I have a really bad headache and my concentration has really gone today I take 50mcg Levo diagnosed 5 years ago. Had none of this on T3 please advise
TSH 4.77 (0.2 - 4.2)
FT4 14.6 (12 - 22)
FT3 3.3 (3.1 - 6.8)
TPO antibody 940.5 (<34)
TG antibody 448.3 (<115)
Have you been on 50mcg for 5 years ? If so that is a scandal. You need a dose increase and tests for the following - B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD,
Have you been informed that you have Hashimotos ?
No been on 50mcg for 5 months as a precaution
What precaution - please explain 
He told me it was precaution to stop me from losing weight
Please post your vitamin and mineral results - as you have Hashimotos it is possible you need to heal your gut - that could be the reason you are losing weight. Lowering your dose will not solve the weightloss - in my non medical opinion. Do you have any gut issues ?
Your TSH is too high and FT3 & FT4 too low. How often have you been tested in the last 5yrs?
Have you had Iron, B12, Vit D and Folate tested?
How much T3 were you on? 50mcg of Levo is very low.
Tested every 6-8 weeks and was on 175mcg levo and 10mcg T3 before
Go back to your GP and ask for T3 to be reinstated as they were not supposed to withdraw it without the patient's permission. Many have jumped the gun with the result that patients are not doing well at all. I am also assuming your doctor didn't increase levo to try to compensate for the loss of T3? This is an excerpt:
"If you were originally prescribed T3 on recommendation of NHS endocrinologist then you should be able to remain on it"
british-thyroid-association...
british-thyroid-association...
and read the whole Post and links within the one below:
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
No he decreased it as a precaution
A 'precaution' to what? Your FT3 was below range when it should be towards the top.
I don't think they know what havoc they make to a patient's life.
He told me it was precaution to stop me from losing weight
So he was helping you not to lose weight....before you lost weight?
Yes
RU678,
You are undermedicated to have TSH 4.77 on 50mcg. Ask your GP to increase dose.
The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 0.2 - 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 dionne.fulcher@thyroiduk.org 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_...
How do I ask for T3 please since it has been taken away thankyou
RU678,
Who took it away and why?
Endo did because he didn't think the symptoms that went away on it were because I was taking T3
RU678,
If endo took you off it I think it is very unlikely your GP will reinstate T3 without another NHS endo recommending it.
Was it GP or endo who reduced Levothyroxine from 175mcg to 50mcg?
Endo took me off it and I was recommended by another NHS endo to be on it. GP recognises I have a need for it
RU678,
If GP recognises you have a need for it there's nothing to stop your GP prescribing T3.
Who reduced Levothyroxine from 175mcg to 50mcg?
Endo
RU678,
Did endo say why? What were your thyroid results and ranges to prompt the reduction?
Dose reductions are usually in 25mcg increments at 6 week intervals. It's not good practice to make such large adjustments. Perhaps you could see someone else.
On 175mcg levothyroxine
TSH 0.03 (0.2 - 4.2)
FT4 20.1 (12 - 22)
FT3 4.0 (3.1 - 6.8)
RU678,
I think endo felt you were overmedicated because TSH was suppressed at 0.03. I don't think you were because FT4 and FT3 were within range and FT3 was low in range because you are not a good converter.
In any case, the dose reduction should have been 25mcg not 125mcg. I wouldn't want to see that endo again. If you'd prefer your GP to treat you tell GP you don't wish to see that endo again and ask that GP treats you or refers you to someone else.
The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 0.2 - 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 dionne.fulcher@thyroiduk.org if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.
You are now very under medicated and need 25mcg dose increase in Levothyroxine and retesting in 6-8 weeks time. Dose increased in 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range.
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
You are likely to have extremely low vitamin levels as result of under medication, especially when T3 is stopped
Make an urgent appointment with any GP at the surgery and ask for vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 to be tested.
Typical posts after T3 stopped clearly showing vitamins dropped right down
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
You have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
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
Ask GP for coeliac blood test first
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...
drknews.com/changing-your-d...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
You should not have had your T3 stopped
But before restarting you must get vitamins optimal, and Levo dose increased in 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range.
Strictly gluten free diet very likely to help or be essential
If after all this, FT3 remains low, then like many with Hashimoto's you are likely to need addition of small dose of T3
Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,
"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l. In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l. This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."
You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor please email Dionne: tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
Also request list of recommended thyroid specialists
Prof Toft - article just published now saying T3 is likely essential for many
rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...
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
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/get_in...
Recent debate in Scottish parliament
It's very doubtful that removing your T3 was a precaution against anything, that was just his excuse. It was more likely to be a cost-cutting exercise, and is happening to many, many people on the NHS.
Yes he told me it was precaution to stop me from losing weight
When weight loss affects people with Hashimoto's, it gets worse when under treated
Just like coeliac patients. Gut gets so badly affected we can't digest nutrients.
He was clueless
Help with results please?
Help with diagnosing Hypothyroidism please.
Help with test results please
Help with test results please
