Hi, I am new. I feel kind of silly coming here because of how rough I have been feeling. I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid gland in 2011. At first no treatment was given because my TSH was below 10. I asked to have thyroid antibodies checked and the GP practice I was with at the time said they only test for thyroid antibodies in special cases and my case was unremarkable – so no test.
About 18 months later I became severely underactive with my TSH at 45 (0.2 – 4.2) and Free T4 10.6 (12 – 22) I have had my dose of levothyroxine moved up, moved down, taken away and reinstated since then, not entirely due to what the bloods were saying but also due to symptoms and other investigations.
The first endo I was with said my vitamin and mineral levels were pretty bad and were probably the reason why I was feeling so unwell but she did not titrate my levothyroxine even when my TSH was above range, did not recommend a therapeutic range for my TSH or thyroid hormones, did not test my Free T4 when TSH was in range, could not interpret thyroid ultrasound reports and did not inform me how to prepare for certain investigations – baseline cortisol and coeliac screen.
The second endo I saw understood my levels a bit better, saying my TSH should be around the 1 – 2 mark with both my thyroid hormones in the upper parts of their ranges. She started me on T3 which helped me feel better and stabilised my levels. But when I was due to see her again the receptionist at the hospital I was being managed at told me she moved hospitals and I don’t know where she is now.
The endo I am with now took me straight off the T3 without increasing my levothyroxine and I am back to feeling like a fraud again with these symptoms – increasing width around my middle (I am now a 10/12 from a size 6), cold feet, cold hands (I am currently typing with handwarmers on), losing hair, flaky and dry skin, periods becoming heavy, ovulation occurring whenever it feels like it, constipation every day sometimes more than once, tiredness, dizziness, unsteadiness on my feet (constantly bumping into things), headaches, pains in ribs/hips/wrists/knees/ankles, depression, difficult swallowing and choking on food.
I just don’t think my endo knows what he’s doing and I don’t think my GP knows what she’s doing either! My endo is in charge of changing my dose (current dose 175mcg/150mcg levothyroxine alternate days – decided in a letter with no phone call with me to discuss and test was taken without my knowledge) but my GP has been doing this as well (dose according to them should be 100mcg levothyroxine as of September 2017) and I feel constantly messed about by the people meant to look after me.
If anyone could advise I would be very grateful, thank you. I do usually get bloods for thyroid done early morning, fasting and leaving off levothyroxine for 24 hours and the endo I am currently with has said he understands TSH fluctuates throughout the day yet he still accepts the current results as a true reflection of my thyroid status.
NOV-2017 (175mcg levothyroxine – fasting, leaving off levothyroxine for 24 hours, done at 4pm)
TSH 0.02 (0.2 – 4.2 MIU/L)
FREE T4 22.8 (12.0 – 22.0 PMOL/L)
FREE T3 4.0 (3.1 – 6.8 PMOL/L)
FERRITIN 53 (30 - 400 UG/L)
FOLATE 2.2 (2.5 - 19.5 UG/L)
VITAMIN D TOTAL 33.8 (25 - 50 NMOL/L VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY SUPPLEMENTATION IS INDICATED)
VITAMIN B12 226 (180 - 900 PG/L)
OCT-2017 (100mcg levothyroxine – fasting, leaving off levothyroxine for 24 hours, done at 5pm)
TSH 5.6 (0.2 – 4.2 MIU/L)
FREE T4 13.9 (12.0 – 22.0 PMOL/L)
FREE T3 4.0 (3.1 – 6.8 PMOLL)
SEP-2017 (150mcg levothyroxine – 3 weeks after being taken off T3 – fasting, leaving off levothyroxine for 24 hours, done at 11am)
TSH 0.03 (0.2 – 4.2 MIU/L)
FREE T4 21.3 (12.0 – 22.0 PMOL/L)
FREE T3 4.6 (3.1 – 6.8 PMOL/L)
Please can someone help?
Blood results
Symptoms - thyroid?
Would someone help me with if my thyroid results are normal please?
