Hello I am new and I am here to ask why my levels aren't improving on 100mcg levothyroxine? Diagnosed 2011 with hypothyroidism. I have puffy eyes and face, bowels opening less often, joint pain, fatigue, muscle weakness, spasms, ulcers in and around mouth, dry eyes, eyelash loss, eyebrow loss, pale skin, heavy periods, bloating, trapped wind. I take the levothyroxine exactly as directed by GP and endocrinologist which is 1-2 hours away from food/drink. Is my dose likely too low? Was taking T3 before which helped my symptoms but new endocrinologist removed it. Thanks in advance.
TSH 5.1 (0.2 - 4.2)
FREE T4 14.7 (12 - 22)
FREE T3 3.3 (3.1 - 6.8)
THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODY 722 (<34)
THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY 371.3 (<115)
ANTI TISSUE TRANSGLUTAMINASE ANTIBODY 2 (<1)
Written by
Tashn
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I can tell immediately why you aren't improving and the fault lies either at your doctor or endocrinologist's door.
Your TSH is too high, the aim is 1 or below. Not 'somewhere' in the range.
Both FT4 and FT3 are at the bottom of the range instead of near the top.
Your antibodies are attacking your thyroid gland and you have an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease - also called Hashimoto's.
For someone diagnosed 7 years ago it is truly appalling.
They aren't supposed to withdraw T3 from people who were prescribed it before the latest T3 fiasco in which they put a blanket ban on it for new patients. Patient already on it should not have had it removed unless the patient agreed.
How cruel is that - to remove an essential thyroid hormone with the resultant clinical symptoms .
From reading here for years and years I am not sure seeing an Endo will be the answer. Far better to ask questions here - follow the advice and return with more questions You could of course be lucky - but do check out his credentials to ensure he does not just specialise in diabetes - in which case he will know little about the thyroid
Blue Horizon are also offering discount on more comprehensive DNA testing including DIO2
Thyroid UK are collecting evidence of malpractice due to removing clinically needed T3
Please consider sending a brief outline of this. How T3 improved you and the subsequent disaster since it was stopped. I would include the dire vitamin levels
Ask to clarify the tissue transglutiminase test results
How long since dose reduced to 100mcg?
Get TSH, FT4 and FT3 retested plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect 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
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You could of course be lucky - but do check out his credentials to ensure he does not just specialise in diabetes - in which case he will know little about the thyroid 
Stopping levothyroxine
Dose problems
What do these results mean please?
