Hello new to site

[Tashia]

Hello I may have more than one question regarding my health but I have started my period today and this month it's particularly more painful and heavy. I have been feeling quite unsteady sitting down and standing and I've been worn down more quickly and getting chest pains. Is this thyroid related? Endocrinologist says it isn't.

Thanks

[Marz]

Hi and Welcome ! Do you have your recent test results with ranges to share - then members can be helpful 😊

Also levels of B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD - need to be optimal. You may be low in Iron .....

[Tashia in reply to Marz]

Yes

TSH 5.3 (0.2 - 4.2)

Free T4 13.7 (12 - 22)

Free T3 3.6 (3.1 - 6.8)

Taking 50mcg levo diagnosed hypothyroid 2011

[Marz in reply to Tashia]

You are under medicated - still on a starter dose after 6 years is shameful. Is there any reason why you are on such a low dose ? When on Thyroid meds your TSH needs to be around 1 for you to feel well. FT4 and FT3 need to be much higher in their ranges. What does your GP say about all this ?

So you also need to have B12 - Folate - Ferritin and VitD tested. I am suspecting they too will be low in range and making you feel unwell.

[Tashia in reply to Marz]

I'm on a low dose because I don't like the idea of increasing it anymore in case I get overmedicated symptoms. I was taking 150mcg levothyroxine before. Ferritin is 61 (15 - 150) in June 2017

Vitamin D total 24.8

Folate 1.9 (2.5 - 19.5)

Vitamin B12 216 (190 - 900)

[Marz in reply to Tashia]

You are only over medicated when your FT3 is over range - yours is on the floor ! I think it is more to do with low vitamins and minerals that cause the symptoms. If you address those then increasing your levo may prove easier .... Are you supplementing B12 ? - AND VitD which needs to be around 100.

[Tashia in reply to Marz]

Not supplementing B12 or vit D

[Marz in reply to Tashia]

Any reason why you are not supplementing as per the masses of posts/replies on this forum about vits and minerals ? 😊

[Tashia in reply to Marz]

I have a 4 year history of low iron stores and in June 2017 it was 61 (15 - 150)

[greygoose]

Doesn't matter what symptoms you tell your endo you have, the average endo will say it's not thyroid related, because they have no idea what thyroid symptoms are! Until proved otherwise, assume it is thyroid related. Although heavy periods can be caused by low iron.

[Tashia in reply to greygoose]

I have a 4 year history of low iron stores but I don't know what my level is at the moment. It was 61 (15 - 150) in June 2017

[greygoose in reply to Tashia]

That really is too low. Are you supplementing?

[Tashia in reply to greygoose]

Thanks, no I'm not. The GP prescribed me ferrous fumarate to take but it upsets my stomach. Even taking it with fruit juice or vitamin C didn't help either.

[greygoose in reply to Tashia]

You could try eating liver once a week. That would bring your level up, but you do need to do something.

[Marz in reply to Tashia]

There are many types of Iron - you could try a different one ....