Thyroid problems

[Cookham]

Hi all been on Levothyroxine for about 3 years or so. Past couple of years dose went up then down have regular blood tests but always on correct amount of meds . Past 2 years been getting more muscles aches cramps , aching at night, so stuff in morning and evening. Thought maybe menopause been on HRT for few months no difference just helped with night hotness. Just feel like I’m walking through treacle or full of lead ! Take 50 mg Levothyroxine daily and 75 mg on alternate days could it be my T3 is out of sync? Cannot lose weight , feel so slow I’m only 54! Thinking now maybe it’s my thyroid causing this ?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Cookham

Just feel like I’m walking through treacle or full of lead ! Cannot lose weight , feel so slow

Sounds like you are undermedicated.

Take 50 mg Levothyroxine daily and 75 mg on alternate days could it be my T3 is out of sync?

We'd need to see test results to be able to answer that.

Can you post your latest test results, please include the reference ranges as these vary from lab to lab so we need your ranges to be able to interpret your results. If you don't have your results then ring the surgery and ask the receptionist (not the doctor) for a print out of your results. Don't accept verbal or hand written results, mistakes can be made, and a print out will have the reference ranges as well as the results. It is our legal right in the UK to have our results without question or charge.

HRT can affect absorption of Levo and it's possible an increase in dose is needed when on HRT.

Do you take your Levo on it's own, on an empty stomach one hour before or two hours after food, with a glass of water only, water only for one hour each side. Do you leave at least 2 hours before taking any other medication or supplements - some need 4 hours and HRT is one of those.

Muscle aches and pains can be low Vit D.

Cramps may be helped by magnesium.

Do you always do your thyroid tests as we advise to give the most accurate results and to be able to compare them each time:

* Blood draw no later than 9am. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, an increase in dose of Levo or to avoid a reduction then we need the highest possible TSH

* Nothing to eat or drink except water before the blood draw. This is because eating can lower TSH and coffee can affect TSH.

* If taking thyroid hormone replacement, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then last dose should be 8-12 hours before blood draw. Adjust timing the day before if necessary. This avoids measuring hormone levels at their peak after ingestion of hormone replacement. Take your thyroid meds after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.

* If you take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin (B7), leave this off for 7 days before any blood test. This is because if Biotin is used in the testing procedure it can give false results (most labs use biotin).

These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with phlebotomists or doctors.

It would be a good idea to get the full thyroid and vitamin panel to include

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid antibodies

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

If GP wont do them all (and it's doubtful, you certainly wont get FT3 done, probably not thyroid antibodies, some GPs wont do Vit D as they say it's expensive), then you can do a private test with one of our recommended labs.

Comparable full Thyroid and Vitamin test bundles as follows:

Medichecks ADVANCED THYROID FUNCTION medichecks.com/products/adv...

Check this page for details of any discounts: thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

or

Blue Horizon Thyroid PREMIUM GOLD bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Check this page for discount code thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Both tests include the full thyroid and vitamin panel. They are basically the same test with just a few small differences:

Blue Horizon includes Total T4 (can be useful but not essential). Medichecks doesn't include this test.

B12 - Blue Horizon does Total B12 which measures bound and unbound (active) B12 but doesn't give a separate result for each. Medichecks does Active B12.

Total B12 shows the total B12 in the blood. Active B12 shows what's available to be taken up by the cells. You can have a reasonable level of Total B12 but a poor level of Active B12. (Personally, I would go for the Active B12 test.)

Blue Horizon include magnesium but this is an unreliable test so don't let this sway your decision, it also tests cortisol but that's a random cortisol test and to make any sense of it you'd need to do it fasting before 9am I believe.

If you want to do a private test and want to do the fingerprick version, I have some tips which I can post, just ask if you'd like me to.

[Cookham in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi Susie thanks for your very helpful reply. I have noticed that you mention the brand of the levo being important? My 50mg tablet is a different one to my 25mg would that not help in any way?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Cookham]

Cookham

Some people can take any brand without any problem whatsoever.

Some people find they are sensitive to certain fillers that some brands contain.

Many, many members have had adverse reactions, some very serious, to Teva brand, it is lactose free and contains mannitol instead, it's thought to be the mannitol that causes the problem.

If we do well on a certain brand then it's in our own interest to stick to that brand rather than mix brands.

Advanz make Eltroxin and Mercury Pharma - these are exactly the same tablets.

Accord make Accord, Almus and Northstar in 50mcg and 100mcg tablets - these are all exactly the same tablets.

Teva make the 25mcg Northstar tablet - it's exactly the same as Teva brand tablets.

[Cookham in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank for the info. Most helpful