Thyroid problem

[Sarbie]

Hi I have been to the doctor on and off for months with symptoms of severe fatigue, muscle weakness, nausea and joint pain. Finally I went through blood tests which came back with borderline level of vitamin D and thyroid ‘all fine’ apart from it working extra hard to produce the hormone. Surely this isn’t right or ‘all fine’. After feeling extra rough today, I returned to the doctor who finally put me on a low dose of levothyroxin sodium. Is this going to improve my symptoms?

[Baobabs]

Sarbie I am not an expert but others on this forum with lots of experience will reply. You need to post your results of TSH, FT4 and if you have it FT3.

[Peanut31]

Hi

As Baobabs has said post your blood results on here including ranges, and the experienced members will advise.

What dosage of Levothyroxine have you been started on?.

Best wishes

Peanut31

[Sarbie in reply to Peanut31]

25mg to start very low. I will try and get my readings

[Peanut31 in reply to Sarbie]

25mcg is a very low dosage and can often make you feel worse.

Unless you are elderly and, or suffer from heart conditions you should of been started on 50mcg.

With an increase of 25mcg each time every 6 weeks.

Best wishes

Peanut31

[Sarbie in reply to Peanut31]

Oh no I hope it doesn’t get worse!! I think the doc gave me low dose because she didn’t know what else to with me feeling so terrible!

[Peanut31 in reply to Sarbie]

Hi

Go back to your GP and ask for 50mcg of Levothyroxine, take this for 6 weeks, book another blood test, testing TSH, T3 & T4. TSH alone is no good. If your surgery will not do all three, pay for private bloods.

Book the blood test as early as possible in the morning before 9am. Don’t take your Levothyroxine before the blood test, drink only water and no eating beforehand.

If the GP agrees to do all three, Then obtain your results, don’t be fobbed off with the receptionist stating they are normal or the GP.

Post them on here and the more experienced members will advise.

You then need to keep increasing your Levothyroxine each time by 25mcg.

I’m now on 125mcg, my GP was going to keep me on 100mcg as my results had improved, my TSH was below range, however, as I don’t feel right still I insisted he upped it by 25mcg.

GP’s are obsessed with TSH results, not T3 result which are the most important result to be looking at.

Best wishes

Peanut31

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Sarbie]

That may make you feel worse as it is a starter dose for a child or an elderly person or someone with heart problems. 50mcg is the normal adult starter dose. Too low a dose can make your thyroid take a rest without providing enough hormone to replace what the thyroid was making. You should get a blood test in 6 weeks (early morning, fasting) and a 25mcg increase in levo until TSH is under 1, symptoms have gone and free t4 and free t3 are in the top quarter of their ranges. Always get your blood results, including ranges - it's your legal right - from earlier this year they are not allowed to charge you either.

[Sarbie in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thank you I will ask for more tests in 6 weeks. I’m concerned my doc doesn’t know what to do!

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Sarbie]

Nothing new there, then. Most doctors don't seem to have a clue.

[elwins]

You are legally allowed to have a copy of your results, they might make a small charge for printing costs. Then posts your results on the forum for members to comment. Best of luck.

[Highland49]

Have you had your antibodies checked for Hashimoto's? As your vitamin D is low, this could be causing the joint pain. With d3 supplements, you also need to take k2 and magnesium to ensure that it reaches the bones and not the soft tissue and arteries. A good level of vitamin D, over 125 nmol, is needed for thyroid health. Softgel supplements are needed.

Do you know your b12 level? Anything under 500 can cause many symptoms and it's not unusual to have under active and b12 deficiency together. Folate, iron and ferritin/iron stores also important to check as you have fatigue. One of my main symptoms is muscle weakness, I'm on levo but hoping to start on t3 soon, the more active thyroid medication. If you do have Hashimoto's, it is not unusual to have a conversion problem. Fingers crossed that you have the more straight forward under active thyroid and not the autoimmune version. Sorry if I've bombarded you with too many questions!

[Sarbie in reply to Highland49]

Thank you for all this advice. It’s all such a minefield !!

[Highland49 in reply to Sarbie]

It does get better though 😊

[Lrn5]

I recently experienced the very same thing ... debilitating fatigue body aches zero energy like I have the flu without the flu. After several doctors and fighting this almost a year I finally found a Doctor who tested and discovered my reverse T3 was high when all other numbers look good. He added Cytomel (which is T3) to the Synthroid I was already taking. It has been 3 months but I am finally starting to feel normal again. I cannot believe how horrible this has been and that even my endocrinologist at our local world renowned hospital did not test the reverse T3. For people who have this problem adding T4 will make you feel worse because the T4 is just creating more reverse T3. I hope you have good luck with your doctor and your treatment!

[Sarbie in reply to Lrn5]

Thank you so much for your reply. I will certainly get my results and try and understand more clearly what the problem is. Help from this site will enable me to ask for the right treatments or tests.