Hi, keep waking through the night with numb hands. Is this just old age or do i remember some helpful advice on here in the past re: b vits?

[janiebell]

Circulation comes back v quickly if i throw my arms out of the bed but its v annoying and it happens a lot!!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Common hypothyroid symptom ....or low Ft3 symptom

When did you last get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

[Naomi8]

check out carpal tunnel syndrome-common with hypothyroid

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at previous posts you reduced dose levothyroxine relatively recently

tsh 0.75 (027-4.20)

Free t4 21 (12.0-22.0)

Free t3 4.88 (3.1-6.8)

Anti thyroidperoxidase 95 (34)

Ft3 is low at 48% through range

Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range

chorobytarczycy.eu/kalkulator

High Cortisol linked to being under medicated

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, especially as you have Hashimoto’s

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 antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

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 down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Also vitamin D available as separate test via MMH

Or alternative Vitamin D NHS postal kit

vitamindtest.org.uk

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.

Most patients will feel well in that circumstance.

But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

(That’s Ft3 at 58% minimum through range)

You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor

 please email Dionne at

[e-mail]

[janiebell in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you and will get new tests in NY. Think I see an endo too. Going to try putting my levo up to 150 mcgs per day and then get tested.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to janiebell]

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Remember to stop taking any supplements that contain biotin (like vitamin B complex) a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS as biotin can falsely affect test results

[janiebell in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. Did not know that about Biotin. I take b12, vit d, multi with high five, homemade elderberry tincture and thinking of doing a month of an adaptogen like Siberian ginseng as under considerable stress at mo due to family illness. Always use same brand rebranded to Accord.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to janiebell]

Multivitamins are never recommended on here, usually contain iodine, not recommended for anyone hypothyroid on levothyroxine, especially if Hashimoto’s

[Hidden]

It sounds like carpal tunnel syndrome.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I had very similar symptoms and GP sent me to see specialist & carpal tunnel diagnosed. However, when I listened to advice on this forum & got key vitamins in range, the symptoms largely disappeared. I take a good B complex every day & watch my ferritin too. Seaside Susie and Humanbean are both very knowledgeable and helpful regarding this, so do read their posts.

[janiebell in reply to Buddy195]

Thank you v much. I dont have any pain so not sure its carpal. Ferritin.. yes, of course. Mine is often low and havent taken it for a while.

[Gcart in reply to janiebell]

After listening here I took B complex and B12 . Not happened since .