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[Becky_F]

Hi do I need thyroid medication thank you

TSH 78.32 (0.2 - 4.2 mIU/L)

Free T4 10.3 (12 - 22 pmol/L)

Free T3 3.1 (3.1 - 6.8 pmol/L)

[shaws Administrator]

Definitely, you need replacement thyroid hormones. You have hypothyroidism.

You should start at 50mcg of levo with blood tests every six weeks with an increase of 25mcg until you are symptom-free and TSH 1 or lower. FT4 and FT3 should be towards the upper part of the range.

Thyroid blood tests should be always at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levothyroxine and the test and take afterwards.

If you've not had the following tested, ask for these at the same time as your next test:

B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.#

[Becky_F in reply to shaws]

Ok thank you my GP says my symptoms don't make any sense and that's why I haven't been started on any

sweats

weight loss

insomnia

tremor

dizziness

diarrhoea

hair loss

dark circles under eyes

tiredness

[ITYFIALMCTT in reply to Becky_F]

Depending on your vitamin and mineral levels, your symptoms might make a lot of sense as several of those co-occur with low levels of some vitamins and minerals. And, where there is Hashimoto's, there is often poor gut absorption and poor levels of vitamins and minerals.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Becky_F]

I don't think your doctor has been trained. To say your symptoms don't make sense but worst of all and the most serious is that he hasn't prescribed 50mcg of levothyroxine. Make an appointment every six weeks for another blood test

It has to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow 24 hours between last dose of levothyroxine and the test and take afterwards.

Levothyroxine has to be taken first thing on an empty stomach with one full glass of water and wait an hour before eating.

Get a prescription tomorrow as it is serious to have such a high TSH.

I would report him for negligence.

[Becky_F in reply to shaws]

Ok will do thanks

[Clutter in reply to Becky_F]

Becky-F,

GPs spend a lot of time telling patients that they treat according to blood tests not symptoms. Your blood results say you are overtly hypothyroid and need thyroid replacement. Your GP has bought into a stereotype that certain symptoms are hyperthyroid and others are hypothyroid. In reality, there can be considerable crossover. With the exception of circles under eyes and sweats I have had the same symptoms you have when hypothyroid.

Your GP should prescribe 50-100mcg Levothyroxine as outlined in the NICE CKS on primary hypothyroidism in cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...

The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 0.3 - 1.0 with FT4 in the upper range. FT4 needs to be in the upper range in order that sufficient T3 is converted.

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.

It takes 7-10 days for Levothyroxine to be absorbed before it starts working and it will take up to six weeks to feel the full impact of the dose. Symptoms may lag behind good biochemistry by several months.

You should have a follow up thyroid test 6-8 weeks after starting Levothyroxine. Arrange an early morning and fasting (water only) blood draw when TSH is highest, and take Levothyroxine after your blood draw.

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

[EbonyEvans]

Hello Becky_F

You should make an appointment with your Gp as you are hypothyroid. Did you not get these results personally as normally a Gp has to go over them with you before you can have a copy?

He should have prescribed Levothyroxine around 25-50mcg as a starter dose then asked you to book a blood test in 6-8 weeks to see how you are doing and how your TSH has lowered etc.

You also should get your vitamin levels checked and start supplementing.

This is advise for a person that is not elderly, pregnant or with heart conditions. He should advise which supplements your are insufficient in but always good to get Selenium and Vit D (high quality) you may also want to get your antibiodies checked in case you have something called Hashimotos. It’s a type thyroidism. Meaning you have high antibodies. And need to take certain dietary precautions (gluten free diet).

How are you feeling?

[Becky_F in reply to EbonyEvans]

Thanks these were done about a week ago and some symptoms are hyper ones like

sweats

weight loss

insomnia

tremor

dizziness

diarrhoea

hair loss

dark circles under eyes

hypo ones are

feeling slowed down

constipation

heavy periods

feeling cold

joint pain

hair loss

puffy eyes

tiredness

I was not notified of results

Also

TPO antibodies 304.5 (<34)

TG antibodies 810.3 (<115)

Thanks

[shaws Administrator in reply to Becky_F]

O.K. you have an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease called Hashimoto's - the commonest form of hypothyroidism and treatment is the same.

You need levothyroxine 50mcg first thing tomorrow.

[Boohbette17 in reply to Becky_F]

MY BREATH STOPPED as I read this reply with your antibodies results! WITHOUT A DOUBT FIRE THIS DOCTOR!!

Im in the states ( also a Hashi girl) we have urgent care centers if not close to a hospital, that wirh results like that, would start you on Levo even of you have no Endo. Please dont be shy , You are armed with wonderful info that Shaws and Clutter & others provided. At this stage, first meds to start to calm your system then foods/supplements Here is another wonderful resource

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Best wishes & hugs from Ohio!!😊🌸

[Becky_F in reply to EbonyEvans]

I managed to get hold of results because GP wrote no action required

[shaws Administrator in reply to Becky_F]

Change your doctor as he is negligent and I don't know how or if he is qualified.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Becky_F]

Outrageous and reportable

[SlowDragon Administrator]

So you have Hashimotos also called autoimmune thyroid disease. Diagnosed by the high antibodies

About 90% of hypothyroid is due to Hashimoto’s

Gp will tend to call it autoimmune and completely ignore the antibodies (but they are important)

With Hashimoto’s it’s very very common to have low vitamin levels

It’s these low vitamins mixed with low thyroid levels that causes some of these symptoms

See different GP as emergency appointment tomorrow for prescription of Levo as others have already advised.

Your TSH is very high. Very negligent to not have been prescribed today

Ask GP to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. Always get actual results and ranges

Read as much as possible about Hashimoto’s

It’s very poorly understood by many medics

[humanbean]

I imagine that your doctor believes that all hypothyroid patients gain weight and are fat. But it isn't true. Some hypo patients lose weight or their weight hardly changes.

I am hypothyroid and I sweated profusely for years, as do many others in the same situation.

One way that the body attempts to keep you functioning when thyroid hormones are low is it produces extra cortisol and adrenaline. These are the fight or flight hormones. If you produce excess quantities of these you could well have symptoms that are like those of someone who is hyperthyroid. But you are still hypothyroid because you don't have enough thyroid hormone.

You need to get a prescription for Levothyroxine urgently, as already mentioned in several answers to you. Your doctor has done you no favours and is keeping you ill. Try another doctor at your surgery, and once you have a prescription and you feel a bit better you could make a complaint about the doctor who ignored your results.

Remember as well, that being hypothyroid you are entitled to free prescriptions for everything for life. You will have to ask for a form that you and the doctor fill in. It last 5 years (I think) and then needs to be renewed.