Hi.... can't find the link but someone asked re my vitamin D levels which my doctor has now tested..... however although I've got the print out of my blood results I can't find a reference to Vitamin D.
He did say the level was very low and has prescribed Vit D tabs for 3 months.
My latest TSH result has risen to 6.84....and although he said last time the level was normal (5.55) he has now prescribed 1 tab of 25mg levothyroxine per day. Free T4 is 14.6.
My Ferritin level has decreased over the the last month from 219 to 163.
Any advice would be appreciated.
I've been taking magnesium tablets..... should I continue.... wasn't mentioned at the doctors!
Thanks
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jme123
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You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.
UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet
Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.
The recommended starter dose of Levothyroxine is 50mcg, unless over 50 years old or heart condition
Bloods are retested after 6-8 weeks and dose is increased in 25mcg steps (retesting each time) until TSH is under 1.5 and FT4 in top third of range
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)
NICE guidelines saying how to initiate and increase. Note that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine
Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. Many take early morning, on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime.
Other medication at least 2 hours away, some like HRT, iron, calcium, vitamin D or magnesium at least four hours away from Levothyroxine
Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.
Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.
Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients
How much vitamin D has GP prescribed per day?
You need to know what test result was.
It's trial and error what dose each person needs. Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there. Retesting twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk if GP won't retest
Ferritin looks low. Eating liver or liver pate once a week should help improve levels. Especially if you have vitamin C or orange juice at same time to improve iron absorption
Have you had both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested? Or folate and B12?
"can't find the link, but someone asked re my Vit D"
You click on your avatar to go to your profile, and you can read all your previous posts, to get back to anything you need to refer to. Here is the thread in which SeasideSusie asked about your Vit D level healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Is there a test that says 25OH Vit D or 25 hydroxy vitamin D?
Or a result with a unit of measurement nmol/L and possibly a range something like 50-100?
What dose of Vit D tablets have you been prescribed?
Is your GP retesting your Vit D level after the 3 months?
Vit D needs to be taken with the fattiest meal of the day (or dietary fat of some description) and it should be taken 4 hours away from thyroid meds.
Your GP won't know, because they're not taught nutrition, but there are important cofactors needed when taking D3 - magnesium helps the body use D3 and Vit K2-mk7 directs the extra uptake of calcium from food to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissue where it can be deposited and cause problems.
Are you having thyroid tests repeated 6 weeks after starting Levo? This is normal practice, followed by an increase in dose of 25mcg, followed by retesting/increases every 6-8 weeks until your levels are where they need to be for you to feel well.
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