Bloods

[J2506]

Bllods were -

I only wanted some help, didn’t want names of endos just reaching out for support, apologies if I offended in earlier post, 😳😥

[RedApple Administrator]

J2506, Please don't worry, you did nothing to offend. 😊 The admin that closed your post just misunderstood. There is a forum rule that prohibits discussion of medical professionals on the open forum, so it's usual for any recommendation requests to be sent by private message only. 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

How much T3 are you currently taking

Do you normally split into 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day

Was this test done early morning, last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

And day before test ALWAYS split T3 ……with last dose Approx 8-12 hours before test

When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested

Do you know if the cause of your hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

[J2506 in reply to SlowDragon]

I was originally on 125 Levothyroxine & 20 Liothyrine , I increased Levothyroxine to 150 daily to see if symptoms improved , I didn’t notice any change (month on that dose) always same brand Levo,

Bloods taken as recommended on here 1st thing in morning with only water drank)

I am going to request vitamins to be tested as they haven’t been.

I believe it’s Hypothyroidism, no mention of Hashemite’s however the more I read about it my symptoms are as it’s described.

Thank you for your help/advice 🙂

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to J2506]

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies 

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.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

 

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies 

 paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)and generally they completely ignore the autoimmune aspect…..but it’s important to know as there’s a lot we can do to help ourselves

Eg Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue

Request coeliac blood test BEFORE considering trial on strictly gluten free diet

[greygoose]

In your last post you asked a question:

my last blood test found me below range, surely this means an increase in meds not a decrease?

Whether or not you need an increase depends on which test came back below range, which is why I asked for the actual numbers.

The test that is below-range is the TSH. TSH - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone - is not a thyroid hormone. It is a chemical messenger from the pituitary to the thyroid, telling it to make more or less hormone. If your thyroid hormone levels are low, the TSH rises. If the thyroid hormone levels rise, the TSH decreases. But, there are many things that can affect TSH levels, so it's not a good indicator of thyroid status. We need to look at the thyroid hormones themselves. Yours are both quite low, not even mid-range. When you're hypo, you often need the FT3 up in the top quartile of the range. So, it's not surprising that you are experiencing symptoms. And, your low FT3 does indicate that you do need an increase in dose.

However, doctors learn in med school that all they need to look at is the TSH, and that will tell them all they need to know. That's quite wrong, of course, but many, many doctors believe it and dose by the TSH. Which is why the endo you spoke to advised you to reduce your levo, thereby demonstarting her total ignorance of thyroid! She obviously doesn't even know that taking T3 will cause your TSH to drop low even though your thyroid hormone levels are still not quite high enough to make you well. That's what T3 does. And reducing the levo will not make it rise again, although many doctors believe it will. And, it doesn't matter. It's low because you don't need it anymore, your thyroid cannot respond to it and you are taking exogenous hormone. So, here, we have in a nut shell a perfect demonstration of how little doctors know about the disease they are 'treating'!