hi there I’ve had an under active thyroid for 8 years and recently gained weight and losing iron. My doctor has said my neck thyroid reading is ok but my “brain reading is slower”
Does this make sense to anyone?
Also, how do people take iron and vitamin d as I have read not to take it near medication times?
I’m finding it all suddenly really getting me down as I learn more about what it means to have the condition. 
Hi Forestgreen90, welcome to the forum.
My doctor has said my neck thyroid reading is ok but my “brain reading is slower”
We-ll, that's a bit weird. You only have one thyroid, and that's in your neck. That much is true. And, by referring to your 'brain', I'm guessing he's talking about the pituitary - perhaps he forgot the name! The brain and the pituitary are not the same thing, although the pituitary gland is situated in the brain.
At a rough guess I would say that what he meant was that your thyroid hormone levels are ok - FT4 and FT3 - but your TSH (a pituitary hormone) is too high. Or maybe too low. But, that's only a guess. He could have meant something entirely different!
Did you get the actual numbers of the blood test he was referring to? Always ask for a print-out of your results for any blood test. It is your legal right to have one. And that would avoid confusing situations like this one! A lot of doctors just have no idea how to talk to patients, even if they do know what they're talking about - and I suspect that this one doesn't!
Anyway, get a print-out of the results, and post the results - with the ranges - on here and we'll understand better. If you've suddenly started to put on weight, it would suggest that you are under-medicated. A lot of hypos are.
Spacing out thyroid hormone and supplements can be complicated. But, if you tell us exactly what you're taking, and how much, we could work out a time-table for you. I imagine you've had your ferritin etc. tested, have you? So, let us know the results of the tests, with the ranges, so that we can see if you're taking the right things in the right amounts. It can all seem over-whelming at times, but one can get used to it. 
thank you so much for your reply and helpful advice. I am vitamin d and iron deficient.
I was tested for TSH which is 0.05
T4 16.01
FT3 is 4.3
I take 125mg of levothyroxine
My ferritin is now 67 ug/l but it was 20 something before supplements
Sorry, but as I said, we do need the ranges because they vary from lab to lab. So a result without the appropriate range is meaningless. Ranges are usually found in brackets after the result. e.g. FT3 5 (3.1-6.8).
But, I can see that your TSH is low. As I said, that is a pituitary hormone, and the pituitary is situated in the brain. So, that's what your doctor was talking about.
However, saying that your 'neck thyroid reading is ok' is just his opinion, and I suspect he's wrong on that score. If the FT3 range is the one we usually see - 3.1-6.8 - then the result is too low.
results
OK so your FT4 is 82.35% through the range, which is probably good. But your FT3 is only 52.78%, which is probably too low. So, your a poor converter. And that is probably why you're putting on weight.
So, what else does your doctor say? Did he give any indication of the next step to take? Or does he think things are good as they are?
I have bloods again soon. He said he’s reluctant to do anything. I’m not happy with borderline results so I’ll be more direct I think next time. Thank you.
He's reluctant to do anything because he doesn't know what he's doing. Yes, you do need to be more insistant and forceful. After all, it's your life and your health at stake. Not his! He has no right to make those decisions for you. He is there to advise you, not dictate to you. But, you do need to be informed enough to make those decisions.
Thanks so much
You're very welcome.
Hi sorry to bother you it’s me again. I’ve got bloods in a couple of weeks at 8am. What is the best thing to do before a blood test? Take my levothyroxine or have a blood test without having just taken it?
You're not bothering me at all. If I didn't want to answer questions, I wouldn't be here, so ask all the questions you need and I'll answer as best I can.
You need to have an early morning blood test - before 9 am - because that's when the TSH is highest. And, you need to leave a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the blood draw. Any less and you will have a false high FT4. So, don't take your levo on the morning of the test.
Great advice. Which I will follow! Thank you.
Welcome to forum
“My doctor has said my neck thyroid reading is ok but my “brain reading is slower”
To test thyroid function there 3 main markers - TSH, FT4 & FT3.
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) this is a signal from the pituitary (in brain) to stimulate thyroid, the higher it is the more it’s signalling the thyroid to work. Hypothyroidism is often diagnosed by high TSH. It usually means thyroid levels are low.
If “slow” TSH means low. It can sometimes mean thyroid levels are too high or your are over replaced, but the TSH can be low for many reasons & can be unreliable. Many find they still have low FT4 & or FT3.
Many doctors go by TSH, so it good your doctor has looked at thyroid level/s. I suspect only FT4 was tested.
The two thyroid hormones to test are, Thyroxine (T4) & tri-iodothyronine (T3) the unbound (free) levels need to be tested. The thyroid gland in neck produce T4 & a small amount of T3. some of the T4 is converted into T3 in other areas in the body.
Levo is T4 your body has to convert it to T3 which is the active hormone.
You need to see the auctual results, see what’s tested. Alway get a printout with lab ranges ( range vary, so also needed)
Levo should always be taken with water only, not other medication/ food or supplements.
If you take Levo in morning. Take iron later & vitamin D in the afternoon.
Have you had an iron panel ? Iron should only be taken if known to be needed.
thank you so much for your reply and helpful advice. I am vitamin d and iron deficient.
I was tested for TSH which is 0.05
T4 16.01
FT3 is 4.3
I take 125mg of levothyroxine
My ferritin is now 67 ug/l but it was 20 something before supplements
T4 16.01
FT3 is 4.3
I take 125mg of levothyroxine
We need ranges on these results, especially Ft4
Was test done early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription
Are you still taking iron supplements
Any iron supplement should be at least 4 hours away from levothyroxine and 2 hours away from all other supplements except vitamin C
Vitamin D tablets should be with fattest meal of the day (usually dinner) and at least 4 hours away from levothyroxine
Vitamin D mouth spray can be an hour away from levothyroxine and doesn’t need food to help absorption
How much vitamin D are you taking
Retest vitamin D twice year when supplementing
Test folate and B12 too
Cheapest way is to use Medichecks
or Monitor My Health if not needing thyroid antibodies tested and happy to do DIY finger prick
Welcome to the forum
See my reply here to post above yours
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Please add your most recent thyroid and vitamin results and ranges
How much levothyroxine are you taking
If in U.K. you’re legally entitled to copies of your test results and ranges
Don’t feel too disheartened. It may be that your dose needs tweaking.
I suspect your TSH is a bit raised, but once you get a copy of your blood tests, share them, and the knowledgeable people here will help interpret them.
I am one of the lucky ones who doesn’t have to worry about when I take my meds, but not everyone is like me. I take vitamin D and thyroxine with my breakfast.
Years ago I took glucosamine, and I did feel that that interfered with the absorption of my thyroxine, so I did used to take that separately. It’s probably safest to keep them separate.
Hopefully they are following up your blood results?
Do you carry your brain in a bag and your head is not attached to your body? Daft man! Actually I feel like that sometimes!
He has noticed your TSH is below the range, but your T4 and T3 are not high in the range. Unfortunately most GPs do not know enough about the thyroid, and he is not going by how you feel.
I would ask him to test for folate and Vit D as you need these to be optimal to get the best use of the thyroxine.
Now where did I put that bag?
Hi there! I’ve been told I have a low TSH . This is so disheartening after 8 years of being told it’s under its now overactive? Is that possible? I’ve been on 125 m levothyroxine for almost 3 years now without problems, how does this happen. Also, can you experience weight gain with this? My T4 and ft3 are in range
you need to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin
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