Symptoms advice please

[Ally29]

Hi I'm new, I presume I have Hashimotos due to positive and elevated TPO and TG antibodies, endo says he doesn't know if I have Hashimotos. I was diagnosed hypothyroid in 2012, symptoms sometimes worse, other days they are at a steady intensity and other days better and it's so confusing!

I haven't had my Levo dose changed since 11 October 2017, to 25mcg based on below range TSH *0.03 (0.27 - 4.20) FT4 20.5 (12 - 22) FT3 4.0 (3.1 - 6.8) I had no overactive symptoms at the time.

Symptoms - aches in joints, dry skin/dry eyes/dry mouth/dry nose, constipation, periods absent, pins and needles, dark circles under eyes, low concentration, tiredness, weight gain becoming uncontrollable, goitre, bruising, depression, feeling cold and having cold feeling to skin.

Antibody levels are:

TPO antibodies *557 (<34)

TG antibodies *258.3 (<115)

If anyone could advise I would be grateful, thank you.

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Ally29.

You should have had a follow up thyroid test 6 weeks after dose was reduced in October. I suspect your dose was reduced because TSH was suppressed but FT4 and FT3 were within range so you weren't overmedicated. Your symptoms are typical of undermedication. Ask your GP to retest. Ask GP to check ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate too as some of your symptoms may be due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 0.3 - 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 [e-mail] if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.

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_...

[Ally29 in reply to Clutter]

Hi thanks I'm due thyroid bloods next week. Dose reduced from 150mcg levo and 2 quarters of T3 to 25mcg levo. Previous endo says I have a clinical need for T3

[Clutter in reply to Ally29]

Ally29,

Is this a consultant endo or trainee?

Dose reductions are supposed to be in 25mcg dose increments not swingeing great reductions of 125mcg!

[Ally29 in reply to Clutter]

Consultant endo

[Ally29]

Do I post vitamin and mineral levels here please?

[Clutter in reply to Ally29]

Ally29,

No, write a new post as more people will see it.