Advice

[Jamiekim]

I’ve been taken 100mg Levothyroxine for 10 years and not once have I lost any weight or lost the symptoms to my under-active thyroid - I eat healthy, run and work out 4 days a week and my test results always come back fine I generally don’t know what todo anymore I’ve tried taken all the victims recommend, i tried taken t3, nothing works

[fuchsia-pink]

Welcome to the forum.

You're not on a huge dose of levo. Do you have recent blood test results (and ranges) so we can see how you're doing on 100 mcg? Ideally we would see TSH, free T4, free T3, thyroid antibodies and key nutrients - ferritin, folate, vit D and B12.

I've found it impossible to lose weight until meds and key nutrients are optimised, so I can sympathise.

[Jamiekim in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thank you for your reply hugely appreciate it

These are my recent tests was taken October 2019

My THS level was at 2.00 mu/L

T4 level 14.0 pmo/L

T3 level 4.9 pmo/L

Vitamin level was low at 50

Folate level 7.6 ug/L

B12 at 286 ng/L

These are all the results since then and before nothing has change in my symptoms

[fuchsia-pink in reply to Jamiekim]

You can edit your post to add the ranges by using the "more" button on the right.

The ranges vary from lab to lab, which is why we need to see them - although as greygoose says, a high TSH is always a high TSH

For the other results, it's where you sit in the range that is important, and particularly where your free T3 is.

[greygoose]

Before anyone could possibly make any helpful comments, they would need to see these 'fine' test results - who said they were 'fine', anyway? Your doctor? If so, it's perfectly possible that they aren't as 'fine' as all that. 100 mcg levo is only a small dose. You're probably under-medicated. But, if your doctor isn't doing all the right tests, then he wouldn't know.

As for supplements, there aren't really any recommended on here. We always say to get your vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin tested, and supplement according to the results. If you don't need a certain vitamin, it's not going to do you any good.

It could also be that you're over-exercising for your level of T3. Which will make you more hypo and then you'll put weight on, not lose it.

And, taking T3 will only help if you take enough of it. How much did you take? And what was your FT3 level when you were taking it? I'm afraid we need all the details to be able to help. Sorry.

[Jamiekim in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for your reply hugely appreciate it

When I was taken t3 in November/December I was taken 25mg and my t4 at 100mg

But I stopped taken the t3 because it was making me sweat and I was so tired on it

However these are are all my recent tests was taken October 2019

My THS level was at 2.00 mu/L

T4 level 14.0 pmo/L

T3 level 4.9 pmo/L

Vitamin level was low at 50

Folate level 7.6 ug/L

B12 at 286 ng/L

These are all the results since then and before nothing has change in my symptoms

[greygoose in reply to Jamiekim]

Sorry, but we absolutely need the ranges for those results because they vary from lab to lab, and a result without a range is meaningless.

That said, your TSH is too high at 2. It should be 1 or under. How much levo were you taking at that time? Was it increased after the results?

When I was taken t3 in November/December I was taken 25mg and my t4 at 100mg

So, I'm guessing that you started it at 25 mcg added to your 100 mcg levo? That was too much, so not surprising you didn't get on with it. You should have started on 1/4 pill - 6.25 mcg. Then, you could have increased it by 6.25 mcg every two weeks until you got to 25 mcg. Then held it there for six weeks and retested. You cannot jump in with a large dose and expect to get away with it.

Without ranges it's difficult to say with any certainty without the ranges, but your nutrients look very low. Without optimal nutrients, your body won't be able to use thyroid hormone correctly, so that will add to your symptoms. No ferritin result?

So, before we can go any further, you need to put those ranges, please. And, then we can discuss how you can improve matters.

[Jamiekim in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for all your help I have no idea about my thyroid or test results I’m not very educated and my doctors don’t take it serious

So these are the ranges

My THS level was at 2.00 mu/L range (0.35-5.00)

T4 level 14.0 pmo/L range (9.0-22.0

T3 level 4.9 pmo/L range (2.3- 5.1)

Vitamin d 31 range (50-200)

Folate level 7.6 ug/L range (3.0-20.00)

B12 at 286 ng/L range (200-910)

[greygoose in reply to Jamiekim]

But, how much levo were you taking at that point? Because you were obviously under-medicated. And, was your dose raised after this test?

All your nutrients are low. Was anything done about those? Any supplements prescribed?

Your doctors may not take it seriously, but you need to. And, it helps us to help you if you give all the details.

[Jamiekim in reply to greygoose]

I’ve always been on 100mg of Levo and was given vitamin d tablets after these results- sorry if I’m not straight forward I’m a bit confused and new to understanding all this

[greygoose in reply to Jamiekim]

OK, so to get the most helpful replies when you post a question, always give your latest blood test results WITH THE RANGES, say how much you were taking at the time, and the date if you can.

So, all they gave you was vit d tablets - how much? And ignored the folate and B12?

Your B12 is so low that you ought to be tested for Pernicious Anemia. If you have PA, then you would require B12 shots for the rest of your life, and they would be free - which is probably one of the reasons doctors aren't very quick to test for it! Low B12 will cause an awful lot of symptoms and make you pretty ill.

You also need to ask for your ferritin to be tested. And, an increase in levo. You are under-medicated and your TSH is too high. I know it's in the stupid range, but when on thyroid hormone replacement, it should come down to one or under.

So, given the low vit D, low B12 and under-medication for thyroid, it's really not surprising you still have all your symptoms. Your GP should be shot!

[Jamiekim in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for your help

They gave me 50.000 IU D3

To take for 7 weeks and never followed it up so I haven’t got anything but 100mg levothyroxine to take at the moment

But I have rang the doctors for a blood test today Because it’s been 8 months now

I just feel that I’ve been let down and a lot of other people too but it’s nice that there’s help out there and there’s people like you that understand it a lot more and can educate me

Means a lot thank you

[greygoose in reply to Jamiekim]

You're welcome.

So, you know what you've got to insist on when you finally see him? He has been extremely negligent, and you would be within your rights to lodge a complaint!

[vocalEK in reply to Jamiekim]

"In persons with vitamin D deficiency, treatment may include oral ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) at 50,000 IU per week for eight weeks. After vitamin D levels normalize, experts recommend maintenance dosages of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) at 800 to 1,000 IU per day from dietary and supplemental sources." aafp.org/afp/2009/1015/p841...

Actually, the recommended maintenance dose is way, way too low. I used this calculator to figure out how much to take per day: grassrootshealth.net/projec...

If your results are reported in nmol/L instead of ng/ml, use this converter: grassrootshealth.net/?post_...

[Jamiekim in reply to vocalEK]

Thank you so much

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jamiekim]

You will need to add ranges (figures in brackets after each result)

Most people on levothyroxine need Ft4 near top of range and ft3 at least half way through range

All four vitamins need to be optimal too

Do you have Hashimoto’s?

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

Your Vitamin D, folate and B12 look low..need ranges to assess

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)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last third or half of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...