Hiw do peeps feel when there thyroid pills are what they should be? On correct dose?

[Sleepyachy]

Can any one tell me how they feel on the correct dose of levothyroxine. Because the doc seems to think I'm on the correct dose . But I feel like crap more often than not .

[Meanbeannyc]

None of us know or else we wouldn’t be here

[fuchsia-pink in reply to Meanbeannyc]

Not true!

I'm happy with my meds - free T4 and free T3 both nice and high - and I feel completely - well like I did before diagnosis Lost the hypo weight gain; able to do a long walk every day; no brain fog ... Hope it doesn't sound like I'm bragging, but really the point is that it IS possible to get fully well ... but possibly not if the GP only looks at TSH (mine is suppressed and I don't care!)

[Hidden in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Love hearing happy stories like this! Long may it last 🙌🏼

[Meanbeannyc in reply to fuchsia-pink]

How do you get both nice and high through the range if taking T3 suppresses T4?

[fuchsia-pink in reply to Meanbeannyc]

Don't know!

All I know is that the combination I've been taking works for me, whether it's 75 mcg of levo and 10 mcg of lio or 50 mcg of levo and 20 mcg of lio!

Certainly taking T3 suppresses my TSH (which concerns the endo more than it does me) but it doesn't seem to have impacted on T4 result ...

[greygoose]

Can you post your latest lab test results, with ranges? Doctors don't always understand about dosing and what's good and what isn't.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

When my thyroid medication and (just as important) key vitamins (ferritin, folate, vit D and B12) are high in range, I have energy to have an active work and social life, I feel happy in myself and have a ‘spring in my step’!

When my body aches and I feel anxious, I rest and take things easy. I make sure I test my thyroid & key vitamins privately if I feel like this for a few weeks. I ask for advice on this forum. I always try to eat nourishing foods, limit sugar and avoid gluten. I practice mindfulness & get as much time outdoors as I can; both make me feel good.

Best wishes to you!

[shaws Administrator]

It is a pity that doctors take note of the number or quantity of pills rather than paying attention to getting relief for the patients' clinical aymptoma. That is supposed to be what happens.

The aim is a TSH of 1 or lower with a Free T4 and Free T3 towards the upper part of the ranges. The 'frees' are rarely tested. Many have no knowledge that T3 is the 'active thyroid hormone' needed in all of our T3 receptor cells and that T4 is inactive and has to convert to T3. Some of us cannot do so effectively.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at previous posts you have been on 100mcg levothyroxine for 2-3 months

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine

Probably time to get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing done

Vitamin D was 41nmol so far too low as well

Time to retest

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Also EXTREMELY important to regularly 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

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)

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

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/

[Lotika]

I think if you feel crap more often than not, then you’re probably not there or if the numbers - including fT3 - look OK, then maybe it’s a vitamin issue as Buddy suggests. That having been said, I think what looks OK for one person and what looks OK for another with the thyroid numbers is probably quite different... I sort of know what I want to try to get to for me in terms of blood test results, which is fT3 over 40% through range and fT4 at around 70%. I get some good symptom relief with fT3 at 40% and was more energetic with fT4 at 70% through range on levo only, which is why I’m fixated on trying to hit those numbers, because I imagine it to be the best of both. But I could be wrong about me - I’ve not been there yet, so I don’t actually know! And lots of people prefer their fT3 higher than that and their fT4 too even, so my ideas are based on personal experiences and others would disagree and prefer something else, which I find endlessly fascinating! I think it’s what makes it so difficult. It means that what works for me won’t necessarily work for someone else and v/v.

In terms of vitamins, I struggle with ferritin levels, but I keep eating liver once a week and always feel an immediate bounce from it, which suggests it’s doing something positive. I had liver last night and feel pretty good today, for example. The other thing which sometimes works on a low thyroid day is homemade chicken stock. I think it must be very high in selenium... which would explain it!

Again, I find I am a bit hit and miss with taking vitamin tablets and generally do better if I am remembering. For me, selenium and vitamin D are the two I notice most, so if I am feeling lazy I try to make sure I at least get those down me. A good probiotic is next on the list, followed by B complex, given that my B12 and folate are generally OK. But again, depending on where your deficiencies are, your list of vitamin priorities may differ!

[shaws Administrator]

When I am on the correct hormone and the correct dose I feel I have normal health and no clinical symptoms.

If there's been even a small change, it can affect me and I don't feel so well.

[Josephineinamachine]

My sense of ‘me’ comes back on good days. I sort of think ‘oh there I am!’ I now have had (a very few) ‘me’ days - and then there are ‘hypo me’ days. The ‘hypo me’ days are generally sluggish and painful with brain fog. I can’t be bothered with anything really and just look forward to getting through the day. The ‘me’ days are productive and active and I’m still able to speak in the evening. So, for me, getting better almost feels like recognition. Not sure if this is helpful (or even makes sense!). To be honest, even on ‘me’ days I rarely make much sense...

[uchi]

Hi, I don't have any problem with Levo. It's just that I wasn't converting well, and get T3 as well as many supplements on advice of a functionalist doctor. Altogether, including gluten and dairy free and totally processed food free, I am fine. Meaning is, you need to get to the bottom of the reasons you feel unwell and Levo may not be the only reason. Goof luck with your journey to full health🙏