Hi Everyone I haven't chatted for a while. Quite new to all of this and to be honest still not feeling much better. I am now on 100mcg of Thyroxine (having blood tests today) but to be honest still am so extremely tired. I am a teacher and am struggling so badly at the moment. I was wondering if a B12 supplement would help with this. Any advice would be so appreciated.
Thank you
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
Ask GP to test vitamin levels and thyroid antibodies if not been done yet
You were very hypothyroid at diagnosis.
How much Levothyroxine are you currently taking?
How long at this dose?
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 are doing 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...
Cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )
monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...
For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins
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
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
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)
All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels
Thank you so much for your advice
Reading through your previous posts there is so much advice - have a read through again. It was suggested you had vitamins and minerals tested. If low in range it could be the cause of your fatigue. You also need good levels of B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD for thyroid hormones to work well in the body - your own and the ones you take. Anaemia ?
Do not start taking B12 until you have been tested. You were given a link for Private Testing so that may be a better option if your surgery will not do all the ones needed.
Are you taking any other meds that could be interfering with your Levo ?
Hope you feel better soon ...
Hi sorry to hear you are suffering but taking 100 mcgs of T4 is not a good way to treat low thyroid. Firstly you would do well to get an adrenal saliva test done from Genova Diagnostics to see if you have an adrenal deficiency. I would either add a small amount of T3 to your T4 or take a natural thyroid supplement which will give you T4, T3, T2 and T1. Taking just one thyroid atom ie T4 is not advisable as if this does not convert to T3 you will have a starvation at the cellular level. T4 must always be taken with T3 to avoid this. Take care
Thank you so much for the advice, I so appreciate it. Can you suggest a natural supplement.
Thank you
So tired I feel sick !!!!
Why am I so skinny
Why am I so sleepy?
I am so frustrated!!!!
