Pretty grumpy newbie! I’ve never been told my thyroid results, take levo 4.15 a day - soz this is vague but doc is no help and I feel crap!

[mudleminded]

Low thyroid, doc not interested just dishes out levo s/thing have blood tests reg said it was necessary but no results came back to me and if I’ve put all this in the wrong box, blame my low thyroid !

[Lora7again]

Are you sure you take 4.5? usually the amount would be something like 125mcg a day.

Lovely dog btw.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Can you double check what dose levothyroxine you take every day

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine

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 as well as full thyroid testing

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

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin (doesn’t include folate)

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...

[mudleminded in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you slow dragon, seems as though I'd better crack a rib or two at my doc's - so much I didn't know, hadn't been told and not thought to find this forum especially not to take before a blood test! I'll look my script up to make sure I'm correct with the tablets - so helpful, be back with dosage

Muddle minded x

[mudleminded in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi all .... thanks for all your comments but tho I’m not too sure in my case , if the doc really understands the thyroid. After all a general practitioner can’t be an expert in every field but if he knows it’s low, then I’ll get my medical records and look at the scale myself, I’ve come across quite a few people on here who were discussing their levels with the results of the blood tests. I will get this sorted and the NHS equivalent aren’t as good as the propriety (orcould be the other way round) or approved name. I just want to throttle him, my docs take it so casually. But I’m not letting it rest. I will get the info come he’ll or high water. I take kelp, and other supplements to see if the thyroxine isn’t getting thru both chambers. Doc was sod all help so I’ll do it myself I’m tired of feeling crap all the time - take care all. Benson my golden retriever, who’s like all GR loves water, rhyns the filthier the better lol! Muddleminded

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to mudleminded]

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking ?

Important to take every day and always on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Come back with new post once you get thyroid results

Not recommended to take any kelp....or iodine

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Is there any food or drink I need to avoid?

There are some foods and drinks that don't mix well with levothyroxine.

Drinks containing caffeine, like coffee, tea and some fizzy drinks, can reduce the amount of levothyroxine your body takes in. Leave at least 30 minutes after taking levothyroxine before you drink them.

Calcium-rich foods, such as milk, cheese, yoghurt and broccoli, can reduce the amount of levothyroxine your body takes in. Leave at least 4 hours between taking levothyroxine and eating calcium-rich foods.

Soya in food and supplements may stop levothyroxine working properly. If you regularly eat soya or take soya supplements your doctor might need to do extra blood tests to make sure you're getting enough levothyroxine.

Kelp (a type of seaweed) can contain high levels of iodine, which sometimes makes an underactive thyroid worse. Do not take supplements containing kelp if you're taking levothyroxine.

[fibrolinda]

You need to get proactive to help yourself... And yes I do know how much easier that is to say than do ((hug)) If you are in the UK you are legally entitled to copy of your test results, just ask reception to print them out, for your own records.

You have just taken the first step to helping yourself by posting on here😁

If you can it is a great idea to get the private tests slowdragon mentions, it will give you a much better picture of what is going on and posting them on here will get you lots of great advice.

Lovely dog 😃

[greygoose]

If you wait for your doctor to give you your results, you could wait forever! Most doctors prefer we don't know. That way, we can't contradict them. The thing to do is ask at reception for a print-out. And, if they refuse, just tell them they are breaking the law.