I had some blood tests done last week and have been told today I am overtly underactive thyroid and I am to start on 50mcg levothyroxine. I have been told I need a repeat test in 6-8 weeks. I have some symptoms such as weight gain, numbness, dizzy spells, hard stool, fatigue, are these all likely hypothyroid symptoms please or unrelated? Sorry but my GP didn't tell me what sort of symptoms I should be having. Thank you very much
Serum TSH *89.5 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.20)
Serum Free T4 *10.2 pmol/L (12.0 - 22.0)
Serum Free T3 3.1 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8)
Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies *>1300 IU/mL (<34)
Serum Ferritin *15 ug/L (30 - 400) prescribed 3x iron tablets a day as of today
Serum Folate *2.0 ug/L (2.5 - 19.5) prescribed 1x folic acid 5mg a day as of today
Serum Vitamin B12 203 pg/L (180 - 900)
Total 25 OH vitamin D *34.4 nmol/L (25 - 50 vitamin D deficiency. Supplementation is indicated) prescribed 800iu D3 1x a day as of today
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Kathelen
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Hello Kathelen, I'm sorry you've been diagnosed hypothyroid but you're in good company here. You have elevated antibodies so I wonder if your GP has told you that you've got autoimmune thyroiditis otherwise known as Hashimotos thyroiditis?
Please ensure you have a blood test in 6 weeks and don't leave it 8 weeks or it will take forever to get to your optimal dose. Most people feel well when their TSH is around 1 or a little lower so you have a long way to go. Everything about thyroid is slow I'm afraid but we don't want to make it slower than necessary.
Your symptoms sound like hypothyroid symptoms but considering all your vitamins are very low you must feel pretty terrible. Numbness and dizzy spells may be due to low vitamin B12 and/or low iron levels.
800iu is not enough vitamin D3 to raise your levels sufficiently. Unfortunately, it's the amount the NHS prescribes if your vitamin D is above 30 on diagnosis of deficiency. Therefore, you may need to buy your own to supplement and I would take 5,000iu for 3 months and then retest. It's trial and error to find the right dose for you but you need to retest every 3 months until you find your correct maintenance dose. If your GP won't do it, then you can use City Assays which is listed on Thyroid UK's website, cost £28. Vitamin D builds up to toxicity if you take too much which is why you need to retest when supplementing. You can aim for 100nmol or mid laboratory range which is recommended by the vitamin D council.
What has your GP prescribed for other deficiencies?
Thank you, I haven't been told I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis and I have only been prescribed 5mg folic acid as of today, 800iu D3 as of today and 3x ferrous fumarate as of today
Your B12 is very low and before you take folic acid your GP should exclude pernicious anaemia. Taking folic acid can mask a B12 deficiency or pernicious anaemia. You should start B12 supplements about a week before folic acid I believe. You need to get your B12 level above 500 or near to the top of the lab range to ensure sufficiency. When supplementing B12 and folic acid it's best to take a B complex to keep all the B's in balance. Try to find one with all the methylated forms of B vitamins for best absorption. I use Thorne Basic B.
Have you got symptoms of B12 deficiency because if so, I advise you to post your B12 and folate results along with an outline of your thyroid condition and symptoms, low ferritin etc on the HealthUnlocked Pernicious Anaemia forum healthunlocked.com/pasoc and ask their advice about what your GP should be doing. Really, it looks like you need further investigations to rule out pernicious anaemia and GP should check for intrinsic factor antibodies.
You need to take magnesium and K2-MK7 with vitamin D3 in order to absorb the vitamin D effectively. Magnesium citrate is ok but there are other choices for magnesium.
Ferritin needs to be at least 70 or mid-range for your own thyroid to function properly. Ferrous fumerate 3 times a day is the correct treatment according to guidelines.
Check B12 and folate advice on Healthunlocked Pernicious Anaemia forum and then contact your GP and query folic acid supplements. You could also ask if Vitamin D supplements could be increased athough it may not be possible on NHS.
Before you take folate and B12 then have a word with the PA group on HealthUnlocked and they will advise you as it looks like you need to be tested for PA BEFORE yorcsupplement.
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Thyroid results
JUST got my results PLEASE PLEASE HELP !! ???
New to hypothyroidism!
Help interpreting results 
Interpretation of results needed please
