Advice please

[Fuscha]

Hello I am a newbie here and I wondered if anyone can please help me.

For about 4 months my energy levels have been plummeting and I don't feel like doing much when I come from work. I have eye soreness, headaches, muscle weakness, periods so heavy that clots the size of pound coins come out.

TSH 6.30 (0.27 - 4.20)

FT4 13 (12 - 22)

Calcium 2.22 (2.20 - 2.60)

Vitamin D 26.1 (25 - 50 deficient)

Serum ferritin 41 (15 - 150)

Serum folate 2.1 (3.1 - 20)

Any help would be appreciated.

[Spareribs]

Hello & welcome Fuscha,

Your TSH is above range & FT4 low range indicating your Thyroid is struggling, a FT3 test would help clarify things.

Your vitamin and minerals a low/deficient - you need to supplement these to feel better - was B12 tested?

I presume these are recent tests and you are not on Levothyroxine, unfortunately GPs don't usually treat until the TSH reaches 10 (which we think is wrong).

Have a good read up on this forum & folk will chip in to help.

Jane

Have a look at TUK's main site for further information.

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

[Fuscha in reply to Spareribs]

Hi I am on levothyroxine

[Spareribs in reply to Fuscha]

Your dosage does not seem to be enough, GPs use the TSH level to gauge dosage, and your TSH is over range - people usually report feeling better when it's under 1. (& FT4 towards the higher range)

If you optimise your vitamins/minerals it will help Levo efficacy.

Also make sure you take it (first or last thing) with water only, 1 hour away from food or coffee etc. & at least 2-4 hours away from supplements - depending on which supplements you're taking. Your vitamin D is deficient - (I had joint pain at higher levels) - you need to supplement this especially.

If B12 is low too (likely) have a look at the Pernicious anaemia forum here on HU - they're experts on B12/folate.

[Fuscha]

25mcg levothyroxine diagnosed 2011

[Spareribs in reply to Fuscha]

Has your dose been reduced? Often folk need more in winter!

[Fuscha in reply to Spareribs]

Thankyou yes I was taking 175mcg levothyroxine before

[Spareribs in reply to Fuscha]

Wow - big difference! no wonder you're feeling bad.

If you took a pill before your last test, that would create a low TSH and the GP would reduce your dose - often happens.

Best go back to the GP & get retested

[Fuscha in reply to Spareribs]

Thankyou I left 24 hours between blood draw and levothyroxine

[Spareribs in reply to Fuscha]

That's good, also first thing in the morning is better, GP's often just rely on TSH - but your FT4 is low too.

I hope they didn't reduce it from 175 to 25 in one go.

You should have a dose increase due to high TSH and low FT4 (& ask for an FT3 test & B12).

Are you taking Vitamin D?

[Fuscha in reply to Spareribs]

Thankyou yes they reduced it in one go and I haven't been given vitamin D to take

[Spareribs in reply to Fuscha]

Right, I used to come home from work & fall asleep before diagnosis. This time of year we're trying to hibernate!

Ask your GP to increase your levo, based on tests AND symptoms.

Ask for vitamin D supplements/loading dose (or buy your own gels/tabs/spray at least 5000iu daily 'til level 100 or so, then a maintenance dose - best taken with K2 as Vit D increases uptake of calcium - you probably know this).

Iron/ferritin supplements are better with vit C (orange juice)

Folate & B12 affect each other - so best get B12 tested before supplementing.

Best wishes J

[MiniMum97 in reply to Fuscha]

Your GP should never have reduced your levo like that. Even if you were overmedicated it should be reduced or increased gradually usually by 25mcg at a time. No wonder you feel ill. Go back to the GP and ask for your dose to be increased again. The aim should be to get your TSH below 1 and your T4 towards or even slightly above the top of the range. There is a Pulse article that Thyroid UK can send you to show your GP. Email [e-mail].

God some of these bloody GPs should be struck off.