hi all. New here. Had graces disease in my 20s. But have been on levothyroxine since.
I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis in 2023. Since then I have been on a host of meds. none working too well.
but I’ve been on statins since January. They’ve just told me my tsh level is really low. But my free t3 is ok. I’m concerned the meds I’m on are messing with everything. I haven’t had to change my Levothyroxine levels much in the last 12 years. But my blood pressure is through the roof and my heart rate is high with sudden drops. I’m exhausted. But I’m flaring with my ra. I just don’t know which way is up or down at the moment… any ideas
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Tealblue2
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Please share exact blood results along with the reference range for each test - numbers in brackets after your result.
Members find they get low vitain levels when hypo.
When hypo we get low stomach acid which means we cannot absorb vitamins well from our food, regardless of a great diet. For thyroid hormone to work well we need OPTIMAL levels of vitamins.
Have you recently or could you ask your GP to test levels of ferritin, folate, B12 & D3? Private tests are available, see link for companies offering private blood tests & discount codes, some offer a blood draw service at an extra cost. thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...
There is also a new company offering walk in& mail order blood tests in London, Kent, Sussex & Surrey areas. Check to see if there is a blood test company near you. onedaytests.com/products/ul...
Only do private tests on a Monday or Tuesday to avoid postal delays.
Thank you and sorry. The RA group works a bit differently.
My tsh is 0.04
My blood pressure is approximately150/90 average.
I’m on ferritin tablets for low iron/ chronic illness anaemia.
Most of my other bloods are more normal than they have been in years. But my white blood is still low. But I’m on immunosuppressants so there’s no suprise there.
The information about the blood tests is reallly helpful. Thanks
If GP is only testing TSH then you dont have a full picture of your thyroid health. Suggest you buy a pprivate test and run TSH, FT4 & FT3 plus all your key vitamins - ferritin, folate, B12 & D3.
Most members need to be supplementing continuously to raise and maintain good vitamin levels.
Always book thyroid blood test for 9am or earlier when TSH is highest. Fast before the test and take Levo that day AFTER the test. Stop any biotin supplement 4-7 days before the test.
Ask GP to do a 24hr BP monitor to get an average of your BP.
Graves is an Auto Immune disease and having had definitive treatment - RAI thyroid ablation simply results in your being with Graves Disease but now dealing with primary hypothyroidism.
It is essential that you are not dosed on your TSH - but on your Free T3 and Free T4 blood test results - though fully understand that in primary care you have likely been dosed and monitored on a TSH and probably occasional Free T4 reading.
The most recent research suggests Statins should not be prescribed until treatment for hypothyroidism is optimal -
So - if your doctor ran a full thyroid function test - TSH-T3 and T4 - before starting you on Statins if you care to share that blood test result and range - it helps us understand better what is going on.
You say you had RAI thyroid ablation in your 20's - how old are you now ?
What dose of T4 - Levothyroxine are you now taking ?
No thyroid hormone replacement works well until the core strength vitamins and minerals - those of ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D are up and maintained at optimal levels, which we can also advise on if you care to share any results and ranges you have.
I had RAI for Graves back in 2005 - I knew nothing and simply trusted mainstream medical and became much more unwell some 8 years later , details on my Profile page - just press the icon alongside my username - and fell into this forum searching low ferritin - and am now so much better :-
We do now have some research that I detail under ;
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