Testing help please

[goofball]

So I have been asked to have another blood test before I can have my next medication.

The doctor from a message via the receptionist only put TSH on to be tested.

My last TSH was approximately 2, having been 11 when I was first referred about 3 years ago, and was about 4-6 when on 75 micrograms.

I have Hashimotos.

I called up to ask for Vitamin D, Free T4 and T3 to also be tested, as previously my Free T4 was a couple out of range at the top end, and my T3 was 0 .3 below the bottom of range, so now the doctor has only added Vitamin D, which was borderline, despite my requests via the receptionist for the rest.

I am on 100micrograms of Levo. I think the combination of out of range figures is contributing to weight gain, tiredness and lots of psoriasis outbreaks. I have been referred twice to an Endocrinologist, first time he was not interested, second time via a doctor enquiry I was told that my migraine meds (Propranolol) interfered with my thyroid levels and contributed to my very low T3. I am not prepared to give this up at the moment as they were causing me to have too many days off work a month.

I now have to have an appointment with a doctor over the phone, just to talk about having these additions to my blood test, which I think is totally unreasonable.

Does anyone have any thoughts, advice please.

I am not happy about having a blood test for two results when they only form part of the picture for me.

Any thoughts/help would be once again really helpful.

Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Propranolol will be significantly affecting levothyroxine

Headaches are hypothyroid symptom

It’s absolutely ESSENTIAL to only reduce propranolol EXTREMELY slowly.

How much propranolol are you currently taking

Propranolol reduces uptake of levothyroxine and badly reduces conversion

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/168...

rejuvagencenter.com/hypothy...

Propranolol also lowers parathyroid and magnesium as direct result

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

Drugs that may decrease PTH include cimetidine and propranolol.

Low vitamin D tends to lower magnesium too

I was stuck on propranolol almost 20 years (hashimoto’s)

Only able to slowly reduce and get off it after going strictly gluten free and getting all vitamins optimal, especially vitamin D, magnesium and B vitamins

[goofball in reply to SlowDragon]

It’s 80mg of half beta prograne slow release once a day

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to goofball]

80mg propranolol Slow release

That’s a high dose for anyone on levothyroxine, I was only on 4 x 10mg (taken 4 x day at approx 6 hours apart)

It took almost a year to slowly reduce by 5mg at a time ....wait 4-6 weeks. Reduce again....wait etc

Last 5mg extremely difficult to cut.

Reduce to 2.5mg

Then Cut completely one day week

Following week 2 x week etc

[SlowDragon Administrator]

second time via a doctor enquiry I was told that my migraine meds (Propranolol) interfered with my thyroid levels and contributed to my very low T3. I am not prepared to give this up at the moment as they were causing me to have too many days off work a month.

Endocrinologist was correct

Propranolol is used to treat hyperthyroid patients

[goofball in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I thought he would be . Still would like to know if I am correct in asking for all tests not just TSH and vit D . Thank you

[goofball]

All this is helpful but I do not want my migraines back. I am prepared to do this once I have retired in a couple of years or so. Guess I have to get by at the moment

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to goofball]

Presumably migraines were from BEFORE starting on levothyroxine

Migraine is extremely common hypothyroid symptom and should not happen if correctly treated for thyroid

It’s very difficult and slow process to ween off propranolol

[goofball in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes the migraines were before starting on Levothyroxine. I resisted medication for many years, but thought it just too much with the time I was having off work.