How long to feel better?

[Katdewar]

Hi how long to stay on levothyroxine or feel better on it? I have been taking 25mcg for 2 years no difference to symptoms. Thank you

[Clutter]

Katdewar,

If you post your recent thyroid results and ranges members will advise whether you are optimally dosed on 25mcg. If you have results and ranges for ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate post them too.

[Katdewar in reply to Clutter]

TSH 23 (0.2 - 4.2)

FT4 10.1 (12 - 22)

FT3 3.0 (3.1 - 6.8)

[Saggyuk in reply to Katdewar]

Oh gosh - your doctor is incompetent and stupid - get a new GP tomorrow and make a complaint about the previous one to the practice manager You need an increase in dose and then retested and repeated until your results are good!!! You are still very hypothyroid.

[Clutter in reply to Katdewar]

Katedewar,

You are very undermedicated. Your GP needs to increase dose. Increasing to 75mcg would be appropriate with a follow up thyroid test 6 weeks later in case dose needs increasing further.

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_...

For maximum absorption Levothyroxine should be taken with water 1 hour before, or 2 hours after, food and drink, 2 hours away from other medication and supplements, and 4 hours away from calcium, iron, vitamin D supplements, magnesium and oestrogen.

It takes 7-10 days for Levothyroxine dose increase to be absorbed before it starts working and it will take up to six weeks to feel the full impact of the dose increase. Symptoms may lag behind good biochemistry by several months.

You should have a follow up thyroid test 6-8 weeks after every Levothyroxine dose adjustment. Arrange an early morning and fasting (water only) blood draw when TSH is highest, and take Levothyroxine after your blood draw.

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

[Katdewar in reply to Clutter]

FERRITIN 3 (30 - 400)

FOLATE 2.1 (4.6 - 18.7)

VITAMIN B12 80 (190 - 900)

VITAMIN D 10.1 (<25 VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY. SUPPLEMENTATION IS INDICATED)

[Clutter in reply to Katdewar]

Katdewar,

They're all severely deficient. What has your GP prescribed?

[Katdewar in reply to Clutter]

Nothing prescribed as of yet.

[Clutter in reply to Katdewar]

Katdewar,

How long have you had the results?

[Katdewar in reply to Clutter]

About 3-4 weeks

[Clutter in reply to Katdewar]

Katdewar,

See another GP at the practice or change GP practice and make sure you write to the practice manager making a formal complaint of your GP's negligence in failing to treat severe mineral and vitamin deficiencies.

You have iron deficiency anaemia. Treatment is an iron infusion or 3 x 210mg Ferrous Fumarate. Take each tablet with 1,000mg vitamin C to aid absorption and minimise constipation. Iron should be taken 4 hours away from Levothyroxine.

B12 and folate are severely deficient. GP should initiate B12 injections 48 hours prior to you be-ing prescribed 5mg folic acid daily. Investigation should be done as to whether you have perni-cious anaemia causing deficiencies. Symptoms are listed in b12deficiency.info/signs-an... healthunlocked.com/pasoc are the experts on PA, B12 and folate defi-ciencies if you need more advice.

Vitamin D is severely deficient and the lab report has indicated you need treatment. Your GP should refer to local guidelines or the cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-d... Do NOT accept a prescription for 800iu which is a maintenance dose prescribed after vitD is replete >75. My GP prescribed 40,000iu daily x 14 followed by 2,000iu daily x 8 weeks which raised vitD from <10 to 107. Vitamin D should be taken 4 hours away from Levothyroxine.

[Saggyuk]

It is likely due to a rubbish doc tbh as 25mcg is just a starter dose for most. You should have been retested after six weeks and dose increased and this repeated until your results were optimal - tsh 1 or just under and T4/T3 levels in upper part of range. But yes can't really say until you get your last results - if you don't have them, you can a print out from your GPs receptionist

Many have vitamin deficiencies associated with thyroid issues so you should get Vit B12, folate, Vit D and ferritin/iron tested plus thyroid antibodies. If doc refuses, you can pay for them yourself for a reasonable cost so just ask here if that's what you want to do

[Katdewar in reply to Saggyuk]

TSH 23 (0.2 - 4.2)

FT4 10.1 (12 - 22)

FT3 3.0 (3.1 - 6.8)

FERRITIN 3 (30 - 400)

FOLATE 2.1 (4.6 - 18.7)

VITAMIN B12 80 (190 - 900)

VITAMIN D 10.1 (<25 VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY. SUPPLEMENTATION IS INDICATED)

[Saggyuk in reply to Katdewar]

You are iron deficient and need iron panel and full blood count tested and treatment.

You're folate deficient and need treatment

Your severely B12 deficient and this can cause irreversible damage so need to be sorted ASAP. You need to be tested for pernicious anaemia and or referred to gastro for stomach issues unless there is an obvious cause such as veganism/ not eating much. Don't treat the folate until you get B12 injections as this can make it worse.

You are VIt D deficient as require treatment.

You are very deficient which can be caused by untreated thyroid.

You are deficient in everything which can indicate you are not absorbing your foods, testing for coeliacs should be done to rule out but a gluten free diet should help you anyway.

[Saggyuk in reply to Saggyuk]

You will be feeling terrible with all this

[Katdewar in reply to Saggyuk]

Blood count was not very conclusive according to GP, I just had MCV 80.5 (83 - 98) MCHC 356 (310 - 350) only things out of range, also iron was 4.5 (6 - 26) transferrin saturation 11 (12 - 45) I am not vegan and I eat very well most days. Thanks

[Saggyuk in reply to Katdewar]

Blood count indicates iron deficiency anaemia- plus with under range ferritin and iron panel.

Doctor is an imbocile - ther's no other way to read these tests - he will destroy your health - get new one ASAP!!!

[Saggyuk in reply to Saggyuk]

Look up B12 deficiency and the consequences of it left untreated which is irreversible neurological damage - you can't afford to leave this as is - you need b12 injections immediately xx

[Saggyuk in reply to Saggyuk]

I mean tests are conclusive of iron deficiency anaemia - not indicative

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Katdewar]

"Blood count was not very conclusive according to GP, I just had MCV 80.5 (83 - 98) MCHC 356 (310 - 350) only things out of range, also iron was 4.5 (6 - 26) transferrin saturation 11 (12 - 45)"

Has your GP actually qualified or is he just pretending to be a doctor? Below range MCV and above range MCHC, along with below range iron and transferrin saturation and a ferritin level of 3 (I've never seen one that low!!!) all confirm iron deficiency anaemia.

I think you should run away from this doctor before he kills you, find a new one quickly!