Advice for my little sister please

[Mouseandcat]

Is it possible to get some advice for my sister before a doctors appointment next week. I'll let explain...

I have been taking 150mcg thyroxine for approximately 9 years I am 44 years old, went into the menopause at 42 and started HRT (Kilvovance) April 2022. I stopped taking this June 2022 because of the falls - (as below)

Tripping over and walking into things and yes I have had to have new varifocals because my prescription has changed but it does not explain fatigue and aching joints. I have just had bloods taken my FSH is 0.33 and FT4 is 19 pmol/l

Should I be asking for FT3 tests or anything else?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

She needs full thyroid and vitamin testing Just testing TSH and Ft4 is completely inadequate (but all NHS typically offers)

Poor coordination and clumsy suggests perhaps low B12

Low B12 symptoms

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

When were vitamin levels last tested

Low vitamin levels extremely common on levothyroxine

Request GP test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

What vitamin supplements does your sister take

Also …..

Adding HRT frequently results in needing dose increase in levothyroxine.

[Mouseandcat in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for the advice. She is going to speak to the doctor about it.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mouseandcat]

Always test thyroid levels early morning

Important to get thyroid antibodies tested

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

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

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/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...