Levels !

[chrisjaz]

I live in France used to live in England had underactive thryoid since 2013 1 years after an op for ovary and apendix operation .

i have had a TSH and T4 test done last week and had a call from the Doc to got to see her tomorrow.

My levels which are French

T4 12,6 (12,0 .....22,0 )

TSH 6,350 (2,270.............4,200 )

The tabs i used to take Levothryoxin by Merck i have used since being in France as any other brand gave me terrible intergestion , however Merck have now changed the ingredients on the tabs and are now the same as the other brand they took out lactose and replaced it with citric acid and mannitol ,. I had to stop taking the tablet i had only taken 6 days so i was 5 days with out medication then had a blood test which shows the results above.

I have started a new brand L-Thyroxin Henning Sanofi which is just like the old Merck brand and no problems .

I have been on a no sugar or carbs diet for 5 weeks and lost 3 kg and have more energy and feel better , i am a bit worried as to what to expect when i go to the docs .If anyone has any info i would be very grateful

[greygoose]

Well, that very much depends on the doctor. Have you never seen a French doctor before? How long have you lived in France.

In general, French doctors are as ignorant as UK doctors, when it comes to thyroid. Most of them have no idea what T3 is, nor how to read an FT3 result. And, they are perfectly happy with a TSH just any old where in-range. S/he will probably insist you get on the scales, to see your weight, and take your blood pressure - standard proceedure whatever you go for.

But all that is generalisation, of course. S/he may be one of the rare ones well-versed in thyroid, and has realised your TSH is too high, and your FT4 too low, and wants to give you an increase in dose. Who knows! Live is one massive adventure, from start to finish! But, I wouldn't worry too much about it, if I were you.

[chrisjaz in reply to greygoose]

I have lived here for 10 years and find my Doctor is really good , its just the Thyroid as you say they don't seem to be to bothered unless the levels are out on the TSH .

She does put me on the scales and i had lost 2 kg i have high blood pressure so medication for that been on it for years now , it is always good now however it has come down from 13 to 12 you understand living in france , but i think the no sugar and carbs diet is helping in that .

She is a brilliant doc and speaks English so that helps to , still wait and see .

[greygoose in reply to chrisjaz]

Hmmm... well, if she were to treat your hypo correctly, you probably wouldn't need meds for high blood pressure.

[chrisjaz]

Really how is that? Also my cholesterol is slightly high !

[chrisjaz]

Just been to the doc , i am hypo so i am taking at present 75mg she has given me another prescription to get 25mg and cut in half so i end up with 82 1/2 per day , went to get my prescription brand L-Thyroxin Henning Sanofi and they don't have it in France yet only 75mg , the Pharmacist spoke to my doctor and came back with Merk 25mg which i can't take so now i am going to have to try and cut my 75mg up , how crazy s that why i couldn't just go on 100mg she said she wants to do it slowly .

I am to have another blood test in 6 weeks TSH + T4 again.

I am thinking of contacting the company who make them to ask if it is possible to get off them even if i have to buy them or look elsewhere.

[Hidden in reply to chrisjaz]

Sanofi is a French company.

[Hidden]

Don't even worry about slightly raised cholesterol. I live in France also and never go to the doctors. They give you time yes, but after all their prodding and poking know nothing about the thyroid. Nor do the endos in France.

I self treat myself now with NDT and T3. I am feeling well at present with all the help and advice from the good people on this site.

I had my thyroid removed in Oct 2015 in France and before this I knew nothing about the thyroid.

I also bought a blood pressure and heart rate machine plus a thermometer from my local pharmacy. If I want a question answered, this site is my first point of call. I am also saving myself money not going to the Doctors or Endos.

[chrisjaz]

Thank you for your reply , i am just looking at a site to buy the 25mg in Germany 13.13 euros i just don't know why they don't have all the tabs available .

What is NDT i havn't had my T3 tested and when you ask they say only the TSH so i am amazed that i got the T4 tested and will be in six weeks to .

I am thinking because i was 6 days without any medication then the blood test , this could be why the level was Hypo !.

Good for you though its crazy how Thyroid here and in England they don't seem to care about .

[chrisjaz]

Here is an update regarding getting my medication L-Thyroine Hennings brand .

I have just tried a different pharmacy in Laval and she was brilliant , she said they didn't have any 25mg but said i will try another branch for you and went away to phone them , she came back and was doing workings out and said well if i give you 175mg then you have half every day and that gives you 82 1/2 what my Doctor prescribed , i was very impressed as the other pharmacies did 't think of doing that , so the pressure is off now for 6 months if i stay on this amount , blood test in 6 weeks TSH and T4 there are 100 tabs in each pack , much better than a month supply.

Phew!!!