what has helped you feel more energetic on top of the Levothyroxine??

[Purpledreamer]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone is on extra thyroid support apart from Levothyroxine? I’d love to try t3 but I’m trying for a baby so I don’t think it’s safe. But I want a good thyroid support, something with selenium and zinc maybe? Just feel so tired and down all the time. Xx

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Are you on the correct dose of Levothyroxine?

Do you have recent blood test results and ranges you can add

Low vitamin levels are extremely common and getting these optimal often improves symptoms

Important to test levels BEFORE starting on any supplements

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

Good folate and B12 levels important before TTC

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 have high thyroid antibodies this confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's. With Hashimoto's Gluten free diet can frequently help improve symptoms

[greygoose]

You really don't want any sort of multi, they're always a bad idea for several reasons.

* If your multi contains iron, it will block the absorption of all the vitamins - you won't absorb a single one! Iron should be taken at least two hours away from any other supplement except vit C, which is necessary to aid absorption of iron, and protect the stomach.

* If your multi also contains calcium, the iron and calcium will bind together and you won't be able to absorb either of them.

* Multi's often contain things you shouldn't take or don't need : calcium, iodine, copper. These things should be tested before supplementing.

* Multi's often contain the cheapest, least absorbable form of the supplement : magnesium oxide, instead of magnesium citrate or one of the other good forms; cyanocobalamin instead of methylcobalamin; folic acid instead of methylfolate; etc. etc. etc.

* Multi's do not contain enough of anything to help a true deficiency, even if you could absorb them.

* When taking several supplements, you should start them individually at two weekly intervals, not all at once as you would with a multi. Because, if you start them all at once, and something doesn't agree with you, you won't know which one it is and you'll be back to square one.

It's far, far better to get your nutrients tested and just take what you need.

[Jodypody]

There’s nothing unsafe about T3 if you have low T3. T3 governs your metabolism so if after taking levo you still feel cold, tired etc there’s a chance you need a)more levo or b) T3.

[SilverAvocado]

Purpledreamer, The biggest thing that helps us obviously getting a dose adjustment closer to an optimal dose. If you haven't confirmed that your own dose is optimal get hold of a recent full thyroid panel: TSH, FreeT4, FreeT3. If you make a new post with the results members will comment. If your doctor won't do the tests you can order your own finger prick mailorder tests. ThyroidUK website tells how to do it.

Same with working on any low or deficient vitsmins, improving those will give you an improvement in symptoms. You can also order these as mailorder tests if your doctor won't do them. Get: Ferritin, folate, vit D, vit B12.

Treating adrenals can also give a big improvement. The starting point for that is having a 24hr saliva test, the ThyroidUK gives info on how to get one.

Other assorted bits and pieces. I've found Coenzyme Q10 gave me a bit of a boost. I've also been trying CBD oil, it's been a rocky road but has given a bit of improvement.