Thyroid and other autoimmune conditios

[Carole87]

Hi I'm new to this so you will have to bare with me I have so many questions but I will start with how I am now. I have been diagnosed for 2 years now with underactive thyroid I was put on 50mcg of levo but told my doctor I didn't feel any different so he upped it to 100mcg which I still don't think is working. I have been reading these posts for a while now and am quite horrified at how little our GPS know about this condition I also have PBC and they don't know anything about that either. All I know is that I am suffering quite badly with symptoms so I intend to see my doctor and ask for a thyroid test again is there anything I should be asking him when I go

[Judithdalston]

Ask you doctor for full thyroid bloods ( ( TSH, Total T4, FT4 and FT3), don't think he will do more than TSH if you have already been diagnosed. Have you had thyroid autoimmune antibodies tested ie Hashimoto's disease? If you are may be your Vit D, B12, folate and ferritin levels are low, due to poor gut absorption; need these at optimum levels ( high in range) for good thyroid health, T4 conversion to active T3. Look at Seasidesusan's posts/ replies re Vit/ min levels and supplements. Again get them tested. Many forum members get private blood tests from Medichecks or Blue Horizon.

[Carole87 in reply to Judithdalston]

Thank you Judith that is a big help I don't feel alone with this any more can't wait to have a blood test now. I did think your post was part of grey goose post until after I posted my reply and then I realised so my reply to grey goose is for you too😃😃

[greygoose]

The correct protocol is to start on 50 mcg levo - which you did - and to retest six weeks later - which, it seems your doctor did not do. You then increase by a maximum of 25 mcg, and retest in another six weeks. Your doctor obviously doesn't know the protocol! So, I don't think there's much point asking him anything.

The important thing for you is to have your blood draw early in the morning - at least before 9 am - and fast overnight. Leave a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the blood draw.

And, always get a print-out of the results! You need to know exactly what your doctor is testing and exactly what the results were, and keep your own records. If you post your results on here, with the ranges, we'll be able to explain them to you.

But, it's really not a question of what you should ask your doctor, it's what you should be telling him. Don't let him increase by 50 mcg levo again. That's bad for you. You want an increase of 25 mcg and you want a retest in six weeks. Learn as much as you can about your disease, and take charge of your own health, because a doctor like yours will just keep you sick.

[Carole87 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you grey goose that's very helpful. I have PBC another autoimmune disease and he doesn't have clue about that either. It would be lovely to have a doctor who new what they were doing. Any way I feel a lot better and more confident about how to go forward with him. I will post my results when I get them. Looks like I'm going to need a folder.😂

[greygoose in reply to Carole87]

You're welcome.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Essential to know if you have Hashimoto's. Also called autoimmune thyroid disease, presumably it is as you have other autoimmune issues

Have you had TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested ?

Medics think it irrelevant to test as they only offer same treatment regardless

But important to know as if it's autoimmune then often gluten free diet can help

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

If GP unable to run all tests then private testing is available

[Carole87 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi no I don't know if I have those tests something I can ask my doc. I don't know about hashimotos it could be but my mum and two of my sisters have thyroid problems one of my sisters has suffered terrably and been treated badly by health professionals who have said she has mental health issues but I know different because our symptoms have been the same. I also had a test for coeliac disease which proved negative although I have been told a gluton free diet could still help😯😯