Frustrated

[Sorefeet2]

Got my results T4 16.3 range 12 to 22 t3 4.2 range 3.1 to 6.8 tsh 3.22 range 0.27 to 4 20 doc says all normal I said well why I feel no bette he said what u want me to do on levo 50 am I being stupid need help

[Lalatoot]

You are undermedicated. Once on levo we need the tsh to be down at 1 or lower and the frees to be in the top third of their ranges. 50mcg is a very small dose.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

See a different GP and request 25mcg dose increase in Levothyroxine

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

Official NHS guidelines saying TSH should be between 0.2 and 2.0 when on Levothyroxine

(Many of us need TSH nearer 0.2 than 2.0 to feel well)

See box

Thyroxine replacement in primary hypothyroidism

pathology.leedsth.nhs.uk/pa...

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)

Many people find different brands of Levothyroxine are not interchangeable. Teva brand upsets many people and Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. So if you don't want Teva get 50mcg plus 25mcg or 50mcg plus 1/2 tablet of 50mcg

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

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

Sore feet can be low vitamin D and/or low FT3

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water . 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

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 .

All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels

[Sorefeet2 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thankyou for all ur advice Gona change doc as he makes me feel I'm mad won't refer to endo as all my levels with range he says my coming out in handfuls freezing feet painful feet bowel none existent hardly can pop unless take laxatives severe joint pains feel like doc thinks I'm a hypercondriac

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sorefeet2]

Get 25mcg dose increase in Levothyroxine and bloods retested 6-8 weeks later

Come back with new post once you get results

Likely to need further increase (s) over coming months

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sorefeet2]

Joint pain is frequently low vitamin D

You need Thyroid antibodies tested and all four vitamins