Hi saw GP today and he has started me on 50mcg levothyroxine with a retest to be done in 6 weeks. Hope this sounds ok?
TSH 108.4 (0.2 - 4.2)
Free T3 2.6 (3.1 - 6.8)
Free T4 4.2 (12 - 22)
Thyroid peroxidase antibody 805.3 (<34)
Thyroglobulin antibody (private) >1300 (<115)
Thanks
Well you certainly need levothyroxine. Make sure you keep getting tested every 6 weeks until your TSH is near to 1 because you've got quite a long way to go until you get in range and you don't want it to drag on.
Ask your GP to check vitamin levels B12, folate, ferritin and Vitamin D as you will most likely be deficient in all as a result of being so hypothyryoid. You need optimal vitamin levels to derive the benefit from levothryxoine.
Make sure you don't take any food or drink (except water) for an hour after you take your levothyroxine. If you take other medication or supplements, leave at least 4 hours.
Ferritin 7 (15 - 150)
Folate 2.3 (2.5 - 19.5)
Vitamin B12 167 (180 - 900)
Vitamin D total 18.2 (<25 severe vitamin D deficiency. Patient may need pharmacological preparations)
Hi Jennymarie
I read your previous post and I'm very glad that you have now be given levothyroxine to replace what you are so desperately missing. Your poor thyroid has and is getting a real kicking.
I note that your previous blood tests over the years have indicated an above and out of range TSH. In a kind world you would have been put on thyroid replacement but for a reason that disgusts all of us the NHS/NICE or whoever deems that people shouldn't be treated until they attain a "score" of 10 (well in the UK), by which time a patient can be feeling utterly awful.
So now you begin your titration to find out your dose required. Others have given you advice on how to prepare for your blood draws over this period and I think it's prudent to say that you need to be a little prepared that levo can take a little time to do its job especially since you have had a struggling thyroid for some time. It needs to convert from its T4 state into the active T3 which will find its way to T3 receptors in cells all over your body. This is why the bloods are done every 6-8 weeks. Sadly it's not quite like antibiotics where you start feeling better in 5 days or so but you should start noticing that some things are improving and others are almost imperceptible. Over time you will find out how well your body can do this chemical magic trick of conversion and sometimes we need to help it along with getting mineral and vitamin levels in tip-top shape.
Many GP's are not fully conversant in this extra help we can do for ourselves as they are not really taught anything about it in med school, more a "well if your patient has a sluggish thyroid, give 'em the tablets and they wil be fine" attitude.
But you have come to the right place for any questions and just all sorts of advice and help from people who have been and are in the same boat. 
In the meantime be kind to yourself , it's rather a lot to take onboard at first.
Great advice so far, just to add that with the high antibodies you may well find a gluten free diet very helpful although you may want to wait until you are on a regular dose of levothyoxine before tackling that element.
In addition to going gluten free to reduce those antibodies selenium is very good at helping with that as well. All the best for the journey to recovery though...
So has GP also prescribed loading dose of vitamin D?
Iron supplements or preferably an iron infusion?
Arranged full testing for Pernicious anaemia before starting B12 injections and then once on this prescribed folic acid?
Thyroid hormones CAN NOT work if these are too low and yours are all extremely low - as per the advice from SeasideSusie on your previous post
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
If not go back and either see same GP, or if they were not helpful, see a different one
My enquiry is the same as SlowDragon - what about the loading doses and supplements for the deficiencies.
And - I'm pleased to read you've started on the Levo.
Prescribed iron tablets to take 3 times a day for iron anaemia, prescribed folic acid acid for the folate deficiency, given B12 loading injections but have been tested for pernicious anaemia first and given vitamin D loading injections thanks
Then I think you can call that a decent outcome from your chat. Well Done!
Let us know how you get on.
I think folic acid should be started after B12 injections.
Is that what GP advised
You could check on PAS health Unlocked
Oh, you poor thing. How in the world did it get so bad. You must have felt like walking dead. SO glad you are now on the road to recovery. 😘
Newby
New here
Hypo and slim
