Underactive Thyroid

[Saramcgrath]

Hi I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid a year ago and I must say trying to loose weight has been a struggle. I'm on Eltroxin 50mg and I'm hoping someone has some positive feedback on managing the thyroid with Eltroxin and weight loss.

[greygoose]

Why are you still on 50 mcg - a starter dose - after one year since diagnoses? Didn't they retest you after six weeks? Not surprised you can't lose weight.

[Saramcgrath in reply to greygoose]

No, no retest at all just repeat prescriptions.

[greygoose in reply to Saramcgrath]

Then your doctor is guilty of gross negligence! He should have retested you after six weeks and increased your dose by 25 mcg. And, then, repeated the process until all your symptoms were gone.

Can you see another doctor? If you can, report this one to his immediate superior. He should not be allowed to get away with that!

[Saramcgrath in reply to greygoose]

The problem is my GP of over 22 years died and since then we've had a stream of temporary doctors filling in for the new doctor who was away on maternity leave for a long time. Maybe I'm partially to blame for not taking control of the situation myself. I'll have to go back and sort this out properly.

[greygoose in reply to Saramcgrath]

Yes, you really will. But, don't put all the blame on yourself! Whoever prescribed the original dose should have told you to go back for a retest after six weeks. They are the doctors and should know what they're doing. You shouldn't have to know.

[Saramcgrath in reply to greygoose]

Very true I do feel let down it was the doctors secretary that asked me how was I feeling after the first three months I replied grand as that's an Irish thing you could have a limb hanging off and still say I'm grand 🙄anyways I'll sort it out and thanks for replying and the information 👍🏼

[greygoose in reply to Saramcgrath]

You're welcome. Let us know how you get on.

[Saramcgrath in reply to greygoose]

Will do 😊

[Beani2 in reply to Saramcgrath]

I started on Thyroxine for an underactive Thyroid my Gp Checked my bloods every 4 months for the first year to just check how i was doing on 50mg then every year after that every 6months and that was from when i was 17 years old and now 47. Your weight will go up and down for a little while until your on the right dosage. You need to demand a blood test.

[Peanut31]

How long have you been on 50mcg?

Have you got your thyroid results including ranges?

If you post them on here the experts will help.

I’ve been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and I’ve been started on 50mcg of Levothyroxine, but, this is a starting dosage.

I’m having a blood test soon and the GP is going to increase this dosage, normally increase it by 25mcg every six weeks.

Best wishes

Peanut31

[Saramcgrath in reply to Peanut31]

To be honest I haven't a clue about results the doctor prescribed Eltroxin 50mg after I was diagnosed and I haven't had a blood test since.

[silverfox7]

This site is recommended by NHS Choices for dysfunction of the thyroid gland so point that out to the doctors if they accuse you of surfing the net!

[Saramcgrath in reply to silverfox7]

Will do thank you

[jojotwin]

Hiya x i have been on levothyroxine for 6 years and in last couple of years put on weight as also peri menopausal - i usually go to gym 5 times a week but nothing was shifting - started taking 5000mg of natural green tea one tablet a day after breakfast and after detoxing after 2 weeks i feel fabulous loads of energy and my stubborn weight has come off . Nice thing is the green tea is all natural too. I get my green tea from Natures best website

[Saramcgrath in reply to jojotwin]

Wow that sounds like a great result I'll give the green tea tabs a try 🤞🏼

[eeng]

When you go for your blood test make sure to have it first thing in the morning. Doctors adjust your dose b y looking at the TSH level, and that is highest first thing in the morning. Don't take your thyroxine for 24 hours before the test and don't have breakfast or drinks containing caffeine until after the blood test. All these things can make your TSH result lower, and you want yours to come out as high as possible to show whether or not you need a higher dose. The reference range for TSH is usually something like 0.3-4.5, but a Norwegian study showed that something like 95% of healthy people have a TSH between 0.5 and 1.5, so you should be aiming for a TSH level around 1. Try to get your doctor to test your B12, Folate, Ferritn and vit D at the same time. - they are very often low in people with hypothyroidism (even if you eat healthily) and need to be at healthy levels (usually at least half way up the range) in order for your body to make best use of the Thyroid hormones it has to work with.

[Saramcgrath in reply to eeng]

Thank you for all the advice much appreciated 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As others have said, 50mcg is only standard starter dose.

Insist on new blood tests

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies.

Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.

Essential to test thyroid antibodies, FT3 and FT4, plus vitamins

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies. But see what you can get from GP first

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting.

When on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances too, especially gluten. So it's important to get tested.

NICE guidelines saying how to initiate and increase. Note that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...

[Saramcgrath in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for the advice. Could I ask if my meds were increased would it make it possible to loose weight as at the moment nothing is working which has made me really unhappy and anxious 😩

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Saramcgrath]

Well you will really struggle to loose weight if not on enough Levothyroxine

If you have high thyroid antibodies then likely find strictly gluten free diet helps significantly

First step is to get existing test results from GP and full private testing on anything not tested already (if GP refuses to test)

[Saramcgrath in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Saramcgrath]

Thousands on here only gained full health after getting full private Thyroid and vitamin testing.

Learning about importance of optimal vitamin levels (not just in range) and extremely common to develop hidden food intolerances, usually gluten and/or dairy.

[Nasasteve2 in reply to Saramcgrath]

I’ve had Hypothyroid for around 8 years I have never lost any weight on T4 no matter what I’ve been prescribed and struggle to do most everyday tasks my weight is a major issue and the NHS won’t help I’m just marked up every time as clinically obese through no fault of my own........so you could say “NHS has in essence made me Obese” there is very little help for men with Thyroid issues. From the NHS and the most common answer is what do you know about it???

I have now had to pay for a full Thyroid blood work up because despite my Dr requesting a full work up the NHS has not done the checks as requested for the last 3 blood tests because my TSH shows normal despite what my body is telling me

[Saramcgrath in reply to Nasasteve2]

Oh lord that makes for depressing reading and makes for a miserable future if it's impossible for me to loose weight with the condition

[Sandra007]

I was diagnosed a bit over a year ago. I was put on 50 mcg to start with. My TSH went from 7.8 to 1.8. I couldn’t believe the difference in energy. But, the number has slowly been rising and I’ve needed a nap to get through the day and I’m losing my eyebrows again. I’m tested every three months. Last test was at 3.8 but my GP didn’t see the point in raising it as i was still “in range”. I pretty much had to insist on a bump in dose so he prescribed a 75 mcg dose (while shaking his head). He’ll see me again in in July. You shouldn’t have to raise a fuss to have them make sure you are functioning at normal levels. It’s ridiculous.