Please is TSH 2.77 and T4 14.4 normal. Don't feel good but doctor says she can't help me. Only on 25mcg thyroxine. Thank you

[Monster]

[PinkNinja]

Do you have reference ranges for those results?

Your doctor is wrong. She may actually be a good doctor who has simply misunderstood how to interpret these results so don't give up on her just yet. She should be aiming for you to be symptom-free whilst having your blood test results within the normal range. There is plenty of room for manoeuvre within the range so it is likely that you could have an increase of at least 25mcg. Many people don't feel well until their TSH is below 1.

You might find Dr Toft's book helpful. He is the ex-chairman of the British Thyroid Association and the book is published in association with the BMA. He states that many people feel better only once their TSH is below 1 and some people don't feel well until it is below range or suppressed.

amazon.co.uk/Thyroid-Disord...

I hope this helps

Carolyn x

[Monster]

Thank you it does. I will order Dr. Tofts book today. I just had to have all my hair cut off because it was a dry, tangled birds nest. Not good for self esteem! My knees permanently ache - is this symptomatic? Once again thank you for your prompt reply x

[shaws Administrator in reply to Monster]

You are on a very low dose at 25mcg and usually it should be increased every 4 to 6 weeks with a blood test each time till you are on optimum meds. Ideally, medication should be till symptoms go but, as Carolyn says maybe your GP is not really aware as many try to keep you within the reference range.

Dr Toft's book will be helpful to show your GP. Regarding your aches, yes it can be a symptom of both hypo and/or undertreated.

PS. If you want to reply to a comment, you have to press the blue Reply to this and a new box will appear for your reply, otherwise the person isn't notified.

I understand about your hair loss but on adequate meds, it should come back.

[Monster in reply to shaws]

Thank you. I will endeavour to learn all I can before my next GP appointment. It really helps to know you are all out there giving support. Thanks for reply heads up - bit of a technophobe! X

[Hidden]

Posts like this make my blood boil - my incompetent NHS gp kept me at tsh of 3 and 4 for years. I felt like sh&t and he said it was 'stress' and 'depression', I will never let an NHS GP control my health again.

[Monster]

Thanks Bluedaffodil. I was able to get an appointment in 3 weeks time with a GP who is usually very good - so fingers crossed!

[shaws Administrator]

I do not have the link but this is an excerpt I copied previously. It is a big learning curve if your thyroid gland problems are not relieving you of your symptoms. P. s. Synthroid is the equivalent of our levothyroxine and 0.05 mg is equal to 50mcg levo:-

Without question, you should do something else. Unfortunately, your doctor prescribed for you what our clinical and research experience has taught us is the least effective approach to thyroid hormone therapy—the use of T4 alone. Synthroid, of course, contains only T4.

Moreover, the dose he prescribed, 0.05 mg, is extremely small. It’s so extremely small that it's highly unlikely you'll benefit from it in any way no matter how long you take it. On the other hand, that small a dose may actually slow your metabolism more and worsen your symptoms. Perhaps this has happened, in that you say your symptoms have worsened since you started taking Synthroid.

It’s tragic that millions of patients such as yourself suffer needlessly for years because their doctors prescribe extremely small doses of T4

[Monster in reply to shaws]

My TSH was previously 8 so I do feel better than I did before. But the tiredness and the aching are coming back. How is possible to feel so lethargic yet not be able to sleep at night?

[Clarebear in reply to Monster]

My insomnia has been really bad but I am now taking a small dose of Armour at night and this seems to have really helped. I realise you are on thyroxine but some people have also noticed a benefit from taking that at night. If you are not already doing this then it might be worth giving it a try xx

[Monster in reply to Clarebear]

Thank you Clarebear. I did try taking it at night but it didn't help. My doctor did give me amitriptyline ages ago but I read it wasn't good to take it with the thyroxine? X

[shaws Administrator in reply to Monster]

Maybe when your meds are increased it might help with seleeping.

[Monster in reply to shaws]

Hopefully it will. I will let you know how I get on at my next appointment. Thank you for your support x

[hymermad]

Hello monster, I too was kept on 25mcg for over 2 years and initially felt better but not for long! When I found this site and got to learn so much more I am now on 150 and going up to 175 soon as still have not found my "happy place!" My GP even with all her good intentions even now wants me to drop my dose because she does not understand that feeling ell is more important than blood test results! Good luck with your journey to better health.

[Monster in reply to hymermad]

Thank you so much. It's so nice to speak to people who understand. Like you, this forum has given me so much information to arm myself with for my next GP appointment. I went to a dinner party last night - no wine! Today I feel like a tired, achey geriatric. Painkillers needed! It will be so great to feel well and be able to socialise without consequences. Good health to you all ??

[hymermad]

Sadly we are treated so badly on the NHS due to their lack of knowledge and gentle educating them is a challenge in its self! This forum has been a life line for me and have learnt so much but the main being not feeling all alone with this horrible condition. The worst for me is the anxiety and panics feelings, So horrible, and the aches and pains! I console myself with reminding myself it isn't cancer and I am still alive! But fed up with feeling so debilitated for past 3 years. I used to be so active and adventurous, Now I feel like a wimp!!! But hey ho, Onwards and upwards. X

[Monster in reply to hymermad]

As you say the forum is a lifeline, before I was diagnosed I thought I was losing the plot! Keep warm in this awful weather - the cold is definitely not our best friend. Happy weekend xx

[BexyLS in reply to Monster]

Hi monster, I know how you feel with the exhaustion but not able to sleep. When i started on Levo I was the same and had never suffered like that before the diagnosis and Levo treatment! Since then I've gone private and changed my prescription to Armour, in many ways I am doing much better. No heart palpitations weird sweats and can sleep but i still think i need to up the Armour dose. I will be seeing my lovely GP this week.

Anyway, Holland and Barrett sell a tea called Dr Stuarts valerian root tea (they will also tell you if it is contraindicated with any meds) It is miraculous! I drink it and 20 mins later im relaxed and in sleepy land!

I have told others on here about it, no i dont work for Dr Stuart it is just good tea!

anyway, hope things improve. Dr Tofts booklet helped me with my Gp when my levels were apparently "normal". After quoting toft my meds were raised

Good luck!

[Monster in reply to BexyLS]

Thanks BexyLS. You have just cleared up another thing I couldn't understand - why I could feel my heart beating fast when I tried to sleep at night! It's got to the stage where I can't sleep on my left side because I can hear it thudding.

I will definitely try the tea, I've tried the warm bath, milky drink to no avail. I will get back to to let you know and others know if it works for me.

I have been able to download Dr. Tofts book on I books, so any other fellow sufferers who want to read it sooner rather than later can get it quickly.

Sweet dreams.