Erythrocytes sedimentation rate 20 mm/ h (1.0 - 19.0). 21mm/h
Serum C reactive protein level (XaINL). (<=12.0). 7mg/L
Serum TSH level (XaELV). (0.4 - 5.5). 5.1 mu/L
Rheumatoid factor level (<=20.0). 0 iu/mL
I am seeing my new GP tonite so any advice/help you could supply please
what do they show?
what should I ask ?
I have been taking 75 mcg of levothyroxine for three years and feel worse than ever. Hair loss; aches and pain everywhere; sleeplessness; carpal tunnel both wrists; 6 stone weight gain and rising; no energy; unable to walk too far without needing a rest; vitamin D deficiency; unknown skin rash around upper waist; poor skin condition when it was great!
Added to that I am so fed up of feeling so weak with no respite from pain at all. Is this really the best it can get when you have underactive thyroid or am I suffering with something else too!
HELP please............
Written by
Warren184
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Hi Bloods not too bad but you definitely need iron on a script, it takes ages to work. Ask for the proper Ferritin test also B12 and Folic acid. Also you need a vit D test( a hormone), if low calcium test before treatment as it effects calcium which must always be in range, heart ,kidney etc.Also make sure you have had a Free T3 test as you could well need T3 on a script, you need TSH and T4 tested but expect you have already. T3 treatment does lower your TSH and help all the symptoms .especially weight..All thyroid treatment should be slowly increased based on bloods and how you feel so, it does take a long time to be stable.It may be a good idea to also have a diabetes test, as a precaution as can go with thyroid disease.
since you are on thyroxine already your tsh is far too high. Ideally it should be around 1 or even under. when I was diagnosed hypo I started on 50 mcg and 6 weeks later it was raised to 75 then 6 weeks after that I was on a 100. 75 is a ridiculously low amount. I would be going back and asking for a raise in your thyroxine first of all. I think you have to raise your meds first to a decent level and see how you improve. But remember it does take time.
I have to butt in on this as far as the tsh level goes so I need to ask Joanna.
joanna, you said "your tsh is far too high" what makes you come to this conclusion? and what makes you think he needs to insist on an increase of thyroxine?
I agree that his thyroid function needs to be tested as 3years on a dose of thyroxine without monitoring is a long time but I fail to see how it is "far" too high. My tsh is 6.2 (highest is 9. 5 I think) and as far as I am aware it is about achieving an optimum for the patient. For his gp to ask for such a comprehensive set of bloods makes me think he's not thinking thyroid dysfunction.
I'm not saying you're wrong and I'm trying to word this so it doesn't sound like I'm having a go (I'm aware of typed words coming across wrong) but I wondered why you picked out the tsh and why you think it's so high
We have found that a lot of people on treatment do not feel well until their TSH is at the bottom of the range, or even lower and their T4 is towards the top end of the range.
Email me for info that states this: louise.warvill@thyroiduk.org
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