6 wks bloods help

[birkie]

My last bloods done on 4th February

[SlowDragon Administrator]

TSH 10.76 (0.3-4.5)

Ft4 11.9 (11-22)

Ft4 only 11% through range

Ft3 3.2 (3.1-6.8)

Ft3 only 2.7% through range

All show you are EXTREMELY UNDER MEDICATED

How much levothyroxine were you on when had this test?

See GP/endo and get 25mcg dose increase in levothyroxine

Make sure to stay on same brand of levothyroxine

Email results to your endocrinologist

Vitamin D is still too low

Are you supplementing and has it risen since last test?

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 is in top third of range and FT3 at least half way through 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)

[birkie in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi slowdragon

As I've posted on here I'm having real problems with the levo I'm having bowle stomach problems the runs with pain headaches looks like my cholesterol has jumped up to. My endo knows about these results but only recommended I go up to 75mg with out seeing me he knows about the levo problem but refutes this saying I need further bowel scans I had 2 last year which showed bad inflammation of the bowle lining and stomach then the second was clear as I stopped the anti thiyroid meds I feel the same on the levo.. I am bad on synthetic meds and I don't think I'm absorbing well. I do all the requirements before getting bloods done and take with water and leave an hour before any drink or food.... I'm really sick of this and feel very unwell 😩

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Was this after 6 weeks on increased dose up to 75mcg as recommended by endocrinologist?

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[birkie in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thanks for your reply slowdragon

I've started 75mg to see how I I'm on this amount taken 3 days now and been on the loo everyday with pain it seems the higher I go the more symptoms I get s I said I don't think this med in tablet form is for me... I've made an appointment with another gp for this thur to discuss these results.. My normal gp says.. 1 my vit D is OK!!! 2 my TSH is in range it was 3.53 last bloods done 8weeks ago and now they say my T3/ T4 are in range.. I've spoke to my normal gp about the T3/ T4 not being in the right range for hormone health but he said they are!! I also asked to be sent back to see the endo but gp and endo said theirs no point as I'm nearly in range with everything 😭😭😭😭

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to birkie]

So these results from Feb 4th show you are NOW very hypothyroid

TSH over 10

Good you have increased levothyroxine to 75mcg as advised by endocrinologist

Watch out for different brands of levothyroxine

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

It could be the brand of levothyroxine that’s upsetting you

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.

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.

Link about Teva

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

NHS will only prescribe vitamins when classified deficient. So only up to 50nmol

But vitamin D may be better at optimal level of at least 80nmol

As you have had total thyroidectomy then your dose will likely end to be around 1.6mcg per kilo of your weight. But dose needs increasing slowly

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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 is in top third of range and FT3 at least half way through 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)

New NICE guidelines

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...

1.3.6

Consider starting levothyroxine at a dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (rounded to the nearest 25 micrograms) for adults under 65 with primary hypothyroidism and no history of cardiovascular disease.

BMJ clear on dose required

bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m41

But MANY patients need to increase dose SLOWLY

How to get TSH as high as possible

thyroidpatients.ca/2020/01/...

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

[birkie in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi❤️

My problem is with the levo it's self upt my dose to 75mg as I said as soon as I eat I'm on the loo.. Was yesterday with stomach pain cramps loose bowels.. I'm watching a post on thiyroid side affects by Dr Westin child's.. He states that many patients on levo can have gi track symptoms many have reactions to cellulose and other fillers in the levo this can make you hyper sensitive to the drug.. He also says other symptoms include puffy eyes which I have, loss of hair which I have and its bad I can see my scalp through my hair it's gone very thin and my shower and brush are full of my hair and gaining fast weight which I have to😢 he also says GI track symptoms can cause less absorbtion of the levo.. Very interesting... I'm at my docs tomorrow and want answers they need to try me on something else or I'm going to go insane this is no way to live... 😢😢😠😠😠

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to birkie]

Many of us BECOME gluten intolerant on levothyroxine

Also lactose intolerance is extremely common

Many people react to the fillers in levothyroxine too

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently prescribed?

Often react to acacia powder

List of different brands available here and what fillers are in each brand

thyroiduk.org/tuk/treatment...

They could prescribe liquid levothyroxine. It has fewer fillers and easier absorbed ....but it’s more expensive so they are reluctant to do so

But cheaper than prescribing T3

[birkie in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi again slowdragon and thanks for all your info much appreciated ❤️❤️ I've been on 5 types now the one I'm on now is Eltroxin doc put me on this because he said it would help with the GI symptoms I've found out through the great people on here it's no different to other levo.. Think my gp was trying to catch me out he doesn't believe you can have Gi symptoms with levo my endo is of the same thinking and refused to see me saying levo causes no GI track problems.. Just go up to 75mg (and suffer as I am...) having gone up I received no new script for 25g doc hasn't even bothered prescribing it I have 25g tablets left from my other prescription it's the same type mercury Pharma so until I see my gp tomorrow I'm just using them but really don't want tablet form anymore... This happened when I was on anti thiyroid meds and gp/endo insisted I take them.. Upshot because of no absorbtion and vomiting them bk I ended up in thyroid storm they never learn they should know better with me... All my meds for pain ect are gastro resistant and they know this..., 😠😠😠

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to birkie]

Request that they try you on liquid levothyroxine (not Teva brand )

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to birkie]

Hair loss is a hypothyroid symptom

Weight gain is too

Gut function is frequently badly affected by being hypothyroid

More common to be constipated when hypothyroid, but diarrhoea is not unknown symptom

Have you had blood test for coeliac disease

Trying strictly gluten free diet often improves symptoms

[birkie in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi slowdragon, ❤️

I'm not coeliac I've got reactivate colitis had it since 2016 it mainly flairs up when I take things my bowles and stomach don't agree with foods arnt so bad I stick to a bland diet because of acid washback have been diagnosed with that H pylori 🤷‍♀️ to my first incident in 2016 was after I ate a cheese sandwich on my way back from Amsterdam, "ho I miss those days when I could go places with mates" 😢 I got back on the sat and by Sunday I had bad cramps I was bleeding from my bowles with the most server pain worse than childbirth 😣 rushed to hospital had every test upshot reactive colitis /H pylori that was that given tablets sent home and bland diet.. Next time it occurred was when I was given anti thiyroid meds same thing inflamed bowles/stomach with bleeding.. The consultant couldn't even get antibiotics in me I just kept vomiting he gave up and said I don't think your to good on synthetic meds no sh## sherlock... 😠

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to birkie]

H Pylori linked to hashimoto’s too

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to birkie]

Gluten intolerance is extremely common with Graves’ disease

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet

(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)

Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...