Not been on for a while

[M1moo]

Hi all I haven't been on for some time now, so I thought I would pop up and say hi, since I was diagnosed with UAT, 2 and a half years ago nothing has really changed. I am still on the lowest dose of levothyroxine 25mg, the last blood test I had was in April this year. My symptoms are dry skin, dry hair, dry eyes, struggling with weight loss, lack of energy I hold down 2 jobs which kill me because I also have a back complaint but I have no choice but too work. I didn't realise that you shouldn't take your levothyroxine before a blood test, my dose has never changed since diagnosis do you think it's because I take my tablet in the morning before the blood test ?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

M1moo

What are your latest test results, including reference ranges? If you don't have them, pop along and ask the receptionist at your surgery for a print out (don't accept verbal or handwritten results).

Post them on the forum for comment.

For a full picture we need to see:

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid antibodies

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

25mcg is a starter dose for children, the elderly or people with a heart condition. It's unbelievable that you are still on such a low dose 2 and 1/2 years after diagnosis. After starting Levo retesting should be done 6 weeks later and a 25mcg increase in dose, with further testing/increasing every 6-8 weeks until your levels are where they need to be for you to feel well.

The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it needs to be for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their reference ranges, if that is where you feel well.

Your symptoms certainly suggest undermedication so if we can see your results we may be able to help with the way forward.

[shaws Administrator]

It is time you became pro-active M1moo and that is because you are not being treated optimally. Many GPs seem to be happy when the TSH is somewhere in the range.

However, as SeasideSusie has stated your 25mcg of levothyroxine is awful - unless you are very frail with a heart disease.

A starting dose is 50m g of levo with 25mcg increases every six weeks after a blood test. The aim is a TSH of 1 or lower with Free T4 and Free T3 in the upper part of the ranges. The latter two are rarely checked.

A Full Thyroid Function Test is:-

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3, and thyroid antibodies.

Your GP wont do all but you can, if you wish get a private test and I'll give you a link to labs who do home finger pin-prick tests. The most important are the Frees, T4 and T3. If you decide to do so, make sure you are well hydrated a couple of days before and arms/hands warm when you draw blood. Labs can also make arrangement for blood draw elsewhere if you don't want to do it yourself.

Levothyroxine, T4, is an inactive hormone and it is supposed to convert to T3. T3 (liothyronine) is the Active Thyroid Hormone and it is needed in all of the millions of T3 receptor cells in order that our body can function normally.

It is quite clear your doctor is another who isn't clear on how best to treat a patient who's got hypothyroidism especially giving such a low, low dose.

On this forum, the majority treat themselves in order to recover their health. The aim is a TSH of 1 or lower with both 'frees' in the upper part the ranges.

All blood tests for thyroid hormones have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and wait an hour before eating as food can interfere with the uptake of the hormones.

Thyroid hormones should be taken, usually first thing with one full glass of water and wait an hour before eating. The aim is that our symptoms are resolved and we feel well again.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Always get a print-out of your results and make sure the ranges are also stated. Ranges are in brackets after the results. Labs differ so ranges are important.

GP should also test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. Everything has to be optimal.