reassuring posts re undreactive thyroid

[Lemur22]

I have had an underactive thyroid since last November and started on 25mcg, then went up to 50mcg and am now on 75mcg, my periodss have stopped , my last one was before christmas , it just makes me feel a bit worried and strange not to have one because theyve always been fairly regular so I know what you mean but it just makes me feel a bit better reading other peoplles posts, more reassured that they will come back again.

[shaws Administrator]

It is a common problem when hypo, as is difficulty getting pregnant etc.

We have to read and learn and you will so become knowledgeable about your condition.

Thyroid Hormones are very necessary for our body to function normally and healthy.

Pregnancy and monthly cycles can be affected. In fact our whole body from head to toe can be affected. Unfortunately we've found that there are few doctors in these 'modern' times who know any clinical symptoms at all and rely upon a blood test alone (as they've been trained I believe).

When you go for a blood test, it always has to be the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of levothyroxine and test and take it afterwards. Levo is taken, usually when we get up with one full glass of water and wait an hour before eating. Food can intefere with the uptake. Levo is also called T4. It is an inactive thyroid hormone and should convert to the Active thyroid hormone called T3 and needed in all of our millions of T3 receptor cells and brain and heart need the most. As do all of the T3 receptor cells in our body.

Always get a print-out of your results and make sure the ranges are also quoted (i.e. ranges are in brackets after the results).

GP should also test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. Everything has to be optimal. It has probably taken years for us to become hypothyroid and we just don't realise the gland is beginning to fail.

We need a dose of thyroid hormones that suit us individually, and then our body can work as it usually did.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Do you have any results you can add?

High prolactin can cause periods to stop. High prolactin is relatively common with hypothyroidism. Should improve as you get levels of levothyroxine higher

Standard starter dose of levothyroxine is 50mcg (not 25mcg).

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)

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 tested yet

Also ask that prolactin is tested

Thyroid levels should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine, even at dose increase

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

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?

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

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

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.

Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten.

So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

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