I’ve had a private GP consultation and tests because I had no joy from my GP who insists that my constant body pains and stiffness are not due to my hashimotos.
Results are after a fasting test
TSH 3.29
FT4 16.7
FT3 4.1
Thyroglobulin 130
Thyroid Peroxidase 20
I’m 70 years old active and petite build and slim and taking 50 mcg which is low but has been my constant level of medication which my doctor says is ok. The private GP says the same after reviewing the test results.
They both say my thyroid problem has nothing to do with the all over body pains - next step is to see a rheumatologist.
Any thoughts or others who have experienced this??
I take magnesium and a range of vitamins as I have osteoporosis as well but don’t take treatment for this.
thank you
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Cecilbenhard
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If you have enough stock I would suggest you add a little increase yourself as you are obviously dealing with buffoons.... if you buy a cheap pill cutter you could quarter a 50mcg tablet and add a quarter a day which would put you on 62.5mcg and might just make all the difference or even alternate 50/62.5 as your fT3/4 are low
I'm guessing the lab range here which would seem likely with your mid range TSH... be please do correct me if wrong
TSH 3.29 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.5) 71.4%
Free T4 (fT4) 16.7 pmol/L (12 - 22) 47.0%
Free T3 (fT3) 4.1 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 27.0%
T4:T3 Ratio 4.073
Are you on a good level of Vit D & K2 for your osteoporosis?
Thank you Tiggerme, I have been stockpiling my 50 mcg tabs to do just this if I can’t get any support from the medics. I am talking with the pharmacist next week regarding dosage but so far every medic I’ve spoken with has denied that the constant pains I get are thyroid related. The only thing that worries me is the effect on the heart and osteoporosis in relation to dosage of levo.
Re vitamin K - I take osteoporosis tabs twice a day with 50 ug vitamin K and 25 ug vitamin D.
Your levels are low so you would certainly benefit from a dose increase, they misguidedly think it is acceptable for TSH to rise as you age 😕you are a long way from being over-replaced... many of us resort to self managing as GP's/ Endo's are clueless
If anything a small increase would help with bone health, have they checked your Vit D levels as 25ug = 1000iu which is a low dose, I personally take 5000iu a day to maintain 125nmol/L, also folate, ferritin and B12 are important to monitor and supplement when needed
A few of us use it to help stimulate bone health, I'm 56 and have been using it for a year to reverse osteopenia, caused by years of under-replaced thyroid hormones and low vits and mins... I'm looking forward to my next dexa scan next year!
Hi Tiggerme, just wondered if you got your Dexa scan on NHS? I would like to get one, but when I asked my GP, she said, something to the effect of - We just wait to see if you have a fracture! 😯I'm 62, and was undiagnosed hypo for years, so slightly worried about bones, plus I have ongoing back pain.
No, as a non smoking, non heavy drinker of a healthy weight having not broken a bone you don't qualify until 60, at the time I was 55 so just booked in at the local Nuffield who luckily have one £160
I would think at 62 you are at least in the qualifying age range and certainly with all the scaremongering they do about Levothyroxine use and bones and back pain
Thanks. I might try asking again. I really just wanted to know if I'm at risk and should be doing something about it, apart from exercising and getting calcium in diet.
Absolutely worth another push, like you say they wait until the horse has bolted before investigating 😕 they really aren't interested in preventative care though they constantly bang on saying we are an at risk group
Hi , your GP needs to read these references : ( some take straight from GP reference sources.... all advise GP's to keep TSH under 2/ 2.5 in all patients on Levo)
On levothyroxine the aim is to bring Ft4 (levothyroxine) to approx 60-70% through range
You need dose increase
Having been left under medicated for years ….will need to increase SLOWLY
Which brand Levo are you currently taking
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at
Suggest you request “trial” increase to 62.5mcg daily via GP
Retest in 2-3 months
Meanwhile get B12, folate, vitamin D and ferritin levels tested
Exactly what vitamin supplements are you taking
Even if we frequently start on only 50mcg, most people need to increase levothyroxine dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps (retesting 6-8 weeks after each increase) until eventually on, or somewhere near full replacement dose (typically 1.6mcg levothyroxine per kilo of your weight per day)
Adults usually start with a dose between 50 micrograms and 100 micrograms taken once a day. This may be increased gradually over a few weeks to between 100 micrograms and 200 micrograms taken once a day.
Some people need a bit less than guidelines, some a bit more
TSH should be under 2 as an absolute maximum when on levothyroxine
If symptoms of hypothyroidism persist despite normalisation of TSH, the dose of levothyroxine can be titrated further to place the TSH in the lower part of the reference range or even slightly below (i.e., TSH: 0.1–2.0 mU/L), but avoiding TSH < 0.1 mU/L. Use of alternate day dosing of different levothyroxine strengths may be needed to achieve this (e.g., 100 mcg for 4 days; 125 mcg for 3 days weekly).
The optimal daily dose in overt hypothyroidism is 1·5–1·8 μg per kg of bodyweight, rounded to the nearest 25 μg. In younger patients with no substantial comorbidities, the full required dose can be given at the start of treatment. Clinicians should consider starting levothyroxine at a dose of 25–50 μg/day, with subsequent titration in adults aged 65 years and older
Here’s link for how to request Thyroid U.K.list of private Doctors emailed to you, but within the email a link to download list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologists
Ideally choose an endocrinologist to see privately initially and who also does NHS consultations so that might eventually transfer to NHS
Thank you slowdragon. I take Accord branded levo. My current supplements are:
Osteoplex which is magnesium, calcium, vitamin K, vitamin D, b eta carotene and boron x3 daily
Selenium with zinc/ vitamins A,C &E added, omega 3, glucosamine, and I’m trying an iron supplement of Feroglobin with vitamin B12 added. Feels like quite a concoction.
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