Does anyone have border hypothyroid and trying to manage through weightloss without medication?

[Rachel000]

I was finally diagnosed border hypo last October my TSH went from 5 to 7 up to 8 and back down to just over 5 a month ago so i have not been given medication.

My Endo said i desperately need to loose weight as this will help, I am also now just pre-diabetic, he said he would put me on a low level thyroid med but i was on the fence hoping to try and loose weight and see if that would help.

I am really struggling to loose the weight and i am going back to see him in 6 weeks, not sure if i should go for the medication.

Has anyone with TSH levels 5 taking the medication and did it help you?

I also have high antibodies so i have hashimotos/thyroiditis.

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

If you have Hashimoto's and TSH was 8 you are hypothyroid

Loosing weight while not on Levothyroxine is likely extremely difficult

PCOS and Hashimoto's frequently go together as well

hashimotoshealing.com/hashi...

Can you add recent results and ranges

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Have vitamins been tested? Add results if you have them

Very common to need to improve vitamin levels by supplementing.

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Standard starter dose is 50mcgs Levothyroxine and bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards, retested each time, until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH under one) and FT4 in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range

All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels

NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine. Also what foods to avoid (note recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours away from Levo)

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

NICE guidelines

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

The initial recommended dose is:

For most people: 50–100 micrograms once daily, preferably taken at least 30 minutes before breakfast, caffeine-containing liquids (such as coffee or tea), or other drugs.

This should be adjusted in increments of 25–50 micrograms every 3–4 weeks according to response. The usual maintenance dose is 100–200 micrograms once daily.