I was diagnosed a year ago and I am only just recently coming to terms with exactly how much this effects my body and my life! I’ve been in denial since my diagnosis! I went for blood tests expecting to have low iron, something easily treated.. came home from holiday a week later to find I had an under active thyroid!
I just find no one really understands, like when I cancel plans because I’m utterly exhausted after work and looking after the kids, but people think I’m just being lazy! I went from a size 8 to a size 14 over a few months and people thought I was neglecting myself when in fact my healthy diet hadn’t changed! I try not to explain myself because I feel that they will see it as me using it “as an excuse”
I’m on 75mg of levothyroxine and I’ve had my levels checked and they haven’t lowered anymore but I don’t feel any benefits from them at all!! I’m at my wits end if I’m honest and just looking for people who understand
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LadyRex
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What are your latest test results, can you post them with their reference ranges for comment. If you don't have them, ask at your surgery's reception desk for a print out - don't accept verbal or handwritten results as mistakes can be made.
75mcg is little more than a starter dose, so it's very likely you are undermedicated. When we see your results/ranges we can help further. Ideally, for a full picture, we need to see:
You can ask to register online to access your medical records too although you may need to do an extra request to view test results (I did and it took an extra 24 hours for them to be 'unlocked'
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.
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
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)
Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
If you haven't had thyroid antibodies or vitamins tested yet ask GP to do so
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all 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
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 primary 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 .
The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that 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 eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.
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
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Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
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