How long to feel better on 25mcg levo

[lizbeth5]

Diagnosed 2012

TSH 6.8 (0.2 - 4.2)

FT4 13.9 (12 - 22)

FT3 3.0 (3.1 - 6.8)

TPO antibodies 788.3 (<34)

Any ideas please

Thanks

[shaws Administrator]

You will never feel better of 25mcg as it is a supplemental dose unless you are very frail with a heart disease.

A starting dose is 50mcg with blood tests every six weeks and an increase of 25mcg until you are symptom free and the TSH at 1 or lower and a Free T4 and Free T3 towards the top of the range.

I suggest you request a new blood tests. All blood tests for thyroid hormones have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose and test and take it afterwards.

Levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach with one full glass of water. Usually when we get up and wait an hour before eating as food interferes with the uptake of thyroid hormones.

Always get a print-out from the surgery of your blood test results with the ranges. Ranges are important as we cannot comment without them.

Ask GP to test TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyrid antibodies. (he or lab may not do all of them but you can get those not tested privately from one of our two Private labs.

GP must test, at the same time as thyroid hormones, B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

[lizbeth5 in reply to shaws]

I have results of bloods

[shaws Administrator in reply to lizbeth5]

Post your results with the ranges.

[Marz in reply to lizbeth5]

Do you have results with ranges for B12 - Folate - Ferritin and VitD ?

[lizbeth5 in reply to Marz]

Ferritin 3 (15 - 150)

Folate 1.7 (4.6 - 18.7)

Vitamin B12 144 (190 - 900)

Vitamin D 14.8 (<25 severe)

[Marz in reply to lizbeth5]

So what has your GP said about these TERRIBLE results - everything is below range and need urgent treatment. You must be feeling so unwell ....

[lizbeth5 in reply to Marz]

GP has said nothing

[Marz in reply to lizbeth5]

Has he seen the results ? This is negligence. Are you happy to go back to your GP ASAP alone and challenge politely - why the hell are there ranges if they ignore them ? All your results are below range. Perhaps you need to take a supportive friend or partner.

Please click onto SeasideSusie - then click onto her REPLIES and read all the helpful information she posts for people like you with dire results. It is just far too much to type out .... please read them as a matter of urgency.

Your FERRITIN needs to be mid-range as does the Folate. B12 needs to be over 500 at the very least and VitD should be 100. So your thyroid hormones will not ever work with such low levels ....

[lizbeth5 in reply to shaws]

Nurse reduced it from 150

[Marz in reply to lizbeth5]

What a scandal .... time for re-training methinks ....

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to lizbeth5]

Nurse is not a doctor and doesn't know what s/he is doing and has made you ill. COMPLAIN

[lizbeth5 in reply to shaws]

TSH 6.8 (0.2 - 4.2)

FT4 13.9 (12 - 22)

FT3 3.0 (3.1 - 6.8)

TPO antibodies 788.3 (<34)

Any ideas please

[shaws Administrator in reply to lizbeth5]

Your TSH is too high so need an increase to bring it down to 1 or lower.

Both FT3 and FT4 are at the bottom of the ranges and need to be nearer the top.

You need an increase to enable this to happen.

Your antibodies show that you have an Autoimmune Disease called Hashimoto's - the commonest form of hypothyroidism and going gluten=free can help reduce the attack of the antibodies on your gland.

[shaws Administrator]

Your two consecutive posts confused me as it is usual to put up only one post but you have more or less asked the same question in each post.

What I don't understand is that you appear not to have had another blood test since 2012 and remained on 25mcg of levothyroxine since?

[lizbeth5 in reply to shaws]

I only posted one

[shaws Administrator in reply to lizbeth5]

Apologies there was another with a similar name

[lizbeth5 in reply to shaws]

Blood test done 2 weeks ago

[shaws Administrator in reply to lizbeth5]

Have you seen your doctor about the results of your recent test?

[lizbeth5 in reply to shaws]

GP said she won't increase

[Marz in reply to lizbeth5]

No but what about the vitamins and minerals - the woman needs shooting ...

[shaws Administrator in reply to lizbeth5]

Ask to be referred to an Endocrinologist or change your doctor.

[shaws Administrator in reply to lizbeth5]

Drop a note into the Surgery and state that you have had advice from the NHS Choices for dysfunctions of the Thyroid Gland - Healthunlocked Thyroiduk.org.uk and have been told you have to have an immediate increase of 25mcg with increases every six weeks of 25mcg to bring your TSH to 1 with a Free T4 and Free T3 in the upper part of the range.

Print-off the following two links and hand into the surgery with your note.

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

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

tick off your clinical symptoms.

[greygoose in reply to lizbeth5]

Did she say why she wouldn't increase? They usually have some sort of explanation, however crazy. But they only do half a day on the endocrine system, and seem to have misunderstood most of that. Be we could possibly explain where the misconception lies.

[shaws Administrator]

As @Marz states - your doctor is negligent - you need to register with another surgery and then put in a written complaint.

Your vitamins/minerals are dire as well as the results of your thyroid hormones.

[Angel_of_the_North]

Never (unless you are about 3 feet tall and very thin). 25 mcg is a starter dose for a frail elderly person or one with heart disease. You should have blood tests every 6 weeks and a 25 mcg dose increase each time until your free T4 and free t3 are in the top quarters of their ranges and TSH is under 1