Started levothyroxine

[AV444]

I had a total thyroidectomy a month ago and started on levothyroxine 150 but feeling not quiet right becoming easily exhausted and a bit breathless??

Had bloods done the other day but nobody contacted me so presumably they are ok

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

AV44

Had bloods done the other day but nobody contacted me so presumably they are ok

At the GP surgery or hospital?

If at the surgery, ask the receptionist for a print out of your results, post them on here with their reference ranges (at the side of the result, often in brackets, eg TSH: 2.5 [0.2-4.2] ) and members will comment. Don't accept verbal or hand written results, mistakes can be made, you need a print out. If your surgery offers online access you can register for that and look up results.

If at the hospital, ring and ask for the results and reference ranges.

[AV444 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you I will try,

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet

Frequently only TSH is tested which is completely inadequate

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

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...

Thyroid plus vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)

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...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap. Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away

(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

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.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Teva contains mannitol as a filler, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half

Teva and Aristo are the only lactose free tablets

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).

[Shield-Maiden]

Hi AV,

I hope you feel better soon.

I was going to suggest that you request a copy of your bloodwork results, and then post them here, for others to comment...you are entitled to know the results, and, get a copy, don't be concerned to ask, it's your legal right.

Anyway, I see that you are in good hands, as SD and SS have answered you, and they are two of 'our finest' on this forum, so go get those results, and post here again, so they can help/advise you further.

Here's to you feeling much better soon

It's a journey, but you can get there

[Tukums]

Just because no one contacted you does NOT mean everything is OK. You need to take an active interest and call to ask for the results. And, by the way, always get copies of your blood test results to double check and keep them for future test results comparison.