Hello,
Diagnosed with Hashimoto’s 2019, it was a long and sickly road to diagnosis and treatment.
Levothyroxine only didn’t work for me and after a couple of not so great endo appointments I finally found a really good endocrinologist who agreed to add in liothyronine and commenced me on 20mcg of liothyronine (split into two doses) in addition to existing 100 mcg Levothyroxine).
It was this lovely endo who did an ultrasound which confirmed ‘withered’ thyroid gland and confirmed the Ords diagnosis.
I felt slightly under medicated on some occasions although tended to add in some vitamins after testing and generally felt so much better that I recommenced exercise and began to lose weight and build muscle and felt well for 2 whole years.
This no doubt has also been helped by a largely gluten free diet and taking vitamin supplements as per advice.
My TSH became suppressed following new combined therapy but neither endo or my GP at that time, were concerned and monitored for any other signs via T3 and T4.
Endo also uncovered low cortisol levels although ruled out Addison's following further tests.
When previously under medicated low iron levels have resulted in oral iron medication replacements annd have only occurred when under medicated and prior to starting T3 replacement.
Haven’t had low iron for some years although GP continued to monitor although no further incidents of low iron.
Sadly endo left and new locum consultant endo’ has only ever been interested in my consistently low TSH levels no matter how hard I have tried to educate him and he has threatened to remove T3 so many times that I have give up arguing.
He says he doesn’t angree with last consultant annd doesn’t think my symptoms relate to thyroid issue and that I need HRT (those dark ages keep knocking at my door sadly).
In January 24, I was finally ground down and in a vain attempt to keep hold of T3, I agreed to reduce levothyroxine by 25mcg per day leaving 75 mcg of levothyroxine and 20 mcg of liothyronine (split into two doses).
I became ill quite quickly and before the next appointment went back on my previous dose and within a few days felt well again.
When I told him in the next appointment he said to reduce it again as we need to raise TSH levels and so as advised I reduced to alternating 100 levo and then 75 levo.
The blood tests he was basing this on were last taken June 23.
Unsurprisingly I quickly became ill again only this time worse, in addition I developed new symptoms and recognised them as pointing to low iron.
I have now received my results from private testing (intravenous via a private GP) and have an appointment with my own GP (new practice) this afternoon.
Can I ask for some advice on latest blood test please, I have put ranges in brackets and blood test was taken as per pt to pt advice:
12/2/24:
TSH: 0.008 (0.350-5.500) (previously 0.002) Low
Free FT4: 17.30 (11.90-21.60)
Free FT3: 3.53 (3.10-6.80)
Anti-Tg: 33.9 (no lower range-115)
Anti-TPO: 17.4 (no lower range-34)
Iron: 5.6 (5.8-34.5) Low
Ferritin: 10.08 (9.999-120)
Transferrin Saturation: 0.7 % (15-50 %) Low
Folic Acid: 10.0 (3.8-26.8)
Vit B12: 675 (197-771)
Vit D: 144 (50-375)
I believe that in reducing my medication I have become further under active and this in turn has impacted on iron levels. I am off work sick for the first time in several years and have had some very worrying symptoms.
The low TSH level and low cortisol level puzzles me. The worst thing is the recent NICE guidance which says that when prescribing T3/ lio therapy the patient needs to have normal TSH levels so rather thinking that the nations lovely ICB’s will be delighted with this and that the good Doctor making a healthy woman very ill will be totally supported.
I continue to believe that low T3 and low T4 (and no doubt now Low iron) all continue to point to me being under medicated although this lovely low TSH has me beat.
I was hoping in reducing meds and raising TSH that it would then keep him happy and I could go on my merry way although no such luck.
Sorry for long post, replies and advice very welcome.
TIA
Blood test results
Ferritin, TSH, gluten and B12 blood test results advice please
New Blood Labs after adding Liothyronine - TSH looks better but Ferritin levels low. Have symptoms of low Ferritin but Iron is OK.
Thyroid blood test results.
