

Vitamin D supplementation raises the level of calcium that is absorbed from the diet. Supplementing calcium on top of that should only be done when there is a proven need for it.

[caroland53 in reply to humanbean]

The calcium/D3 was prescribed at the hospital treating my breast cancer. They said that letrozole thins the bones. I had a dexa scan done last year and I've to have a follow up one next year. Thanks for taking time to answer. I may have to just up my levothyroxine dose by 25mcg and see if I feel any better. My doctor only does thyroid bloods once a year.

[caroland53]

I agree with you but I've had my annual thyroid blood test done so won't get another one. If the letrozole is the problem I can't do anything about it as I can't stop taking it.

[caroland53]

Yes, but they have the same side effects. 😐

[silverfox7]

Just. One across your post. I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and had the op and radio, no chemo but I didn't. Ounce back as quickly as I thought I might. I am also on Letrozole and as you say we are stuck with it! I asked on her whether it sat well with Thyroid meds and I received two replies completely opposite! Got to the stage where I could tick all the symptoms on it then realised these were also thyroid problems so what is. Audi g that? Had a word with the pharmacist at the cancer hospital and she tried to help me but could find no known problems. However I then looked on the Thyroid Uk site and found with Tamoxifen which is for the same thing shows lest absorption so an increase in meds is called for. I was so close to my endo appointment but I upped from 1.75 to 2 grains, I'm on NDT and sadly my knowledgeable endo has left so I got a chat although. Dry pleasant doesn't instil confidence as I get the osteoporosis and AF talk. But my bloods are in range though I didn't get chance to see or look at the ranges but they will be posted to me at some point so I think you should have your bloods checked to see if you need an increase. He's now heating me to move onto Levo so life's never easy!