My tests are ok and I'm on 100mcg thyroxine daily so why do I still feel unwell?

[Maggiet]

My hair is still coming out and after 20 minutes gardening I'm done for when before I used to garden all day. I just cannot shift the extra weight I put on before I was diagnosed. Can anyone help? I'm reluctant to go to GP as it'll be a case of 'well your bloods are ok!'

[Chippysue]

Hi Maggie, you could well be undermedicated. Let us know what your last blood test results were and the lab ranges.

Your TSH needs to be under 1 and your Free T4 at the top of the range. It is also worth having your B12, ferritin and folate tested too as they need to be nearer the top of the range.

If your Pharmacist has given you a different brand of levothyroxine, this can also have an effect as some people do better on a particular brand.

Let us know, I am sure we will be able to help you.

[Maggiet in reply to Chippysue]

Hello there, thanks for your reply. My Free T4 was 19.4 and my TSH was

0.09 which my consultant said was fine. I've just picked up an article though about beta blockers and how they affect thyroxine and as I'm om them - for migraines - I'm about to go to my GP to see what I should be doing. I just hope he knows! What makes it more difficult is that we've just moved to Scotland fron Northern England, so I have none of my usual doctors etc to rely on.

I hope you are feeling better too, this thyroid problem is such a nuisance and there doesn't seem a regular answer to it.

Bye for now

[Chippysue in reply to Chippysue]

Hi, sorry I don't know about beta blockers affecting thyroxine, maybe someone else will be able to help you on that.

Your TSH is under 1 and (depending on your lab range) your Free T4 looks as though it may be at the top ??

The next thing to consider is adding T3 to your dose. In the little book that you can buy from good Chemists that I keep mentioning on here, Dr Toft states that if the patient is still symptomatic on full dose then T3 can be added (with levo reduced). You could show this to your GP and mention that the same was stated in a recent article in the Pulse magazine which GP's have.

It is difficult moving area, not just doctors but getting settled generally. Maybe there will be someone on here who lives nearby? who can recommend an Endocrinologist that your GP can refer you too. If you have no joy then you could see Dr Skinner who has a clinic in Glasgow aswell as Birmingham.

All the best!

[Maggiet in reply to Chippysue]

Hello again

Been to see my new GP and she was very understanding! How refreshing! I got the info from this site, I think, re beta blockers and have shown the doc, but she seemed pretty well clued, thank goodness. I'm having bloods done tomorrow including full blood count, and my thyroid levels. Depending on the results she'll either see about my thyroxine and/or T3 or if they are 'normal' she'll wean me off the beta blockers. I was put on them for migraine years ago and the last time I questioned if they were needed the Gp I saw at the time, doubled the dose! So, we'll see what happens. I've started taking my thyroxine at a different time of day too, as when I get up I gave to take a tablet for my IBS 20 minutes before I eat, so I've been taking my thyroxine half an hour before lunch and it seems better. Apparently dodgy thyroxine levels can have an impact on the bowel too, so I've learnt something new today.

Hope you've had a good day.

Bye for now.