Heeelllppppp

[sassymazza]

Hey there. Can I get a little assistance. I'm getting my bloods done...again...because despite seeming a d endocrinologist privately last year and him lowering my does due to high cortisol levels...my symptoms seem to have just gotten worse.. I've gained 2 stone.. my toenail just fell off (oncolysis) my hair loss is dreadful now and my fatigue and brain fog are really starting to affect my day to day life. I'm 40 but feel 90..any advice as to what I shld be asking the docs

[fuchsia-pink]

I'm sorry you're having such a miserable time. Getting full blood testing is a good start - you want an early morning blood draw (when TSH is highest) and to leave 24 hours form taking levo and 8 - 12 hours from taking lio (take the next dose straight after the blood draw).

Full testing means: TSH, free T4, free T3, thyroid antibodies (unless you have had these done before and they were over-range) - and key nutrients - ferritin, folate, vit D and B12.

Make sure you gt your actual results, and the lab ranges (these vary from lab to lab). Don't be fobbed off with guff like "normal" or "in range" - it's where you are in the range that matters. Post your results when you get them in a new post x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

When were vitamin levels last tested

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.....or especially after dose reduction

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)

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 vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

[sassymazza in reply to SlowDragon]

I'm taking 175 of thyroxine at present. Was 200. My b12 was 158 last time vit d levels spot on. Think my last reading was 5.8 so.higher end of scale

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to sassymazza]

B12 result - is that serum or active B12

Please add results and ranges for B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D

[sassymazza in reply to SlowDragon]

I've asked the doctors for a printout so I will try a d post ut tomorrow

[humanbean]

despite seeming a d endocrinologist privately last year and him lowering my does due to high cortisol levels...my symptoms seem to have just gotten worse..

Your endo did exactly the opposite of what he should have done. High cortisol is often a consequence of having low thyroid hormones. By lowering your dose of thyroid hormones he has encouraged your body to create even more cortisol.

He would have been better to have helped you to find ways and means of lowering your cortisol while at the same time increasing your thyroid hormones.

See this link for more on the subject of the relationship between cortisol and thyroid :

hypothyroidmom.com/cortisol...

[sassymazza in reply to humanbean]

That looks like a good read thankyou. I'm getting my bloods done next week and. I've got them to test my T3 this time too so hoping itll give some more insight and aid into getting me referred tonendo again