levothyoxine

[wilma68]

hi

i am on levothyoxine.

for the past 2 years i always feel tired med not doing anything good for me i never have any energy always feel low, and my face features change .i find it hard to even smile.

i live in UK Dr keep telling me there there no other medication .

any advice . never been Dr so much always same symptoms

tired

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much Levothyroxine are you currently taking?

When were bloods last tested?

Do you always get same brand of Levothyroxine?

Can you add your most recent blood test results and ranges

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 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).

Is this how you do your tests?

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

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 .

[elicarol in reply to SlowDragon]

Great advice how you test makes a big difference thanks

[3939mandy]

I feel the same aswell IV left mine off for 2 months now because I forgot to order them feel much better not so tired

[asidist]

hi wilma, if you’re literally having physical difficulty smiling you should see a neurologist and make sure you don’t have some sort of neuromuscular issue. difficulty smiling can be a symptom of that. best of luck to you