Hi
How long to feel better on 50mcg levo please
Symptoms are
Hard stool
Feeling more slowed down as day goes on
Tiredness
Bags under eyes
Dry skin
Feeling cold
Uncontrollable weight gain
Itchy skin
Eyebrow loss
Sweats with little exertion
Hair thinning
Diagnosed hypothyroid 2011
Thank you
TSH 6.5 (0.2 - 4.2)
FT4 12 (12 - 22)
FT3 3.0 (3.1 - 6.8)
Ferritin 21 (30 - 400)
Folate 1.3 (4.6 - 18.7)
Vitamin B12 139 (180 - 900)
Vitamin D 13.6
50mcg is a very low dose.You need to obtain your test results for TSH,FT4 ,FT3. Also,folate ferritin,B12 and D3. Then post for advice.
You are undermedicated.TSH should be close to 1 or below and the FT4 / FT3 need to be in the upper half of the ranges.Your vits are too low .Look up Seaside Susies responses to others with low vits.
You are extremely under medicated. The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose from 50mcg standard starter dose, in 25mcg steps. Always testing 6-8 weeks after any dose change
The Dose should be increased until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 At least half way in range
Your FT4 is rock bottom and FT3 below range
Your GP has been very negligent to leave this so low
As result your vitamin levels are dangerously low
Make an urgent "on-the-day" appointment tomorrow and see a different GP at the practice
See this reply by SeasideSusie to similar low levels
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
You will need full iron panel, then iron infusion.
Loading dose of vitamin D
Full testing for Pernicious Anaemia before starting B12 injections
You will need Folicacid supplements, but not until after B12 injections start
Do you have high thyroid antibodies? Essential to know, if not been tested ask that this is done
If high this is Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease
Come back with new post and let us know how you get on
Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,
"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.
In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.
Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.
This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."
You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email dionne.fulcher@thyroidUK.org. print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.
Prof Toft - brilliant article just published
rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...
TPO antibodies 504.5 (<34)
TG antibodies 276.3 (<115)
So guessing Hashimotos thanks
Yes this is definitely Hashimoto
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels stop Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...
drknews.com/changing-your-d...
Essential to improve dire vitamin levels and get Levothyroxine dose increased urgently
Your GP should have called you in and started supplementing and be considering coeliac or gluten intolerance
Poppy115,
How long have you been taking 50mcg?
Your vitamins and minerals are severely deficient. Have you been prescribed any treatment?
Thanks been taking 50mcg since September 2017 and no treatment prescribed except iron tablets for anaemia
Poppy115,
Were your thyroid results above before or after you started on 50mcg?
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's). There is no cure for Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine treatment is for the low thyroid levels it causes. Many people have found that 100% gluten-free diet is helpful in reducing Hashi flares, symptoms and eventually antibodies.
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
Vitamin D is severely deficient. Your GP should refer to local guidelines or the NICE CKS recommendations for treating vitamin D deficient adults cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-d... Do NOT accept a prescription for 800iu which is a maintenance dose to be prescribed once vitD is replete >75. My GP prescribed 40,000iu daily x 14 followed by 2,000iu daily x 8 weeks which raised vitD from <10 to 107. Vitamin D should be taken 4 hours away from Levothyroxine.
B12 and folate are deficient. Your GP should initiate B12 injections immediately and 48 hours prior to initiating 5mg folic acid daily. GP should also investigate whether pernicious anaemia is causing deficiency.
Symptoms of deficiency are listed in b12deficiency.info/signs-an... Go to healthunlocked.com/pasoc who are the experts on PA, B12 and folate deficiency if you want more advice.
How much iron are you taking? 3 x 210mg Ferrous Fumarate is the usual treament for iron deficiency anaemia. Taking each tablet with 1,000mg vitamin C aids absorption and minimises constipation. Iron should be taken 4 hours away from Levothyroxine.
If I were you I would write to the practice manager to complain that you weren't contacted for treatment for your severe vitamin D, B12 and folate deficiencies.
Thanks thyroid results after starting levo 50mcg. Taking 3 x ferrous fumarate
Poppy115,
You are undermedicated on 50mcg and should ask for a dose increase.
The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 0.2 - 1.0 with FT4 in the upper range. FT4 needs to be in the upper range in order that sufficient T3 is converted. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email dionne.fulcher@thyroiduk.org if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.
What dose were you taking before this?
Had you also had T3 started and then stopped ?
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