Levo exhaustion

[Cade83]

Hi everyone so sorry I keep posting but after my last results I started an increased dose of levo 75mcg 6 days ago and I also started taking solgar vitamin D 1000 iu, B complex, Magnesium 200mg everyday and I also take 20mg gentle iron every other day. I also take 50mg sertraline a day.

Nothing seems to be helping my fatigue, I have been crazy busy lately but I today I feel so weak and kept falling asleep that I went back to bed. I hate feeling so useless. I was diagnosed with CFS months ago but I was sure hoping it was thyroid related but meds don’t seem to be making this any better. I am wondering whether to give betaine with pepsin a try as I seem to be constantly bloated all the time which isn’t helping my ectopics. I just feel like I’m losing the battle and not getting anywhere. Any suggestions would be great. TIA

Active B12 124 pmol/L 37.5-188 pmol/L

Ferritin 58 ug/L 30-200 ug/L

Folate 11.3 nmol/L 8.83-40 nmol/L

Vitamin D 49.8 75-100 nmol/L

TSH 3.1 mIU/L 0.27-4.3 mIU/L

FT3 5.22 pmol/L 5-6.8 pmol/L

FT4 13.1 pmol/L 12-22 pmol/L

T4 72.6 nmol/L 66-181 nmol/L

Thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAB)

611 kU/L 0-115 kU/L

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies

209 kIU/L 0-34 kIU/L

[NWA6]

Hey Cade83. It’s looks like you’re still under medicated. Although your FT3 looks decent esp as your FT4 is very low, so at least you look like a good convertor and that’s one less thing to worry about.

Your Ferritin, folate and Vit D al need raising.

I don’t rate the TSH test, esp when in thyroid replacement but your Dr is going to use it as his/her only compass. So if I have to comment on it then it’s way too high. You have loads of wiggle room to increase your Levo and still be in range.

As far as the CFs diagnosis I’d take it with a pinch of salt and wouldn’t consider it true until I was properly medicated. I think it’s being thrown around much too often and really what’s happening is patients are being undermedicated or not medicated or the wrong type of medication ( they tried to give me that diagnosis but really I wasn’t on the right medication)

So back to the GP for you and get and increase. Test in 6wks and depending on symtoms ask for another increase 🤗

[Cade83 in reply to NWA6]

Thanks for your reply Paula, I’ve only just upped the levo 6 days ago from 50mcg to 75mcg so I’m wishing it to help me more. I started the other vitamins 2 weeks ago. I’m hoping it all levels out and I feel more energised as it’s really getting me down and bloating is horrendous.

[NWA6 in reply to Cade83]

So these results are on 50mcg? That’s only a starter dose and so don’t be worried about an increase. Test again in 6wks and don’t be surprised if you need another increase to 100mcg.

And your vitamin results are from before you started supplementing?

And sertraline messes with our thyroid function anway. Have you been on it long?

[Cade83 in reply to NWA6]

Yeah those results are from me on 50mcg sorry should of said and yes the the results are before I started supplementing. Which is why I was hoping I would feel better by now.

I’ve been on sertraline since April 2016.

[NWA6 in reply to Cade83]

If you can get your Levo up and your TSH lower and FT4 higher then I’d think about trying to wean of antidepressants. It’s just a personal feeling I have against them but ofcourse I don’t know your very personal details (and I’m not asking) but it’s well know that those of who are under medicated are often diagnosed with depression 😔

[Cade83 in reply to NWA6]

The sertraline is mainly for anxiety but depression as well. I keep thinking that these don’t help but every time I try and wean off them, I’m fine for like 5 days but then my anxiety goes off like fireworks.

If I can get stable enough I will come off them.

[NWA6 in reply to Cade83]

Yes I’m not surprised you can’t wean off them yet. You definitely need to sort your Thyriod meds first. Best of luck 🤗

[greygoose]

FT3 5.22 pmol/L 5-6.8 pmol/L

Are you sure about that range? Looks a bit odd to me.

[Cade83 in reply to greygoose]

Sorry FT3 should be between 3.1-6.8 pmol/L

[greygoose in reply to Cade83]

That's better. So, yes, your FT3 isn't too bad. But, you might be someone who needs it higher.

Your fatigue most likely has something to do with your low ferritin. And, I don't think the dose of iron you're on is high enough to help. Can you eat liver? Apparently eating liver once a week is the best way to raise ferritin.

[Cade83 in reply to greygoose]

Well I’ll see how much FT3 goes up after 5 more weeks on the 75mcg.

I can eat liver, I’ve never cooked it though, I will look into a liver recipe. I’ll try anything to get my energy back.

[greygoose in reply to Cade83]

Or you could eat liver pâté, or black pudding.

Liver's very easy to cook. You could grill it or fry it. Or mince it up and put it in a shepherd's pie, or something like that. I like it fried, with fried onion gravy and mashed potatoes. And runner beans if they're in season!

[Cade83 in reply to greygoose]

It’s been years since I’ve had liver with onion gravy and mashed potato 😋 what’s the best liver to get?

[Gerispice in reply to Cade83]

Sertraline causes bloating. It might be that.

[greygoose in reply to Cade83]

Oh, that's very much a question of personal taste. I prefer ox liver.

[silverfox7]

You have t been in any changes long enough yet to make a difference. Each new dose takes 6 weeks to fully get into your system. That is why we need to have been on a dose for 6 weeks before we test. Vitsetc can take a while to build up as well depending how low they are, I had two pretty low ones but it was 5 months toget them optimal. So try not to worry, it's just a bit too soon to pick up on changes yet.