Positive results with levo

[jwoodward5]

Im looking for some positive feedback as my daughter has hypo and is feeling dreadful she reads all these posts about how levo no good and that people never lose any weight id like to hear from anyone for whom levo made them feel well again and they can maintain a healthy weight please

[alimacb]

My mum was on them 10 years and was doing fine until she started taking NSAIDS and PPI's, I do a lot better on them when all my levels are right (Iron, VitD etc)

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to alimacb]

PPI's lower vitamins, especially vitamin B12 and magnesium. Both are essential for good thyroid function

[jwoodward5 in reply to SlowDragon]

What are ppi’s

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to jwoodward5]

proton pump inhibitors eg Lansoprazole or omeprazole. Or similar. To lower stomach acid.

Most hypothyroid patients have low stomach acid, not high stomach acid.

Virtually identical symptoms with high and low stomach acid, but very different treatment

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/hypochl...

scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/3-...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Affect of ppi on causing low vitamins

pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/m...

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/p...

[jwoodward5 in reply to SlowDragon]

My daughter oftens gets heartburn im guessing this is related? So if low stomach acid what is suggestion?

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to jwoodward5]

Digestive enzymes or betaine Hcl or just a little cider vinegar in water before meals

[jwoodward5 in reply to SlowDragon]

Would the endo prescribe vitamin supplimemts if required or do we have to buy these ourselves do u know?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to jwoodward5]

Generally endocrinologists are disinterested in even testing for low vitamins.

Or considering gut issues. That would be separate specialist.....i.e. Gastroenterologist, who are not interested in vitamin levels either.

[jwoodward5 in reply to SlowDragon]

So its a case of getting them yourself do you know wheres best?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to jwoodward5]

Essential to test levels FIRST

Don’t supplement until tested

Come back with full thyroid and vitamin results on new post and members will advise on what’s needed

If any are extremely low then GP should prescribe and monitor

[DippyDame in reply to alimacb]

You might also like to try an organic probiotic supplement, they may cause tummy upsets for a few days as they get to work! A healthy gut is important

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Obviously if you go on a forum you tend to get several types of post

Lots of newly diagnosed, they learn it's important to get dose fine tuned, and often vitamins too

Then they go away, better and we don't hear back

Fortunately that is what happens for many many people

There are over 2.2 million people in UK on Levothyroxine and they are not all on here. Not even all the 79,000 members

Vast majority get significantly better and go away and get on with their lives

For some of us it can take a little more sorting. Perhaps low vitamins, or gut absorption issues, gut infections, gluten intolerance (common) ......but even with most complex cases progress can be made

First thing is to get printed copies of all existing tests done with ranges

Either add them to this post if you have them now, or start a new post once you get hold of them. Your daughter is legally entitled to printed copies of her own blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need enhanced access to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up. They can make nominal charge for printing but many will do so for free (£10 max and can not charge at all after May 2018 due to new EU ruling)

How much Levothyroxine is she taking

If you can add most recent results and ranges for TSH, FT3 and FT4, plus have she also had thyroid antibodies tested

Also helpful if had vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested. Add results and ranges if you have them

[jwoodward5 in reply to SlowDragon]

Going to get all done next thursday hopefully i will then post on here for advice . Thankyou

[jwoodward5]

So i both lost weight on levo?

[greygoose in reply to jwoodward5]

You haven't directed that question at anyone, so it's likely no-one will reply. You need to click on the reply button under the response you're replying to.

Levo is T4. It has to be converted to T3, the active hormone. It's low T3 that causes problems like not being able to lose weight. Levo itself won't make you lose weight. Optimal T3 will make it possible. And the problem a lot of people have is that they don't convert T4 (levo) to T3 very well. Which is why they can't lose weight - well, one possible reason. And, the only way to find out if you're converting well is to test both the FT4 and FT3 at the same time. But, doctors don't/won't test FT3.

So, there you have two major problems right from the out-set : poor conversion and not testing T3 levels. And that's why a lot of people don't do well on levo. There can be other problems, of course, but those are two of the most frequent.

[alimacb in reply to jwoodward5]

Yes

[alimacb in reply to jwoodward5]

Yes but I also went gluten free

[jwoodward5]

You i mean

[Angel_of_the_North]

Most people do well with levo. The only people you'll see here are the 15% or so that it doesn't work for.

[Treepie in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Not so.I do Ok on levo but like to keep up to date with issues and the research and other links that members ferret out.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Treepie]

Ok, not not " the only" but those who are dissatisfied and those who want to be clued up like Treepie