Concerns on treatment.

[Mellowyellow1980]

Hello I am 37 hypothyroid & I am levothyroxine 75mg. I was diagnosed January 2017 & had it 5 years prior as was always on the border.

I still feel tired, I wake up shakey, stiffness in muscles & tired.

But when i mention anything to the doctors they seem to fob me off.

I have also asked to be tested for Hashimoto s & was robbed off with that too.

Please could you give me some advice with how could approach this better. Much appreciated.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

First thing is do you have any actual blood test results? If not you need to get hold of them. You are entitled to copies under data protection laws.

You may be able to view test results online - ring and ask about this. If you can then apply for online access to your account. All GP practices are supposed to offer this, in reality very few have blood test results available online.

If not then ask for print out of recent tests. Pick up in a day or two. They may make a nominal charge for paper.

You need to know results for TSH, FT4 and FT3.

For full evaluation you ideally need TSH, FT4, FT3, TT4, TPO and TG antibodies, plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

As GP is unhelpful, like 100's of us, you can organise your own blood tests

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results

Once you have results come back on new post and members can advise

Highly likely you are under medicated and/or have low vitamin levels

75mcg is not a high dose

TSH should be around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way through range

[Mellowyellow1980 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you very much. Shall I show this to the doctor as I forget & have to write symptoms down on my notes on the phone.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mellowyellow1980]

I wouldn't take this in to GP

Instead

Print this list of symptoms off, tick all that apply and take to GP

thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

Also towards end of this article below

See Box 1. Some possible causes of persistent symptoms in euthyroid patients on L-T4

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

Ask GP to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin

Thyroid UK is the NHS recommended thyroid support group

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum,

You have found out that doctors know little about diagnosing/treating patients who have hypothyroidism.

On this forum you will learn more than doctors ever will, I believe, and doctors simply do not understand that even if our 'results' are in range that we can have new or disabling clinical symptoms.

First thing to do, if you have not had a recent blood test. Request a Full Thyroid Function Test (they'll probably refuse) but say you have been give advice by the NHS Choices Healthunlocked Thyroiduk.org.uk for help/advice about dysfunctions of the thyroid gland. As you are symptomatic it is advised that you have tested:-

TSH, t4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.

B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

The ones the doctor or lab wont, you can get privately from one of our recommended labs. I believe they've been told that TSH and T4 is sufficient but they're not.

All tests have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take it afterwards.

Always take thyroid hormones with one full glass of water (usually when we get up) with one full glass of water and wait an hour before eating. Food interferes with the uptake of thyroid hormones.

Always get a print-out of your results with the ranges for your own records and you can post if you have a question.

Vitamins/minerals are essential for our hormones to work properly. The aim is a TSH of 1 or lower with a Free T4 and Free T3 in the upper part of the range. The latter two very rarely get tested. The following link informs you why they should be.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[Mellowyellow1980 in reply to shaws]

Thank you. I have had recent blood test for thyroid & iron but I am not sure if they just tested for T4.

Shall I take this and show the doctor as I forget what to say & have to write down my symptoms.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Mellowyellow1980]

You can take them to GP. He may not want to read but do take them. At least you can say that Thyroiduk.org.uk have been selected by the NHS to advise/help people who have dysfunction of theit thyroid gland..

[Mellowyellow1980 in reply to shaws]

Thank you much appreciated.

[silverfox7]

Many doctors think once they have you on medication then that's job done! It's not! It's job started. So read the info on the Thyroid uk site as loads of good info and anything that you don't understand then shout out!

[Mellowyellow1980 in reply to silverfox7]

Thank you