help…. Still waiting for hospital referral, I’m on 225mg and still feel exhausted ….. had hypothyroidism for over 12years and just feel bit lost in system ….
I don’t receive any benefits …. Is it worth trying g to claim PIP? as just can’t see how I can continue working any more until this sorted.
Thank you
Hi Givemeaname,
Do you have any recent blood test results? I had a quick read of your previous post from two years ago but didn't see any results.
If you can post your most recent blood results that's the usual starting point and others will comment and make suggestions to help you 😊
I don't think you've ever shared any thyroid results, do you know how well you are converting to fT3? Any results for folate, ferritin, Vit D and B12?
PIP is awarded based on the difficulties you have not the name of the condition you have - it’s the help you need which is taken into account.
You do need the support of your GP / specialist / medical professional who can confirm your difficulties.
Claims can take a long time to process & you sometimes need to attend a meeting for formal assessment. (Sometimes done via telephone)
They recommend you contact citizens advice
Mental health & turn to us charities also have helpful hints and you can find videos on YouTube.
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While you look into claiming might be worth checking your thyroid is optimally treated.
What are your latest thyroid results? Eg TSH, FT4, FT3, have you had antibodies re-tested (TPO & TG - TSI & TRab) & nutrients such as folate ferritin vitamin D & B12. (and always include the lab ranges as they vary between labs)
In range or “normal” results is acceptable to doctors.
Do you take any other medications or supplements?
Request GP test FULL thyroid and vitamin levels
ALWAYS book early morning test, ideally before 9am and only drinking water between waking and test and last dose Levo 24 hours before test
Which brand of levothyroxine are you prescribed
Do you always get same brand at each prescription
is your hypothyroidism autoimmune
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)
NHS only tests TG antibodies if TPO are high
20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis
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
VERY important to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
Post all about what time of day to test
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing
Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
support.medichecks.com/hc/e...
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
Monitor My Health (NHS private test service) offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65
(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies)
monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...
10% off code here
thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...
if you can get GP to test vitamin levels this is cheapest full thyroid test
Randox FULL thyroid test including both thyroid antibodies just £29
Test at home or in clinic
As Purple Nails has wisely said PIP is based on how your condition affects you not having the condition itself, which is fair as no two people have exactly the same issues, even if both have Hypo. Its also awarded on the fact you've had problems for at least 3 months and are expected to have them for at least 9 months in the future.
The issue being that the DWP could argue that once your medication is optimised or changed you could realistically return to work. PIP isnt an out of work benefit anyway, disabled people both in and out of work can claim it. I'm not dismissing your health issues at all but just trying to warn you how the DWP think.
Its tough to get, the form is lengthy, its best to have reliable medical evidence to back it up, so clinic letters, reports from consultants, Endos, anyone else you've seen. The DWP rarely contact your GP and GP's hate filling in the reports if they do, and some refuse, arguing they are too busy. In any case GP evidence isnt all that useful anyway. They wont know if you struggle to get to the loo or need help getting dressed.
Additionally there are very long wait times at the DWP, I've heard of claims taking months to be decided, there is also the real possibility of having to have an assessment over the phone or F2F with a " health professional".
I know I sound negative and its always worth a try but I'm just warning you the process is arduous, time consuming and frustrating. The DWP's remit is to deny as many claims as possible.
I applied for PIP and got it after following the entire process, took me 7 or 8 months.
I recommend having a search on YouTube for videos on how to apply and answer questions (message me if you want a suggestion, last time I posted it it was removed as promoting it).
The issue I found was my symptoms were not consistent and that made the process hard until I had a case worker at the appeals stage that actually read all my answers.
New dosage 
New member
Levothyroxine dosage 
T3 dosage
