Shouting match with my gp

[magsyh]

I had an all out shouting match with my gp on the phone last week. She wants me to come off all thyroid medication and see how I feel. I have gone down this road before and felt really ill. So today I'm on 37mcg, have been for a few days. I have all over body pain, horrible headaches, chest pain, very tired and even the soles of my feet hurt. The chest pain is really scaring me worst as I've never had this before. Doctor keeps insisting I shouldn't be on thyroid medication. They say everything is normal and I'm overmedicated because I don't need it. I can't go over 62 mcg without bad palpitations. I have tried levo, NDT and T3 and I can't tolerate any of them. I'm sure I have an iodine deficiency and can't tolerate the iodine in any of the medications I have tried. I've been at this for a few years now and I'm at my wit's end. I have low cortisol too because of all this. Been taking bio identical hydrocortisone too but makes no difference to being able to tolerate thyroid hormones. My vitamins etc are all fine. Can't loose weight. A loosing battle with my gp. Help any suggestions?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

magsyh

I'm sure I have an iodine deficiency and can't tolerate the iodine in any of the medications I have tried.

If you've not already done one, it might be an idea to do an iodine test to find out. A non-loading test is best and Genova Diagnostics offer this test:

How to order and how to request your results: thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

Test required: END25 on page 3 here thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

[greygoose]

They say everything is normal and I'm overmedicated because I don't need it.

Have you got a copy of the labs that say you're over-medicated? I'm willing to bet your GP only tested the TSH - at best, TSH + FT4 - which won't tell her anything at all. If you don't have a copy, ring reception and ask them to print you out one. That's the first step to getting well.

[magsyh in reply to greygoose]

My test last week I insisted on T3 too because of the shouting match she agreed.. On 50mcg my TSH was 2.2 (0.35- 4.5) T4 was 14 (9-20) and T3 was 4.4 (2.67-5.4) I have very low antibodies so no hashimotos.

[greygoose in reply to magsyh]

And, from those results she concludes that you're over-medicated??? You need a new doctor! This one has no idea what she's talking about. You're only over-medicated if your FT3 is over-range. Yours is nowhere near over-range. And, even your TSH is still in-range - in fact, it's a bit too high. I would seriously consider complaining about this GP, if I were you, because she could make you seriously ill by stopping your thyroid hormone replacement.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to magsyh]

Was this test done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Last 1/3 of daily dose of T3 roughly 8-12 hours before test

Ft4 is only 45% through range

Ft3 63% through range

So very good conversion or are you still taking T3 alongside levothyroxine

Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range

chorobytarczycy.eu/kalkulator

TSH should always be under 2 on levothyroxine as absolute maximum. Most people on levothyroxine will have TSH well under one when adequately treated

gponline.com/endocrinology-...

Replacement therapy with levothyroxine should be initiated in all patients to achieve a TSH level of 0.5-2.0pmol/L.

[magsyh in reply to SlowDragon]

No I stopped the T3 about 5 weeks ago. Yes test was done under proper conditions. I have always been a good converter my main problem has always been producing enough T4. That was why I thought T4 medication would work as I knew I could convert. This is why I think I lack the basic iodine or tyrosine? I've never liked fish so my diet is lacking. 5 years ago I had an iodine contrast injection and I lost loads of weight and my thyroid worked wonderfully for about a year. Have told the doc all this but they are not listening.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to magsyh]

I thought I saw on one of your previous posts that you have high thyroid antibodies...and therefore Hashimoto’s

(Helpful to put brief info on your profile)

If you have high thyroid antibodies then thyroid is failing

Ever had ultrasound scan of thyroid, can be very helpful

Common, if left extremely under medicated too long for it to be extremely difficult to tolerate dose increase in levothyroxine

If you eat dairy that has iodine in

Levothyroxine also has iodine in it too.

Very important to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually

Weight loss is extremely common with early stage Hashimoto’s. Hashimoto’s almost always starts with transient hyperthyroid results and symptoms and you can feel amazingly well. As thyroid comes under attack and cells break down you get temporary excess thyroid hormones. As thyroid is attacked more and more it becomes increasingly hypothyroid

Many Hashimoto’s patients are misdiagnosed as hyperthyroid during that early stage

[magsyh in reply to SlowDragon]

I have my antibodies tested every year and never been raised. My sister has hashimotos and high tg antibodies. I have put on almost 2 stone since starting levo 2 years ago. I was dairy free for 3 years but have been back on dairy for 7 months now.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to magsyh]

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies

Here’s someone who got diagnosed by ultrasound

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

[magsyh]

I have that tested every 6 months. Due next month. Last one estrogen had suddenly dropped from 55 to 20! Progesterone 1.8 as I use bio identical.

[Cooper27 in reply to magsyh]

Was it tested on the same day of your cycle? Levels vary wildly throughout the month.

[magsyh in reply to Cooper27]

I'm post menopause but didn't hit menopause till 61

[Hidden]

This had made me ragey on your behalf. This is so utterly cavalier.

She's just playing with her patients health. What an absolute disgrace.

[foxglove]

Maybe this sounds a bit flippant, (apologies if it is the case) I was interested in your comment about the soles of your feet hurting, I experience this too and wonder if it is connected to hypothyroid? I will start a new thread in case anyone knows

[magsyh in reply to foxglove]

Yes it's very common with hypothyroidism as is sciatica.

[Oxana83 in reply to foxglove]

i support that, i had this symptom when i was undermedicated.

[humanbean in reply to foxglove]

Soles of the feet hurting is often caused by a condition called "plantar fasciitis". I had it most of my life to various degrees of severity. Improving my thyroid hormone levels and optimising vitamins got rid of the problem.

This problem with the feet is often mentioned on this forum. I do remember one member posted that she had mentioned the condition to her doctor and saying how it was linked to hypothyroidism. Her doctor's response was to laugh at her. But then doctors laugh at people who tell them that high cholesterol is related to being hypothyroid, and that has been identified as an issue for years.

[foxglove in reply to humanbean]

Very true