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Hi all, I;m really hoping someone could help clarify some things for me.
I've been Hypothyroid for 14 years, treated with T4 only Levothyroxine, my levels are rarely stable for more than a year and have been treated with anything from 100mcg - 175mcg over this time.
My main problem now is in the past 9 months I've had a real return of many hypo symptoms, my weight has increased, my hair has thinned and fallen out, my skin is dry, my eyebrows have thinned, I'm extremely cold and of course the crippling fatigue. I've had two blood tests during this time, as a result of my first one my Levothyroxine was reduced much to my dismay from 150mcg to 125mcg, despite my protests my GP refused to do anything until I had tried this dose for 4 months and had a further blood test.
My results today were TSH - 0.08, T4 - 13. My GP has said that as my T4 is in range that there is no further action required, I'm feeling really dissapointed as I'm still feeling incredibly hypo and really struggling with the fatigue, I've arrange to speak to my GP tommorow and am hoping he'll agree to test my T3 levels as I'm starting to think their might be a conversion problem, can anyone clarify is this might be a possibilty based on my results or have any advice that I can speak to my GP, any help is really appreciated.
Thanks again, Nikki xx
1 like, 26 replies
anne72835 NikkiMorgan
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LAHs NikkiMorgan
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I am not suggesting that you go to private doctors but you can pay to have your blood tests done by an independent lab. Get a complete thyroid panel done, this way you will get your T4, T3, (both free and total) reverse T3, TSH and your antibodies. This will let you know all of the basics of hypo/hyper thyroidism. You can then take these to any doctor on the NHS and discuss the results with him/her. If s/he brushes this off as something s/he is not interested in, you must change docs - your life may depend upon it.
If you Google "Independent blood diagnostic labs" you should find all which are available in the UK. Many of them, like in the US, will operate from the intenet - I use one of those. You select the test you want and pay them, they send you a purchase order and tell you where the nearest lab is, you just go along to that lab and your results come via e-mail about 3 or 4 days later. If you are really interested I could PM you a good one which operates here in the US but is also global (I can't put thier name on open forum - it would be advertising according to the moderator).
It is absolutely essential to know all of your numbers, not just TSH and T4 - those tell you very little unless your are very, very hypo, like TSH = >10 then it tells you something.
If your T3 turns out to be low, then you must move to the next step, what are you deficient in that you are not converting your T4 to T3. If it is not a nutritional deficiency, then you must take T3 as well as T4 - or an NDT. But get your Thyroid panel done first, that is basic.
anne72835 LAHs
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barbara98940 NikkiMorgan
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anne72835 barbara98940
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barbara98940 anne72835
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- You and Your Doctor
Going into Hospital
- How to Obtain Access to your Medical Records
- How to Make a Complaint
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barbara98940
Posted
Hashimotos - why does the body react to its own a ntigens?
Ehich is talking about TSH levels are fixed but not the underlying cause of why the body attacked the thyroid.
Scazzoh barbara98940
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barbara98940 Scazzoh
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I'm in awe - how do you find out such useful information? Thank you very much, I'll let you know how I get on (if I forget, please prompt me!)
betsy66835 NikkiMorgan
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I had same symptoms: pain in feet, low energy. Went to rheumatologist because I want to rule out Rheumatoid Arthritis. He did complete blood work. Turns out I got the Parvovirus B19 from a recent vacation trip. Blood test shows the antibody for that virus. I also had anemia, high white platelet, pain in feet (feels like arthritis), low TSH -- those are symptoms of the infection. Rheumatologist gave me Meloxicam to reduce inflammation, that work perfectly. I felt better next day. Going to Endocrinologist in a few weeks to check the low TSH to make sure that's just temporary & part of the virus infection and not something permanent that needs to be treated with Rx adjustment (I also have Hashimoto Thyroiditis & take 75 micrograms Synthroid daily for it).
Good luck!
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