I have to pull myself upstairs with banister due to aching hips and legs. My shoulders ache.
I'm on levothyroxine 100 daily
I am 61 female
I had late menopause at 58
I have a goiter with 3 nodules 3
I have felt I'll since 2020
Tried HRT November after 3 weeks ended up on bathroom floor so tired l couldn't do anything. Came off it immediately as it raised my TSH levels l think.
Any suggestions on what is wrong or what would help would be greatly appreciated
Poppycat999
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Poppycat999
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You need to post the reference ranges as well as the results please as ranges differ from lab to lab. It's not possible to interpret results without ranges .
Did you do test as we advise:
* No later than 9am
* Nothing to eat or drink except water before the test
* Last dose of Levo 24 hours before the test
* No biotin or B Complex or any supplement containing Biotin for 3-7 days before the test .
Hi Poppycat999, please can you edit your post to add the ranges (in brackets after results) as these vary between laboratories. Have you ever had any antibody tests (to confirm if your thy condition is auto immune)?
TSH levels need to be under 2, with most members reporting they feeL best with levels significantly under 1…. So highly likely you will need a dose increase.
As most GPS do not routinely test FT3, many members (myself included) look to do this privately to have a better picture of our thyroid health.
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing. It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron
We have received further information the lab about ferritin reference ranges. They confirm that they are sex dependent up to the age of 60, then beyond the age of 60 the reference range is the same for both sexes:
Males 16-60: 30-400 ug/L
Female's: 16-60: 30-150
Both >60: 30-650
The lower limit of 30 ug/L is in accordance with the updated NICE guidance and the upper limits are in accordance with guidance from the Association of Clinical Biochemists. ‘
I have a good diet l think. I eat loads of salmon and chicken. I have eggs porridge bananas orange juice yogurt. Probably eat too much I'm 5ft 7 and 12 stone so could do with losing a bit.
I am having another blood test on January 18th. I will post results then with reference ranges didn't know they varied. Hopefully l will get to feel better eventually l cant put up with feeling so tired and headaches every night.It's a long journey
Hi SlowDragon I have a blood test on 18th Jan my doctor will only test TSH levels l went to the surgery and asked receptionist if t3 TSH and t4 could be tested she rang me saying the doctor is only testing TSH she said t3 happens automatically and doctor knows best. I was so upset as on 100 levothyroxine and still feel bad aching shoulders and hips and cannot sleep at night because of terrible pulsing headache and bit dizzy. Still tired but not as bad as before. Doctor ringing me 24th Jan dont know what to say as my TSH was 4.46 on 50 dose l want to get it to about 1 but their range says 0.27 to 4.2 so she might say it's not my thyroid l want to see a specialist I'm sacred to say I'm not happy with her not testing more. I put my last results on this site alot was tested then but this time on 100 only TSH will be tested. Tell me what to say to try and see an endocrinologist my life is not as it was as all
You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.
The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results
UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
I will post my TSH results on 100 levothyroxine as soon as l get it back from doctor. I dont have a problem seeing my results as l always go to surgery and ask for a print out l also have my chart app which takes ages to show results as they dont put them up very quickly. I dont understand why my doctor is only going to check TSH levels if this us inadequate? I want to see an endocrinologist so want her to refer me. 4.46 TSH last test. Headaches are terrible every single night. I am very unhappy with the service from my doctor. She never tells me to have blood test early morning or not yo take my levothyroxine before the test. She booked my last blood test for the afternoon so l altered it and had it early morning without taking the levothyroxine before it. This l learnt from this site.
Hi SlowDragon Thankyou for your reply. Yes l had test at 9.am and didn't take my tablet till after the test. I usually have tablet at 7am with water. Food at about 8.30am or after. My weight is 12 stone. Dr would only test my TSH and t4. I asked receptionist to ask of l could have t3 tested as it's all to do with my thyroid problem she said doctor says it happens automatically l said well l suppose she knows best. Receptionist said he certainly does. I felt like l wasnt supposed to ask by her look. Dr rang with the results l gave you and told me to have a blood test friday to check my cortisol levels. She also said I'm now over medicated and need 75. She said she is going to refer me to an endocrinologist so I'm pleased about that. I think l might only take 75 tomorrow morning as not feeling great at all.
She also said it might not be a thyroid problem if not what is it. I'm a bit scared as been suffering for 3 years now ever since my late menopause at 57 nearly 58.
Hello SlowDragon I am on 75 levothyroxine have been for a while was on 100 levothyroxine before that for a while.
My blood test on 18th January was T4 22.9. (12.0-22.0)
TSH 0.03 (0.27-4.2)
So then went on 75 levothyroxine (Almus cut one in half and whole one of 50s)
Today my blood test results are in
TSH 0.08 Below range(0.27-4.2)
T4 17.9 (12.0-22.0) so within range
The notes on my TSH says follow up No further action.
Why when I'm too low? I questioned receptionist and said l didnt feel well to tell doctor she said she'd message doctot and l might get a phone call later.
No call received. Should l lower my levothyroxine dose to 50 now as l dont feel well tired aches headaches dizzy and my eye surrounds are swollen? Would be grateful for advice please? I'm 61 and weight is 12 stone. Height 5.7ft
In a study evaluating tissue function tests before total thyroidectomy and at 1 year postoperatively when using LT4, it was found that peripheral tissue function tests indicated mild hyperthyroidism at TSH <0.03 mU/L and mild hypothyroidism at TSH 0.3 to 5.0 mU/L; the tissues were closest to euthyroidism at TSH 0.03 to 0.3 mU/L [48]. A normal serum TSH level consequently does not necessarily indicate a euthyroid state at the tissue level.
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