I am new diagnosed with hypothyroid and positive thyroid antibodies of TPO 307.5 (<34) in 2013. I have been told by my GP I have these problems
Stress
Anxiety
Depression
Neurosis
With these symptoms
Hard stool
Heavy periods
Dry skin
Headaches
Joint pain
Memory loss
Confusion
Puffy eyes
Puffy areas on arches of feet
Tiredness
Low concentration
And I am tempted to go down the route of asking for antidepressants since GP and endo are adamant I have psychological problems. I currently take 175mcg levothyroxine.
Results on 175mcg levothyroxine/10mcg T3.
TSH 3.60 (0.2 - 4.2)
Free T4 14.8 (12 - 22)
Free T3 4.6 (3.1 - 6.8)
Thanks in advance
Written by
Nathalia1989
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Your results showing a TSH of 3.6 show you are undermedicated - here we aim for 1 or even less to be optimal. Unfortunately many GPS and even Endos are not aware of this. Your free T's are low in range as well so this also confirms the need for a dosage increase. But how are your nutrient levels? If ferritin, folate, Vit D and b12 are not optimal you will have a difficult time with converting your dosage. With your symptoms and given you are already on a fairly high dosage of Levo I would seek out your nutrient level results and address any likely deficiencies immediately even before considering any dosage increase. If you can obtain a copy of results post here on a new thread asking for advice on supplementing protocol.
You are undermedicated and both are fools as they also make the assumption that once our TSH is 'somewhere' in the range that we're on sufficient. That isn't true we feel best when TSH is 1 or lower and then both will be saying we will have heart attacks/osteo due to too low a TSH which is not proved at all. Someone who has had thyroid cancer have to have a suppressed TSH .
Doctors are apt to 'assume' that a clinical symptoms is apart from hypothyroidism. They are so poorly trained as both of yours Endo and Doctor it would appear not to be knowledgeable..
Your FT3 and FT4 should be towards the upper part of the range and it would have been very kind if one or other of the doctors added some T3 to your T4. At present though they are withdrawing T3 and you can read about it on the Pinned Post and we are taking action to try to prevent this. 'Depression' can be due to low T3.
We have to read/learn and take care of ourselves with the help of members.
Blood tests have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between the last dose and the test and take afterwards. This helps keep the TSH at its highest as that's all they pay attention to, when it should be the FT4 and FT3.
email louise.roberts@thyroiduk.org.uk and ask for a copy of the Pulse Online article by Dr Toft who was President of the BTA - towards the end you will see that he advises. This is an excerpt:
6 What is the correct dose of thyroxine and is there any rationale for adding in tri-iodothyronine?
The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range – 0.2-0.5mU/l.
In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance.
But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.
This ‘exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism’ is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l).
No wonder we have so many people, worldwide, searching for why they don't feel well even when on thyroid hormones.
As you are already on quite a high dose, this suggests you have absorption issues going on. Very common with Hashimoto's (high antibodies)
Hashimoto's lowers stomach acid, making it difficult to absorb thyroid medication. It's essential to take Levo and T3 on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. It can be more effective to take Levo at bedtime.
With gut issues it's extremely common to have low vitamin D, folate, ferritin and/or B12
Do you have test results for these including ranges. You will need to supplement to increase, as low levels prevent thyroid hormones working
But also most importantly many/most with Hashimoto's have leaky gut and then gluten intolerant. Changing to gluten free diet can significantly reduce symptoms and slowly lower antibodies
See these websites for more info. Read as much as possible about Hashimoto's, medics ignore it (they don't understand it) but we don't get better unless we sort it.
Thanks I had T3 stopped and even though it improved symptoms my endo said symptomatic relief does not mean the T3 was responsible for making me feel better.
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Blood results
Is dose wrong or am I going mad?
Hi
Blood test results
