Have had issues with underactive thyroid and on levothyroxine for over 10 years current dose is 150mg per day.
Dry mouth, fatigue, brian fog etc
Question is in front of throat at the side you can palpate it and there’s like a crunchy noise feeling to the sides of thyroid.
Is this normal and any advice can’t get in with endo locally as he’s not interested at all
Welcome to our forum Thyroid2020
I am sorry you have hypothyroidism - diagnosed ten years ago. When you have your blood tests do you follow this method:-
1. Always get the very earliest blood draw - even if you make it weeks ahead.
2. It is a fasting test but you can drink water.
3. Allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of levothyroxine and the test and take it afterwards.
4. Request B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate at your next blood test.
Always get a print-out of your results for your own records and post if you have queries.
When you quote your blood test results, always put the ranges and these figures are in brackets. The reason being that labs differ in their ranges and they make it easier to comment on your rsults.
If any member has the symptoms you've mentioned, they will respond when they read your post.
Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription
How do you take your levothyroxine…..waking or bedtime
Always on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
No other medications or supplements within 2 hours minimum
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
Do you know if cause of your hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s
Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis. Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.
In U.K. medics never call it Hashimoto’s, just autoimmune thyroid disease (and they usually ignore the autoimmune aspect)
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 and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
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 all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
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...
NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via
If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease). Ord’s is autoimmune without goitre.
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s.
Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue too. Request coeliac blood test BEFORE considering trial on strictly gluten free diet
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
List of hypothyroid symptoms
thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...
Please add most recent results and ranges
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