Wasn’t sure whether to start new post as this is a follow on from my post about chronic pain & using finger prick tests?
I have been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s & UA. I only have left side of thyroid which is very inflamed (thyroid inferno) & been referred from ENT to Endocrinology.
My first 2 months of 50mcg Levo have reduced my TSH & it looks like it’s improved T4 but I still don’t feel well. My Medichecks advanced test shows normal for everything other than antibodies although I’m low in range for iron, B12 & D. I think my T4 & T3 is too low?
My GP isn’t going to help me. I hoped the amazing people on here would comment on my recent results, as regards how hard I push for more Levo (or T3 medication) - I’m also considering LDN but don’t want to change too much at once.
Thank you 🙏
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Oatsforlife
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I checked the Medicheck guidance & they say to stop multivitamins & supplements a day before but B12 12days before. As my multivitamins include B12, I stopped my B12 spray and multivitamins 12days ahead. It’s complicated, I'm not sure how to deal with preparing for the test now. Do you think they made a mistake and it should be B7 (biotin) that's stopped 12 days before (7days normally).
Ferritin 52 (30-332)
Vitamin B12 84.4. (>37.5)
Vit D 66 (50-250)
Also, preparing for the conversation with my GP, is there any evidence I can show for most people needing to be 60-70% in the test range for T3/T4?
supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)
This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will maintain B12 levels too
B vitamins best taken after breakfast
Igennus B complex popular option. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose and may need 2 per day and/or may need separate methyl folate couple times a week
Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg)
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week. Red meat daily, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
Thank you, so much, for all of that. I'll review the details today. Ferrous fumerate really affects my gut so it'll be helpful to see what other options there are - recently bought ferrous sulphate.
One of my issues is already being a pescatarian & trying to remove gluten and cow dairy from my diet. I've introduced lots of other things (nuts, lentils, beans) and don't have an issue with high % dark chocolate 👍😂
Have a great weekend - so grateful for your insight & kindness!
if necessary accept 50mcg and 75mcg on alternate days (62.5mcg average per day) while you work on improving low vitamin levels
Guidelines of dose Levo by weight
approx how much do you weigh in kilo
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
Comprehensive list of references for needing LOW TSH 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).
Yes - fasted to take the test before 9 & before my morning Levo.
Unfortunately it’s extremely unlikely that my GP will support an increase as they said on Monday (before I had the Medicheck result) that my condition was ‘well controlled’ based on TSH that was slightly higher with their test 2 weeks ago. That conversation was about my migraines & neck pain.
I called today to ask when my next GP test would be & told them that my T4/T3 was low in range & they’re asking a GP to call me back. At the moment, ENT seem to be trying to help me more, by referring me to Endocrinologist directly?
Incidentally, they haven’t responded to me asking them to check whether it’s appropriate to prescribe propranolol for migraines yet either.
I’m probably around 70-75kg. I take 50mcg Hillcross Accord. I stopped taking multivitamins 12days before the test - I’ll post the vitamin & iron separately. 🙏
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Add HRT or Change meds?
next chapter
Medicheck Results, please advise.
Advice please on next steps ........thank you
Feel like I’ve stepped back in time. 
