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[Rosie2m]

Hi guys,

After having another blood test yesterday the results are back...

I’ve just had a call from the surgery informing me that I have hypothyroidism and that there is a prescription for Levothyroxine 50mcg at the pharmacy to start treatment.

This test was only for free T4 and TSH

Tsh is now 10.35 (range 0.35-5)

FT4 is 11 pmol/L (range 7-20)

Antibody results are still not back.

I have the phone consultation with the Gp Monday aside from the previous comments in the last post is there anything I should ask about Ft4 level, does it look normal?

TIA xx

[kluang]

Your T4 is low and your TSH is dreadful, I bet you feel very unwell

[Rosie2m in reply to kluang]

I’ve definitely felt better, hoping the tablets work quickly lol! X

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Your TSH is over 10 confirming Primary Hypothyroidism. It may or may not be autoimmune but it doesn't matter anyway, the treatment is the same. If your antibodies are raised, confirming Hashimoto's, then some members have found that a strict gluten free diet has helped, along with supplementing with selenium. No guarantees but worth a try.

Your FT4 is low in range which is to be expected with a high TSH.

Don't expect miracles. Levo can take up to 6 weeks to become effective, then we have to start building the dose up in 25mcg increments every 6-8 weeks, you can't rush with hormones. It can take a few months to feel well.

The aim of a hypo patient generally, when on Levo, 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.

[Rosie2m in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou! Im guessing it will be a longer road than it could of been as it’s been allowed to get high but as long as I see some improvement I’ll be happy! Will be interesting to see how the antibody test results come back x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Rosie2m]

Im guessing it will be a longer road than it could of been as it’s been allowed to get high

UK guidelines require doctors to wait until TSH reaches 10 before diagnosis and prescribing Levo so it looks as though your GP is following guidelines.

[Rosie2m in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hey, do you understand the antibody part? I’ve just seen the results and it says my TPO level is 276iu/ml (range is > 49.0) x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Rosie2m]

Raised antibodies suggest autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where the immune system attacks the thyroid and gradually destroy it. There is no treatment for Hashi's, it's the resulting hypothyroidism that is treated.

As I said above, some members have found that a strict gluten free diet and supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can help, so it's worth trying for a few months.

As the immune system attacks the thyroid, fluctuations in symptoms and results can happen, you can swing from hypo to "hyper" and back to hypo. It might be necessary to adjust dose of Levo at these times, but you may or may not experience the swings.

Some Hashi's information :

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

Hashi's can cause gut/absorption problems and often when Hashi's is present it can cause low nutrient levels or deficiencies. It's essential to test:

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

Post results when you have them for further comment.

[Rosie2m in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou xx

[galathea in reply to Rosie2m]

So if your level is 276 and the positive range is anything higher than 49, then you have tested positive for thyroid antibodies. It means the cause of your thyroid problem is probably auto immune.

[Lora7again]

It will take weeks or even months for you to feel better so please be patient this is not a quick fix. You will need to have another blood test after 6 weeks and then another increase to 75mcg and continue to increase the dose until you feel well again. Good luck.

[Rosie2m in reply to Lora7again]

Thankyou. Xx

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Good to hear you are being started on Levothyroxine.

Each dose takes around 6 weeks to become fully effective

It's important that Levothyroxine should always be taken on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and more effective taken at bedtime

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet.

No other medication at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap. Some like calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away

(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)

With high thyroid antibodies (as we suspected) your GP could have prescribed Levothyroxine before TSH gets as high as 10

[Rosie2m in reply to SlowDragon]

Thankyou. Do you recommend that I start the supplements now or wait until I have been taking the levo for a little while? I won’t be able to take it at night time as I have an awful habit of eating in the evening and I just think it’ll be too much change to be able to adhere to at once. Do the results mean I definitely have Hashimoto or just that there’s a chance ? Sorry it’s all a lot to take in and learn about isn’t it. X

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Rosie2m]

The high antibodies confirms the cause of your hypothyroidism is due to autoimmune thyroid disease....Hashimoto's

GP (and most endocrinologists) will tend to ignore the autoimmune aspects....they certainly won't call it Hashimoto's

Generally the advice is only make one change at once

So starting on Levothyroxine is first step