New member, feeling unwell with cold intolerance, pins and needles, deep aching in bones, tiredness, memory loss, concentration, loss of outer third of eyebrows, puffy eyes. Am I likely under medicated? Diagnosed 2011 with hypothyroid. Thankyou
Sep 2017 (50mcg levothyroxine)
TSH 4.01 (0.2 - 4.2)
Free T4 15.2 (12 - 22)
Free T3 3.4 (3.1 - 6.8)
Yes Amberblue1 you are undermedicated. The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or below and FT4/FT3 in the upper part of their respective reference ranges if that is where you feel well. Ask your GP to increase your Levo by 25mcg, retest 6 weeks later and another increase if necessary, etc until you feel well and symptoms abate.
Why are you still on 50mcg (which is a starter dose) 6 years after diagnosis?
Some of your symptoms are indicative of low nutrient levels, ask for the following to be tested
Vit D
B12
Folate
Ferritin
Thankyou was originally on 150mcg levothyroxine and 10mcg T3, then 150mcg levothyroxine only. Then doctor said he didn't understand why my TSH wasn't going back up into range so asked me to go back to 50mcg where TSH is now back in range where he wants it
Will post vitamins and minerals now
Amberblue1 Have you had antibodies tested - do you have Hashimoto's?
What were your results on 150mcg Levo + 10mcg T3? How did you feel?
What were your results on 150mcg Levo only? How did you feel?
Is this a GP or an endo who didn't understand why your TSH wasn't going back up into range so asked you to go back to 50mcg?
I have raised antibodies so I am guessing Hashimotos?
TPO antibody 375 (<34)
TG antibody 258.3 (<115)
Results on 150mcg levothyroxine and 10mcg T3
TSH <0.02 (0.2 - 4.2)
Free T4 22.8 (12 - 22)
Free T3 4.6 (3.1 - 6.8)
Had tiredness dry eyes hard stool sweating heavy periods difficulty swallowing
Results on 150mcg levothyroxine
TSH 0.04 (0.2 - 4.2)
Free T4 20.8 (12 - 22)
Free T3 4.0 (3.1 - 6.8)
Had tiredness weight gain puffy eyes feeling cold hard stool
GP is the one who didn't understand thyroid results and asked me to reduce
Thankyou
Amberblue1
TPO antibody 375 (<34)
TG antibody 258.3 (<115)
Yes indeed, Hashi's which is where antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it. The antibody attacks cause fluctuations in symptoms and test results.
You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here. Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks. You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.
Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.
Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...
stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...
hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
Hashi's can cause gut/absorption problems and that is probably why you have the dire nutrient levels you've posted in your other thread. I'll tag SlowDragon who has some further information and links about that.
**
Results on 150mcg levothyroxine and 10mcg T3
TSH <0.02 (0.2 - 4.2)
Free T4 22.8 (12 - 22)
Free T3 4.6 (3.1 - 6.8)
It would have been better to reduce your Levo slightly and add some extra T3. This would have reduced your FT4 and improved your FT3. It's low FT3 (too little T3) that causes symptoms.
TSH 0.04 (0.2 - 4.2)
Free T4 20.8 (12 - 22)
Free T3 4.0 (3.1 - 6.8)
GP is the one who didn't understand thyroid results and asked me to reduce.
Then your GP is as ignorant about treating hypothyroidism as the majority of them. As your FT4 and FT3 are within range, I assume he didn't like your suppressed TSH - so we have another GP who is a TSH slave. 150mcg is a suppressive dose and when taking replacement thyroid hormone the pituitary gland can detect there is enough hormone so doesn't have to send a signal to the thyroid to produce any. That signal is TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone). When there is enough hormone TSH will be low, when there is too little hormone TSH will be high.
So now your Levo has been drastically reduced your results are
TSH 4.01 (0.2 - 4.2)
Free T4 15.2 (12 - 22)
Free T3 3.4 (3.1 - 6.8)
and you are now hypothyroid again.
From thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... > Treatment Options
According to the BMA's booklet, "Understanding Thyroid Disorders", many people do not feel well unless their levels are at the bottom of the TSH range or below and at the top of the FT4 range or a little above.
Booklet written by Dr Anthony Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist. It is published by the British Medical Association for patients. Available from pharmacies and Amazon for about £4.95. It might be worth buying, highlighting the relevant section to show your GP in support of an increase in Levo.
Also -
Dr Toft states in Pulse Magazine, "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)."
Email louise.roberts@thyroiduk.org for a copy, print it and highlight question 6 to show your GP of an increase in Levo.
I would also suggest that you ask to be referred back to your endo to discuss this and ask for your T3 to be reinstated so that you can work towards optimal doses of Levo and T3 to alleviate your symptoms.
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