I have had an underactive for almost 3 years now and I take Eltroxin 75mcg mon-fri and 50mcg sat-sun but have not seen any results with weight loss. I am still fatigued and still picking up weight, almost 30kg's in 3 years which is not helpful. My blood test results come back normal so I am not sure if I should try some Tertroxin T3 which is readily available over the counter here. I have also read good things about pine and bee pollen for balancing out hormones naturally, is this something I should consult my doctor with before I start? I am really at the end of my rope with this thyroid issue and willing to try anything else at this stage.
Written by
Ash0811
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On such a low dose of levo, you are more than likely under-medicated. When did you last have a blood test? If you've got the results and ranges, post them here and let's have a look.
As for the pine pollen... If something sounds to good to be true, then it usually is! I don't believe anything you can take will 'naturally' balance hormones - if it did, it wouldn't be natural, it would be more like a miracle! Balancing means raising if too low, and reducing if too high. How can anything do that? A lot of things can do one or the other, but not both at the same time. And, which hormones? All of them? Sounds a bit much to ask. So, whilst pine pollen may have many virtues - I don't know, I didn't even know pine trees had pollen - but I don't sorting our your hormone excesses and deficiencies is one of them. And if your thyroid is failing for some reason, there's nothing that can save it - thyroids don't regenerate.
Do you know why you are hypo? Do you have Hashi's?
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 to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease
About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG 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.
Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)
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)
Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Lower vitamin levels more common as we get older
For good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone) we must maintain GOOD vitamin levels
What vitamin supplements are you taking
Also VERY important to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together
What is reason for your hypothyroidism
Autoimmune?
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)
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