I have been diagnosed with an under active thyroid for 15years. It’s always been very stable and responded well to thyroxine replacement. I’m now 36 and since having my son who is 3 by thyroid function has been completely of kilter. I’ve been overmedicated and under medicated over the past couple of years and unsure why. My thyroid function was stable until two years ago, even through 2 pregnancies.
My latest bloods on 175mcg are t4 9.2 and TSH 53.06.
My dose was decreased from 200mcg a day to the 175mcg as I was borderline hyperactive and experiencing palpitations and tachyarrhythmias.
I’m under the care of endocrine now, rather than being managed by my gp.
Any ideas as to what might be going on? My paternal aunt had thyroid cancer. Am I able to ask for a thyroid scan? I last had one at diagnosis.
Thanks
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Kelwhiteyx
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Are you taking Levo on an empty stomach 1 hour before food or caffeine containing drinks?
Are you taking any other meds that might be affecting absorption - PPIs, magnesium, iron for example?
It looked like your GP was making heavy handed dose adjustments. Maximum adjustment up or down should be 25mcgs, 12.5mcgs is also an option or alternate day dosing.
What are your latest vitamin results - ferritin, folate, B12 & d3?
What supplements are you taking?
When hypo we get low stomach acid which means we cannot absorb vitamins well from our food, regardless of a great diet. For thyroid hormone to work well we need OPTIMAL levels of vitamins. Have you recently or could you ask your GP to test levels of ferritin, folate, B12 & D3? Private tests are available, see link for companies offering private blood tests & discount codes, some offer a blood draw service at an extra cost. thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...
There is also a new company offering walk in & mail order blood tests in London, Kent, Sussex & Surrey areas. Check to see if there is a blood test company near you. onedaytests.com/products/ul...
Only do private tests on a Monday or Tuesday to avoid postal delays.
Do you know if you had positive thyroid antibodies? Many with autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's benefit from a gluten free diet. A smaller percentage of those also need to remove dairy from their diet to feel well. These are intolerances and will not show up on any blood test.
It's ideal if you can always get the same brand of levo at every prescription. You can do this by getting GP to write the brand you prefer in the first line of the prescription. Many people find that different brands are not interchangeable.
Recommended blood test protocol: Test at 9am (or as close as possible), fasting, last levo dose 24hrs before the blood draw, last T3 dose 8-12 hours before blood draw & no biotin containing supplements for 3-7 days (Biotin can interfere with thyroid blood results as it is used in the testing process)? Testing like this gives consistency in your results and will show stable blood levels of hormone and highest TSH which varies throughout the day. Taking Levo/T3 just prior to blood draw can show a falsely elevated result and your GP/Endo might change your dose incorrectly as a result.
My latest bloods on 175mcg are t4 9.2 and TSH 53.06.
How long since dose was reduced
Please add range on Ft4 result
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
is this how you did your test?
Request SMALL increase in levothyroxine- to 187.5mcg per day
Make sure all levothyroxine is same brand
If Mercury Pharma or Eltroxin by Advanz
100mcg, 50mcg and 25mcg plus 1/2 a 25mcg tablet
If Accord or Almus
100mcg, 50mcg plus 3/4 of another 50mcg tablet
If Teva
100mcg plus 75mcg plus half a 25mcg tablet
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
Looking at previous posts are you still taking propranolol and if yes how much
First step is to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing
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 tested
Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
Request GP test thyroid antibodies and vitamins
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
20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis
In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options and money off codes
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