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[Galaxy2674]

Pericardial effusion

[SlowDragon Administrator]

This can be linked to being hypothyroid

heart.bmj.com/content/105/1...

What are your latest blood test results for thyroid and vitamin levels

Are you still only on 75mcg Levothyroxine? This is only one step up from starter dose

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

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

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.

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Also what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)

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).

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

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

[Galaxy2674 in reply to SlowDragon]

To be honest the Levothyroxine was making my joints even more stiff I visited my GP and she had other patients with the same problem she has written to a endocologist for him to prescribe T3 but I've had no response. my last thyroid blood test was 12.8 I had not been taking the Levothyroxine 75mcg but just 25 mcg but my oncologist has put me on 10mg of Predisolone, it was a follow CT Scan that showed water on the Heart

[shaws Administrator in reply to Galaxy2674]

Although we can feel awful on levo, you have to take a full dose otherwise you can feel worse. 25mcg (and I do understand that many feel awful on levo) is such a small dose - unless you are very frail with a heart disease) to make a difference.

You need a Full Thyroid Function Test and its good your GP has asked for T3 to be prescribed for you. So (I am not medically qualified) it would seem you may be a poor converter of T4 into T3. That is what's its supposed to do. T4 (levo) is inactive and has to convert to T3 and it is T3 which is needed in our millions of T3 receptor cells.

Your GP should have tested FT4 and FT3 and both should be in the upper part of the ranges.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Galaxy2674]

But taking a tiny dose levothyroxine will be making situation worse - enough to reduce your own thyroid from working flat out - but far too little to offer replacement

Low vitamins are extremely common when hypothyroid and can cause symptoms in own right or make conversion of FT4 to FT3 poor

You need to be honest with cardiologist about dose you have been taking

75mcg was very likely to small a dose

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Teva brand of levothyroxine upsets many people