Chest infection

[Clare1971]

Wrote last week my TSH is 10 ( range 0.01 / 4 ) could this be the reason I am run down feeling low and got another chest infection , on anti biotic’s and two different inhalers , I asked the nurse this exact question she said “ don’t think so” and has never heard of hashimotos . What chance have we got ever being listened to or feeling better …

[SlowDragon Administrator]

U.K. medics only call autoimmune thyroid disease hypothyroidism

See different GP request FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

TSH, Ft4, Ft3 plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

On levothyroxine TSH should ALWAYS Be under 2

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

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

[Clare1971 in reply to SlowDragon]

I am taking 150mg thyroxine and have been on same dose for two years , got blood test 6 weeks ago and result was 10 , he said will test you again in 10 weeks but didn’t put my dose up , why wait ? He will only test TSH so will get a private blood again .. thanks for your kind reply ..

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Clare1971]

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Do you take levothyroxine waking or last thing at night and always on empty stomach

Have you had Covid recently/at all

Are you gluten or lactose intolerant

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common with Hashimoto’s

Ask GP to test vitamin levels NOW

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

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/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

[Clare1971]

Yes always make sure it’s the same brand .. I’m gluten free as have coeliac since 2016 .. limit dairy too

Always take my meds when I first wake up around 5 , won’t eat breakfast until after 8. Thanks for the offers .

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Clare1971]

You need to click on “reply” button…otherwise person doesn’t get notification

As coeliac you are highly likely to have low vitamin levels and poor conversion of Ft4 to Ft3

Essential to test Ft4 and Ft3

Likely to need addition of T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine

Getting FULL thyroid and vitamins tested is first step

Come back with new post once you get results

Email Thyroid UK for list of recommend thyroid specialist endocrinologists...NHS and Private

[e-mail]

The aim of levothyroxine is to increase dose upwards in 25mcg steps until TSH is ALWAYS under 2

When adequately treated, TSH will often be well below one. Most important results are ALWAYS Ft3 followed by Ft4. When adequately treated Ft4 is usually in top third of range and Ft3 at least 60% through range (regardless of how low TSH is)

Extremely important to have optimal vitamin levels too as this helps reduce symptoms and improve how levothyroxine works

[Clare1971 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes realised I had not pressed the reply button when I pressed sent ..

Going to phone Drs this morning , see what blood tests he will do and get the rest done privately ..

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Clare1971]

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

[Clare1971 in reply to SlowDragon]

Not any at the moment , I was on a whole load and felt awful .. putting my thyroxine up to 175mg from 150mg .. hope it makes a difference ..

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Clare1971]

Test before increase

No point testing unless been 6-8 weeks minimum on unchanging dose

[Clare1971 in reply to SlowDragon]

Drs just told me to increase and will test in 8 weeks ..

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Clare1971]

Ok….well test vitamin levels ASAP

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Thriva offer just Vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 testing

What brand levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand

[Clare1971 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes always same brand and have requested all of above blood tests .. thanks

[JAmanda]

I just raise my own dose when told to go away for some weeks. Then when they retest my blood I tell them 'we'll actually that is on blah dose" - so by that stage they can't disagree with the new dose (and then I suggest experimenting with a further increase...!

[shaws Administrator]

Not many doctors or nurses have heard of hypothyroidism, never mind hashimoto's. So we learn as we go along how inept many medical professionals can be when it comes to diagnosing or advising someone who has a dysfunctional thyroid gland.

[Clare1971 in reply to shaws]

Yes had to educate myself ..

[klr31]

Yes, it could be.

Karen