Help!

[crimsonmag]

I posted the results of my thyroid test on here a couple of weeks ago. When I received the test from Medichecks I was told that I probably had Hashimoto's and to go to the doctor. So I did and she said she would put me on Levothyroxin but needed to talk to a doctor in the practice first. I was so relieved to be finally diagnosed. Today she rang me and said that she had spoken to the the endocrine specialist that I saw for a parathyroid adenoma and that it's untreatable and I'm not to be treated now. I'm totally fed up and I told her that I'm going to buy Levothyroxin myself. I know I need treatment. Could anybody tell me what dose to start off on? Reposting results of blood test.

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE 3.28 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20 FREE THYROXINE 13.400 pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00 TOTAL THYROXINE(T4) 87.8 nmol/L 59.00 - 154.00 FREE T3 4.98 pmol/L 3.10 - 6.80 THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY *310.000 IU/mL 0.00 - 115.00 THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 15.9 IU/mL 0.00 -

[Salphy]

Sorry you've been treated this way!

Others more knowledgeable will be able to advise about starting treatment or not but if your mind is made up I was subclinical (raised tsh, t4 and t3 in range) and started on 25mcg then increased by 25mcg every 6 weeks according to follow up blood tests.

Some say the starting dose is 50mcg if you have no heart problems etc. Then retest every 6-8 weeks and increase by 25mcg according to results. X

[shaws]

Salphy has given good advice and I think clinical symptoms should be taken into account. 50mcg is usually a starting dose and after six weeks an increase of 25mcg until your symptoms feel much better.

thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

There is some informative information in the topics within the above link.

[crimsonmag in reply to shaws]

Thank you both for replying. I told my doctor that I was going to buy Levothyroxin on the internet and she said to buy T4 not T3 - is this right?

[shaws in reply to crimsonmag]

Shows how much your doctor knows. Levothyroxine is T4 Liothyronine is T3.

First thing to do is email Dionne at :

[e-mail]

and ask for a copy of Dr Toft's Pulse Online article in which he states that if antibodies are present we should be prescribed.

Also run off a copy of the following and also give to doctor. It's about time they learned a lesson from (Dr Toft) the Queen's Physician when she's in Scotland.

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...

[crimsonmag in reply to shaws]

Thank you -this is all so confusing but I have decided to take control of my life and help myself as the NHS seem very reluctant!

[eeng in reply to crimsonmag]

Well done you. We own our bodies, not our doctors, and we shouldn't be made to feel wrong if we do our best to try and become well. I hope you feel better on T4, or if not you can try some NDT which contains T4 and T3. I guess your doctor suggested T4 first because if you get a blood test done she will know how to interpret the results. Also maybe she is thinking that if you feel a lot better taking T4 that you have sourced, that she will then be able to justify prescribing Levothyroxine for you. I'm pretty sure she could do that 'under the radar' without having to consult anyone else, because so many people take Levothyroxine.

[crimsonmag]

I've just had a phone call from my doctor who says that I don't have Hashimoto's and the only way to see if I have is to monitor my blood tests over the next few years. She says that even if I did have it I shouldn't take Levothyroxine and that it's dangerous and will give me heart and bone problems. Confused!!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to crimsonmag]

Crimsonmag

It's probably time to find a new GP.

[crimsonmag in reply to SeasideSusie]

Would you definately say that I have Hashimoto's by looking at my results? Doctor made me doubt everything I thought and feel!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to crimsonmag]

Crimsonmag

Yes I would on the strength of your high TG antibodies. And the Medichecks comments also mentioned this.

Did you send for the article by Dr Toft that Shaws mentioned? If so then look at Question 2 and you will see that he says where antibodies are present then Levo should be started to "nip things in the bud".

[crimsonmag in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you so much - now I feel confident that I'm right and will carry on fighting the fight!

[crimsonmag in reply to SeasideSusie]

Could you tell me where I can buy Levothyroxine? I'm in the UK.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to crimsonmag]

Sorry Crimsonmag, I don't know of any suppliers. Some countries let you buy it over the counter in pharmacies without prescription but I don't remember those. Put up a new thread as someone may know. Ask for replies by PM, your post will be closed as we can't put information on the open forum.