I am on 25mcg Thyroxine a day but allowed to take 2 on a Monday and Thursday - lucky me.
After 6 weeks on 25mcg my TSH was 2.6 with T4 at 12 and T3 midrange
After 12 weeks on 25mcg/50mcg 2 days a week my TSH was at 4.6 and T4 at 14 and T3 still midrange
Each time the doctor said I was now safely in range and refused to up my dose, she has recommended me to see a specialist but I have no idea when that will be or what they will say. Meantime I am taking too much time off work going to blood tests and seeing the doctor every 6 weeks to get another meagre prescription that is doing practically nothing.
Time to self medicate and take ownership of this - can anyone email me some sources?
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hankpym
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You need to see an endocrinologist as they should up your dose and can give you T3 if they think you will benefit. At the moment wou are probably undermedicated and may well benefit for a dose increase. Always put the ranges when you give results as they different from lab to lab so without them we would be just guessing.
In the mean time look on the Thyroid U.K. site as loads of information you can present to your doctor. 25 mcg is a dose given to the elderly or anyone with a known heart problem, 50 is the normal starting dose. There is also an extensive list of symptoms so print off and tick the ones you have. Gather as much info as you can and take this along to show/give to your GP and say you have got this information from the HealthUnlocked site run by Thyroid U.K. and its recommended by NHS Choices for advice on thyroid malfunction so you have had a look at it and now what to discuss your findings with an Endocrinologist. Tell then you didn't know what one did when it was previously mentioned to you. You can throw in that it appears that you should have been started on 50 mcg a day then the doctor may actually up your dose whist you are waiting to see the expert! If work say anything you can tell them that you have asked to see a specialist who will hopefully help you to get into the correct dose for you. If they are funny with you show then what your doctor isn't doing but hopefully this will change and start improving in the future as it's no fun for you either. Good luck!
Dose of Levothyroxine is increased in 25mcg steps and retested 6-8 weeks later each time until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in the
See a different GP in the practice and request dose increase to 50mcg daily and blood test 6-8 weeks later
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Request vitamin and antibodies tested, if not been done
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins
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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
is this how you did the last test?
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 .
I am on my 3rd doctor and my sixth visit so I have had enough. They refuse to increase dose or put me on a running prescription. My last visit I presented a few pages to support my case but there was no interest at all.
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