I have been on the lowest dose of thyroxine since November 2017 after my T4 was hovering over lowest point in range (and had been for some years) I felt it might improve my general health and energy.
Prior to thyroxine
Result (Range)
TSH 3.52 (0.27 - 4.2)
T4 FREE THYROXINE 12.4 (12.0 - 22.0)
FREE T3 4.9 (3.1 - 6.8)
After two months on thyroxine in January 2018
TSH 1.51
T4 16.6
Free T3 4.9
April 2018
Just TSH done by Docs result of 1.09
Overall I don’t feel more well. Most difficult is that I have if anything even more aches and stiffness in joints and limbs.
I am constantly far too hot and that is worse than before too.
I also sometimes get a racing heart which I didn’t before. (I’ve had tests on my heart and they were fine)
I wondered if I should consider stopping thyroxine and request the ok from the doc.
Thanks
Written by
FESpex
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Please add the laboratory ranges as we can't interpret the results without them. They are the figures in brackets after the results. Lab ranges vary from lab to lab and country to country. Also, if you have thyroid antibodies then please add the test results. We need this information to give better suggestions.
Typically blood tests are redone 6-8 weeks after starting on 50mcg. Dose is increased in 25mcg steps retesting 6-8 weeks later each time. This repeats until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range
At same time it's essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. Extremely common that some or all are too low and need supplementing to help thyroid hormones work well
Also essential to test both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies to confirm if cause of being hypothyroid is due to autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies
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 are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
Thank you. That’s very useful. NHS only test TSH so I used medichecks and gave my GP a lot of info and she checked with endrochronologist so did her best. I’ll look at doing the more wide checks and see if I can take it further with the GP.
Fespex -feeling hot is a symptom but does not mean you are hot. A specialist told me that. Check your temperature. Its a sign in your case that you are undermedicated as others have said. You need an increase. I would also make sure that your vitD, b12, iron & ferritin are optimum. You need to get your tsh under one & your ft4/ft3 in top third of range.
Yes that’s the sort of thing I mean. I think it’s low temperature but you feel warm due to envirment being warmer. So not warm due to over treatment. You sound undertreated. Maybe you need a dose increase?
Have you had your vitamin D levels tested? Low vitamin D can cause aches and pains in joints and limbs and can also contribute to low calcium levels which can drop during menopause in women or with age in men. Low vitamin D leading to low calcium can contribute to heart problems. Worth checking out if not already done so. If you have a result for vitamin D then do post it here. Docs often say it's fine even when low in NHS range but it can cause problems if it's not optimal. Low vitamin D and other nutrient levels can contribute to sluggish thyroid function. If you haven't investigated vitamin levels yet, it could be prudent to do so before increasing thyroxine dose or if you increase thyroxine and still feel unwell then low nutrient levels could be the cause.
I had terrible pain in my joints especially hips when on levo - was on too low a dose but just think it didn't suit me. I have changed to NDT and aches/pain have totally gone.
Maybe ask doctor if you can take a vitamin b pill too along side? Also try eating fresh or smoked salmon or any fish really as it's so good for the brain .
I started taking vit D with magnesium and B12 and felt almost instantly better. I stopped the thyroxine two weeks ago and have noticed no change. Maybe the problem all along was vitamins!
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Any Advice on blood tests results and feeling rubbish 
Should I be concerned about low TSH?
Should I accept GP advice for dose reduction?
New Bloods - Very Confused
