Thyroid

[zara234]

New here 19 years old diagnosed underactive 2012 and had dose reduced from 150mcg to 75mcg I am feeling awful right now with depression and tiredness and feeling cold joint pain hair loss period hasn't come yet either advice welcome thanks

TSH 9.3 (0.2 - 4.2)

Free T4 12.9 (12 - 22)

Free T3 3.4 (3.1 - 6.8)

[greygoose]

Well, you're very under-medicated, now. Why did they reduce your dose? What does your doctor say about these results?

[zara234 in reply to greygoose]

Dose reduced because of low TSH. GP adjusted without thyroid specialists knowledge and specialist doesn't know what GP did

[Clutter in reply to zara234]

Zara234,

Levothyroxine should be adjusted in 25mcg dose increments at 6 week intervals, not swingeing reductions such as your GP has made. You are now very hypothyroid and dose needs increasing.

You could ask what is the point in seeing a specialist if GP is going to interfere with the specialist's treatment plan. My endo was adamant that I should not permit GPs to alter my thyroid medication.

[jimh111]

GP has over reacted and reduced your levothyroxine too much. Tell them you want to go to 125 mcg and then review it in a month or so. If you get any problem ask them to consult the endocrinologist if they want to override their treatment. Doctors sometimes bully young people especially females so take a forceful friend / relative along if you feel you need support.

[zara234 in reply to jimh111]

I have no friends or family who will come with me to appointments

[Hidden in reply to zara234]

Stick with your consultants advice. And tell your consultant what your GP has made you do. He can write to your GP and advise that you are under his treatment.

[zara234 in reply to Hidden]

Ok thanks my consultant wrote a letter to me before but since he told me about the above results he hasn't written back. He didn't even give me my T3 result over the phone and I was hoping to get a letter with the result inside.

[zara234 in reply to Hidden]

I have since received an email from the practice asking me to contact the practice manager about what the GP did.

[Hidden in reply to zara234]

Good, just follow consultants advice. Gp is completely out of his depth. Your suffering tell them that gp caused it.

Always get print off of your thyroid blood test.

You take care love 😁

[zara234 in reply to Hidden]

Ok thanks. You too

[SlowDragon Administrator]

See a different GP if possible.

Do you know if you have been tested for high thyroid antibodies. This gives diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's

Ask for your TPO antibodies results

Also ask for vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 to be tested. As you are significantly under medicated, you are likely to have very low levels

This can prevent being able to use the thyroid hormones. Post results and ranges if you have them now, or on a new post if need tests first

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known as autoimmune thyroid disease). About 90% of hypothyroidism in UK is due to Hashimoto's.

Hashimoto's very often affects the gut, leading to low stomach acid, low vitamin levels and leaky gut.

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Very many of us on here find gluten free diet essential to make progress

But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, lower antibodies and help heal gut

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

[zara234 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thyroid antibodies are

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 368 (<34)

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODIES 259.3 (<115)

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to zara234]

Very definitely Hashimoto's. GP's call it autoimmune, but it's the same thing.

Essential to get vitamins checked. Always get actual results and ranges. Put results on new post when you get them.

Seriously read up about how diet, especially strictly gluten free can help. You need Levo dose increased back. TSH needs to be at one, or lower to keep antibodies down.

As long as FT4 and FT3 are within range you are not over medicated

If you can't get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw or

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH and most consistent results