I was put on 25mcg levothyroxine in December 2017, I am now on 50mcg as per current results. I have been told the antibodies go down with levothyroxine and so I don't need to be retested for 10 months.
I went to GP with symptoms of fatigue, bloating, constipation, breathlessness, neck swelling and never thought I would be hypothyroid or iron deficient or anaemic. I have noticed no change in my symptoms at all and I am currently on the waiting list to be seen by endocrinology. Is this what I should be doing? Thank you!
Diagnosis
TSH 44 (0.2 - 4.2)
FT4 10.2 (12 - 22)
On 25mcg levothyroxine
TSH 5.6 (0.2 - 4.2)
FT4 13.8 (12 - 22)
TPO antibodies 804.5 (<34)
Ferritin 22 (30 - 400)
Folate 4.1 (4.6 - 18.7)
Vitamin B12 293 (190 - 900)
Vitamin D 30.6 (25 - 50 deficient)
Written by
Mands1
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Can you add your results from before starting on Levo and recent results from after 6-8 weeks on 50mcgs
Have you had vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested too? Can you add results and ranges on these
Also do you know if you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease, diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies.
If not had thyroid antibodies tested ask GP to do so at next test
50mcg is only a starter dose. It should be retested after 6-8 weeks and increased in 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range
Nice guidelines saying how to initiate and increase. Note most patients eventually need to be on somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's
Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.
Always get actual results and ranges. Post results when you have them, members can advise
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 gut and gluten connection is very poorly understood
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
Vitamin D is much too low and needs improving to at least 80nmol, but many find around 100nmol is good
Better You vitamin D mouth spray works well as avoids poor gut function. Perhaps try 3000iu twice daily for 6 weeks and then once daily for another month. Retest via vitamindtest.org.uk £28
You will need ongoing maintenance dose too. Retesting twice yearly
Gp will most likely only prescribe 800iu (not enough)
Detailed supplements advice on Low vitamins due to under medication
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Newbie - do I give up?
Newbie diagnosed this week
Results going up and down advice please
I think I did something wrong with my 150/175mcg dose
