Desperate to feel well again.

[Juju201]

Hoping someone can help.

I’ve been on levo for 18months now, 100mg. I can’t ever say I feel well, but winter is so much worse. I’m taking max strength vit D and a vit c supplement every day. At the moment I’m on week 5 of the flu...it just never ends. It appears I have no immune system at all and I’m so desperate to feel better.

My Gp is not much help, as my thyroid results are now stable after finding the right dose for me...apparently. I’ve just had bloods again and am going to ask to be referred to a specialist when I go in for the results in a couple of days.

I also take a statin, 2 different BP tabs, and HRT.

Can anyone give me any ideas to try? I just want to be able to function somewhere near normal, as the effect on day to day living is just intolerable.

TIA.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Can you add your actual results and ranges

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 .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you do your tests?

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 you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Absolutely essential to test FT3 and thyroid antibodies plus all four vitamins need to be optimal

Would suspect you have low FT3

The fact you have high cholesterol suggests you are not correctly treated as high cholesterol is common when hypothyroid

NHS is quite clear Statins should not be prescribed when hypothyroid

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.

HRT is likely to mean you need higher dose of Levothyroxine

Do you have high thyroid antibodies?

Essential to test vitamin levels too

first step is to get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing...

Privately if necessary

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...

Cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

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

[Holiday12345 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi which 4 vitamins should be tested with FT3 and antibodies? Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Holiday12345]

Vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin

These need to be optimal....not just within range

Always get actual results and ranges on all test results

Medichecks or Blue Horizon offer full Thyroid and vitamin bundle

Medichecks currently have an offer on too £79

FT3 is rarely tested by NHS these days ....yet it’s the most essential result

Obviously essential to know if cause of your hypothyroidism is due to autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s)

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s

so it’s pretty likely

Low vitamin levels are extremely common especially with Hashimoto’s

Conversion of FT4 to FT3 is often poor with Hashimoto’s and especially if vitamins are low

Improving vitamin levels and trying strictly gluten free diet can frequently help conversion of FT4 to FT3

First step is to get full testing making sure to get blood test as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything apart from water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test

Come back with new post once you get results

[Holiday12345 in reply to SlowDragon]

Great really helpful info, Many thanks for your reply