New Member

[Den1987UK]

Hello new to this forum thought I would give it a try I have Hypothyroidism and quite a few other conditions but I am a down to earth friendly guy who wants to get support and help and advice. Anything you want to ask me just ask.

Thank you

[thyroidmom84]

Welcome!

[Den1987UK in reply to thyroidmom84]

Thank you

[thyroidmom84 in reply to Den1987UK]

I’ve learned a lot from this forum- I think you will enjoy it

[Den1987UK in reply to thyroidmom84]

Thank you I think I will just have so many problems with my thyroid right now it’s like it’s worse not better lately and my doctor likes to be evasive at the moment. When I ask about or want to know the results it’s like he says don’t worry about it. So asking for a copy of my medical records on Monday.

[thyroidmom84 in reply to Den1987UK]

I understand. I am having lots of hyper symptoms but TSH is high right now 6 (.5-4.5). I personally think the increase I just received might be too much but my endo doesn’t seem to care. And everyone on this forum will tell you it’s your legal right to your results and to insist on them each and every time. Another good tip they will give you is to have some key vitamins tested- vitamin b12, D, ferritin and folate. I was found to be deficient in 3 of the 4 and the B12 has really helped a few of my symptoms.

[Den1987UK in reply to thyroidmom84]

Okay thank you will get that checked. My hair keeps falling out in little strands slowness in thinking and memory so I know something ain’t right. But I try to increase the Eltroxin Levothyroxine to 100 so far been on this dose for 3 days and after being on 75 mg and it feels like I ran a marathon and my heart rate and pulse are crazy as for blood pressure not good. But I feel I can think and feel slightly okay even though of the horrendous side effects but spoke to my doctor and won’t change the medication not at all.

[greygoose in reply to Den1987UK]

3 days is too soon to notice any sort of change. It will take at least a week for the increase to start to kick in, and six weeks to feel the full effect. So, at six weeks, you need to go back for a retest.

100 mcg is only a small dose, so not surprising you're still feeling hypo. But, don't make the mistake of dividing symptoms rigidly into 'hypo' and 'hyper', because a lot of them can be both - like high blood pressure, for example.

Losing your hair could be down to being hypo, or it could be down to low nutrients - especially iron. So, that's why it's essential to get nutrients tested. Also, optimal nutrients help your body use thyroid hormone more efficiently.

Don't ask your doctor for your results, most of them would rather you didn't know anything about them - which is probably why your doctor is being evasive. They hate informed patients because it highlights their ignorance - and most of them are pretty ignorant when it come to thyroid. Ask at reception for a print-out. You really need a print-out so that little mistakes don't creep in - it can happen so easily - and it is your legal right to have a print-out. Mind you, that's under European law, so lord knows what is going to happen if Brexit goes ahead!

[Den1987UK in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for the very helpful advice I appreciate it. I know the thyroid medication can cause Hairloss sometimes worst symptom I read as a side effect is feeling unreal what the hell is that it don’t sound good oh and limp favouring one leg. Also now have carpal tunnel syndrome and Raynauds where I used to smoke a year ago. It’s like electricity going through your hands. I do take supplements mainly a multi vitamin that has a lot of vitamins in it and omega 3 and Ginkgo Biloba and Siberian Ginseng and turmeric tea and Have plenty of Cabbage and sprouts and other vegetables and fruits. Only thing I read about is coconut oil is the one thing I have not tried.

[greygoose in reply to Den1987UK]

One important thing to understand is that you can read a lot of rubbish on internet! Even on this forum, which is one of the best, random people can say things that are complete and utter rubbish.

Hormones do not cause side-effects. And levo is the thyroid hormone T4. What can happen is that one or other of the fillers in the pill can adversely affect you. But, that has nothing to do with the active ingredient, T4. If you feel that your pill is causing side-effects, ask for a different brand - they are not all created equal. Which brand are you taking at the moment?

Another thing that happens is that people are prescribed to little or - rarely - too much, and put the symptoms of under/over-medication down to side-effects of the tablet. Complete testing will tell you if that is likely to be the case.

And, a third reason that levo can cause hair-loss is that it causes testosterone to convert to excess Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). But, this should be only temporary. Taking Evening Primrose Oil and Borage Oil can off-set that effect. But, get your ferritin tested first, to see if it's due to that. It often is.

oh and limp favouring one leg

I've never heard of levo causing a limp before. Did you not limp before you started taking it?

[Den1987UK in reply to greygoose]

Okay thank you for the very good and helpful advice. I know that I had to change the medication once before the brand is MercuryPharmaceuticals and it’s Eltroxin Levothyroxine Sodium. No limp before taking the medication but have had bone pain in shins as well so might get bone density checked just in case.

[greygoose in reply to Den1987UK]

Before fighting to get a bone density check, get your vit D3 tested, it's easier. Bone pain can be due to low vit D. I very much doubt it's the levo causing the problem.

[Den1987UK in reply to greygoose]

Thank you grey goose I will get it checked just fighting to get a copy of my medical records but ain’t giving in or giving up until I do. There is another gp further down the road I might sign up to instead.

[galathea in reply to Den1987UK]

Dont your doctors offer online access, i understood it was compulsory in the uk..... i can just see my results online without having to ask.

[greygoose in reply to galathea]

It's also compulsory to give patients a print-out of their results when requested, but if they can avoid doing it, they will! I think very few doctors offer online access. They pay lip-service to it but don't actually get around to doing it!

[Den1987UK in reply to galathea]

Hello galathea Yes but my gp don’t list any records or results online

[Lora7again in reply to Den1987UK]

I have online access and have read my records and blood results from 10 years ago. Excuse any spelling mistakes because I am away at the moment and using my iphone

[DeeD123 in reply to Den1987UK]

Eltroxin is the only one I’ve ever had trouble with. Felt like I wasn’t taking anything. Dreadful

[greygoose in reply to Den1987UK]

OK! Stop right there. Multi-vitamins are not recommended on here:

* If your multi contains iron, it will block the absorption of all the vitamins - you won't absorb a single one! Iron should be taken at least two hours away from any other supplement except vit C, which is necessary to aid absorption of iron, and protect the stomach.

* If your multi also contains calcium, the iron and calcium will bind together and you won't be able to absorb either of them.

* Multi's often contain things you shouldn't take or don't need : calcium, iodine, copper. These things should be tested before supplementing.

* Multi's often contain the cheapest, least absorbable form of the supplement : magnesium oxide, instead of magnesium citrate or one of the other good forms; cyanocobalamin instead of methylcobalamin; folic acid instead of methylfolate; etc. etc. etc.

* Multi's do not contain enough of anything to help a true deficiency, even if you could absorb them.

* When taking several supplements, you should start them individually at two weekly intervals, not all at once as you would with a multi. Because, if you start them all at once, and something doesn't agree with you, you won't know which one it is and you'll be back to square one.

With a multivitamin, you are just throwing your money down the drain, at best, and doing actual harm at worst. Far better to get tested for vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin, and build up your supplementation program based on the results.

Ginkgo Biloba and Siberian Ginseng

These are adaptogens. Adaptogens act on your adrenals, and they act differently in different people. They should not be used willy-nilly. It could very well be that they are reducing your cortisol, when your cortisol doesn't need reducing. It's a little early in the game, in my opinion, to start messing around with adaptogens.

Turmeric tea is good, although not likely to do much for your thyroid problems.

What do you expect coconut oil to do for you? Really not much point in trying these things without some sort of goal.

And, whilst we're on the subject of diet, do you avoid all forms of soy like your life depended on it? If not, you should. Also artificial sweeteners and processed seed oils, like rapeseed oil.

[Den1987UK in reply to greygoose]

Thank you grey goose I might try that actually a very good point thank you will try and separate the vitamins and take at different times but might hold off until I get a blood test done to see what is low or needs adjusting. I do avoid soya and soy and polysaturate fats something I read is a no no. But with so much information out there it’s a mind field. I was thinking of getting a full vitamin blood test done but not sure. I did have Polycythemia blood disorder but that went as soon as I stopped smoking a year ago. On a different topic my mum has a ton of different conditions including pressure on the brain Arnold Chiari and diabetic and heart failure so getting a MRI head scan done in February which ironically the gp won’t do and something I have to pay for myself 150.00 which is strange. But yes will definitely get a full vitamin blood test done and bone density checked out and brain scan done which should or could give me answers.

[greygoose in reply to Den1987UK]

Yes, you should know a lot more about your condition after all that testing.

[Den1987UK in reply to greygoose]

Thank you grey goose it’s weird that my brother was recently diagnosed with exactly the same condition as me hypothyroidism so not sure if it’s inherited.

[Lora7again in reply to Den1987UK]

It is mainly women who suffer from thyroid disease so to have brothers with the same disease is quite rare imho

[greygoose in reply to Den1987UK]

It can run in families, yes. In which case, it's important to test antibodies. Do you know if your antibodies have been tested?

[Den1987UK in reply to greygoose]

Hello grey goose no I don’t think they have been tested

[greygoose in reply to Den1987UK]

Then that's another two tests that need doing: TPO antibodies and Tg antibodies.

[Den1987UK in reply to greygoose]

Hello grey goose good morning yes it’s another two tpo and tg antibodies that need testing as well as the bone density D3 and vitamin B12 and ferritin and folate and iron. So a lot of tests including brain scan coming up and got to get my medical records on Monday a lot to do.

[greygoose in reply to Den1987UK]

Indeed! But, mind you don't over-do things. Plenty of rest in between is essential.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Welcome to the forum. I’m sure your thyroid symptoms will improve if you follow the advice from forum members about optimal dosing of both Levo & vitamins. I feel so much better since optimising vitamin D (&K) and B complex. A lot of us test these privately using Blue Horizon or Medichecks, as GPS often reluctant to do so.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Well done for giving up smoking

Your GP should test your thyroid levels more frequently in the two years after stopping smoking as it can affect Thyroid levels. Common to need and increase in Levothyroxine dose

You will need bloods retested 6-8 weeks after any dose change in Levothyroxine (or brand change in Levothyroxine)

Come back with new post once you get your previous test results

Also ask GP to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 when you get thyroid retested in 6-8 weeks

You need to know if you have had thyroid antibodies tested too. Should be on test results

[Den1987UK in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you yes I am getting tested for vitamins and brain scan because my mum has Arnold Chiari Malformation increased pressure and fluid on the brain and bone density test.

[fuchsia-pink]

In addition to all the wise things already posted - you have probably NOT been told by your doctor that you should take levo on an empty stomach, just with water, and no food or drink or other meds for at least an hour afterwards. Some people take their tablets in the morning; some at night; some split doses - depending on what works best for them. Take your last tablet 24 hours before your next blood test, which is as early in the morning as you can get.

If you read through old posts on this forum you will get more detail on this, and the best testing to get. The administrators and greygoose are particularly knowledgeable.

[Den1987UK in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thank you fuchsia pink I always take the Levothyroxine before breakfast but feel run down like no energy and feel cold and feels like nervousness and tiredness and vertigo and adrenal fatigue but not sure.

[Chippysue]

Sending you a message

[Den1987UK in reply to Chippysue]

Okay thank you

[bubbatetley]

Welcome Den , I hope you had a good xmas, and I wish you a Happy new year🎉🎈✨. This is an excellent forum for all of us with this condition.

[Den1987UK in reply to bubbatetley]

Good afternoon Thank you bubbatetley I appreciate it thank you I have found out a lot of very useful information already and I am sure with the help of everyone on this forum and changes I must make I will get better from this condition and able to manage it better.