Thyroid - newbie

[Mellon1]

Hi

Taking 25mcg levo was on much higher doses before with T3 added. Symptoms causing me concern

Tightness in throat

Hard stool

Anxiety

Pins and needles

Joint pain

Dry skin

Weight gain

Tinnitus

Depression

Concentration issues

Am I a hypochondriac?

Diagnosed 2012

Thank you

TSH 5.60 (0.2 - 4.2)

FT4 14.8 (12 - 22)

FT3 3.4 (3.1 - 6.8)

[shaws Administrator]

I am assuming your T3 was withdrawn? In that case your dose of levo is too low as your TSH is too high with both Frees too low.

Phone and ask your GP to leave a prescription for you to collect tomorrow. 25mcg of levo is an incremental dose until the patient is symptom-free and feels well. Both FT4 and FT3 should be nearer the top not the bottom. I don't know what dose of T3 you were taking and assume it has been removed but GP should have added levothyroxine for the equivalent of T3 which was withdrawn.

[Mellon1 in reply to shaws]

10mcg and 175mcg levo

I don't think I will ever get better

[shaws Administrator in reply to Mellon1]

I am astonished that your Endo reduced your 175mcg of levo down to 25mcg levo. He definitely needs to lose his licence.

You will get better if you do not rely on the endocrinologist and I would report him.

You have hypo symptoms due to too low a dose. Tick off the symptoms - copy and send him a copy and state that you've contacted a help line for dysfunctions of the thyroid gland and have been told that your dose is far too low as you are now extremely symptomatic. If we are going to have adjustments in levo, it has to be by 25mcg only up/down not a reduction by 180 (i.e. 150mcg of T4 and 10mcg of T3). At one stroke he has reduced your dose by approx 180mcg daily.

thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

If my calculations are wrong someone will respond. Contact your GP and i hope he can sort something out. When we consult a Specialist - we expect them to be specialists but find out that many members on this forum know far more than those getting paid.

[Mellon1 in reply to shaws]

Looks like I won't get better, just wanted to get support since not getting it anywhere else

Never mind

[shaws Administrator in reply to Mellon1]

see my response above. We have to fight in our corner as no one else will.

[Clutter]

Mellon1,

You are undermedicated to have TSH 5.60 and that's why you are symptomatic. 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 0.3 - 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.

Who was it that reduced dose from 175mcg Levothyroxine + 10mcg T3 to 25mcg Levothyroxine and what reason did they give for doing so?

[Mellon1 in reply to Clutter]

Endo reduced it due to being thyrotoxic:

TSH 1.30 (0.2 - 4.2)

FT4 19.2 (12 - 22)

FT3 4.0 (3.1 - 6.8)

[Clutter in reply to Mellon1]

Mellon1,

You weren't thyrotoxic at all! All the results were within range on 175mcg + 10mcg, your endo is a maniac! You need to see your GP for a dose increase. I would fire the endo, s/he's no help at all. If you feel like it write to the head of endocrinology or the hospitals PALS and complain that endo reduced dose unnecessarily and aggressively and you are now undermedicated and unwell.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mellon1]

You were NOT over medicated

FT3 still too low

Likely had low vitamins

Do you have high thyroid antibodies?

Typical posts after T3 stopped showing vitamin levels drop further

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Get dose increased back up in 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range

Essential to improve vitamin levels

If you have Hashimoto's then strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential for most

[Mellon1 in reply to SlowDragon]

No I haven't had antibodies tested

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mellon1]

Ask GP to test antibodies then and also test for coeliac disease

If high this is autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

Many find strictly gluten free diet helps significantly even if not coeliac

[Mellon1 in reply to SlowDragon]

I have other antibodies tested

Anti nuclear antibodies positive

Anti smooth muscle antibodies positive

Anti thyroid peroxidase antibodies positive >1000 (<34)

Anti thyroglobulin antibodies positive 477.5 (<115)

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mellon1]

Anti thyroid peroxidase antibodies are positive as higher than 34

Anti thyroglobulin antibodies are positive as higher than 115

so this conforms the cause of thyroid is autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's

About 5% of us also test positive for coeliac disease, but a much higher percentage (over 80%) find strictly gluten free diet helps

So ask your GP to run a coeliac blood test, before considering trying strictly gluten free, even if negative for coeliac

Its pretty likely your vitamin levels are poor, so request these are tested too.

Read all those posts about after T3 stopped - you will find masses of info to help you get better

Email Dionne at Thyroid UK for list of recommended thyroid specialists

You endo was a ******

Sadly far, far too common

We have all had to fight to get well. Many regulars have more info on their profiles

Getting levo dose back up, improving vitamins and seriously looking at strictly gluten free diet will all make enormous difference.