Newbie

[Brevet58]

Hi everyone, I have an underactive Thyroid which was diagnosed some years ago, I am on 75 mg Thyroxine. I have been stable but have found myself struggling in the past few months. I also have an hiatus hernia and GERD and take Lansoprazole 30 mg daily but I am trying to wean myself off them due to the researched side effects. I fast 18:6 daily and now find this comfortable. I am 60 and work full time. Phew,That's it. Thanks for adding me to the group.

[greygoose]

Hi Brevet58, welcome to the forum.

Gorgeous dogs!

If you want to ask a question about anything, don't forget to post your blood test results AND the ranges.

[Marz]

Hi - am wondering how your B12 levels are ? If low it can make you feel unwell. Taking the PPI can lower stomach acid too much and affect B12 uptake. If you decide to test then also add - Folate - Ferritin - VitD to the testing list as all need to be at a good level it seems for thyroid hormones to work well.

What wonderful looking dogs !

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum and am sorry you have hypothyroidism.

Your dogs are beautiful.

Some advice, just in case you are unaware of how to get the best results:-

Always get the very earliest appointment for your blood tests. It should also be a fasting test and allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levothyroxine and the test and take it afterwards. This method keeps your TSH at its highest as it drops throughout the day and may prevent an unnecessary adjustment in your dose.Levothyroxine is usually taken when we get up with one full glass of water and wait an hour before eating as food interferes with the uptake of the hormones.

The aim is a TSH of 1 or lower with Free T4 and Free T3 in the upper part of the ranges but few doctors seem to be aware of this and the frees are rarely tested.

Ask GP to test B12, Vit D iron, ferritin and folate as everything has to be optimal.

Always get a print-out of your results, with the ranges and post them if you have a query. Ranges are important in order for members to respond as labs differ.

Doctors usually have no idea of 'clinical symptoms' and may prescribe for a symptom rather than ensure both Frees are in the upper part of the ranges and you may need an adjustment in dose.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[silverfox7]

Welcome! I'm glad you have done some research and are weaning yourself off PPI's. As Thyroid people we tend to have low stomach acids and these lower it even more so can eventually starve us from nutrients as our food isn't broken down properly. It would also lessen the effectiveness of our medication. So well done for finding and doing that. Apple Cider Vinegar helps low stomach acid.

[Hopeful197 in reply to silverfox7]

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Lovely photo

Do you have any recent blood test results and ranges to add

Acid reflux is common hypothyroid symptom

75mcg is a low dose of Levothyroxine

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

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

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)

Ask GP to test vitamin levels and antibodies

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

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

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

NICE guidelines saying how to initiate and increase. Note that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...

Levothyroxine dose is increased slowly in 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range.

New NHS England Liothyronine guidelines November 2018

See pages 8 & 12 where it clearly states what TSH should be

sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploa...

[Brevet58 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for all the information. I have recently moved and my new surgery are woefully understaffed, the system for making new appointments is weird, they book only a fortnight in advance, these are quickly filled, if I need an appointment I have to ring at 8 am to grab a cancellation, I keep forgetting to do this. I am going to a private company for tests which when I am able to get a GP appointment I will present to the Doctor and hopefully cut down on the irrelevant waffle and get to the prescribing part.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Brevet58]

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice on here. 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)

PPI's like Lansoprazole lower vitamins

pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/m...

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/p...

Low stomach acid can be a common hypothyroid issue. Loads of posts on here about this

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/hypochl...

scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/3-...

[Hidden]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I love the photo I had four until recently but my long haired collie pasted away. These lovely fellows keep you happy I bet? Mine are laying at my feet whilst typing this.

[Hopeful197]

Thanks

[Brevet58]

This evening I attended my Doctor appointment. I explained to him my symptoms (I feel like I have an underactive Thyroid but am medicated, also that I have stopped taking Lansoprazole (I have been taking ppi's in one form or another for .ca. 18 years) he refuted most of the research and quoted the NICE standard side effects which are Dementia and Osteoporosis. He ordered a blood test, when I asked about testing FT3 and FT4 he maintained that on NAH these can only be ordered by a specialist. I am going to do the medicheck test after my NHS results are back. The most shocking thing about the whole visit was the notice I was given, patients will now need to give rudimentary details of their symptoms to the receptionist who will signpost patients to the relevant services. They say they will try to maintain as much confidentiality as possible !!! Mmmh change of practice I think ..