Thyroid slowing again?

[Loonytoonie]

I'm only on 50mcg - diagnosed last Oct. Mental fuzz, weight gain, extreme tiredness, dryness etc. It's been controlled with this tiny amount, but my joints have recently become sore. Knees (especially behind the knees) and in the last 24 hrs or so, my hands have swollen (right hand worse than left). Fingers are stiff and tight too.

Time for another blood test?

Yup and don't take no for an answer
Get tsh and t4 and take the opportunity to get b12, ferritin, vit d and folates done at the same time. It could also be a vit deficiency causing some of the probs
Ask for the tsh and t4 results with refgerence ranges and check them on here or a thyroid website
This is a condition it is best to monitor yopurself in all honesty, unless you are fortunate enough to have a gp who knows what they are doing. One who leaves you on 50 without follow up tests so early into diagnosis is probably not that well informed (imo)

Yup and don't take no for an answer
Get tsh and t4 and take the opportunity to get b12, ferritin, vit d and folates done at the same time. It could also be a vit deficiency causing some of the probs
Ask for the tsh and t4 results with refgerence ranges and check them on here or a thyroid website
This is a condition it is best to monitor yopurself in all honesty, unless you are fortunate enough to have a gp who knows what they are doing. One who leaves you on 50 without follow up tests so early into diagnosis is probably not that well informed (imo)

merci thank you so much. I'll get on to it this week and I'll pop back with my results.

Last bloods I had, I asked for the reference ranges, and they looked at me like I was talking gibberish. Is this something that should be requested on the actual form? To be honest, I ticked the ferritin box myself when I last had my bloods done and good job I did, as I came back anaemic and needing a prescription for ferrous fumerate.

I don't have much faith in my Health Centre really, when it comes to my thyroid.

No, me either, best to be proactive! I was diagnosed in nov, so similar to you, I have taken control of my treatment and raise my meds then go back in 6 weeks and ask for bloods to check levels. This works for me. I have read up a lot first tho
Def get all other vits tested (you prob need to ask gp first to get it on the list)
Ref range is on computer so they should be able to find it easily. It's v important

Nothing to add to what merci says. Damn good advice.

D

Hello again, RockinD, we meet again on a thyroid thread :-), thank you for the compliment :-) still learning stuff myself too but nice to hear I'm on the right track
Op - I feel much much better now (75 / 100 at the moment) and there was a big difference for me between 50 and 75, but I also had severe vit d deficiency and felt much better when that was sorted

Hello again, RockinD, we meet again on a thyroid thread :-), thank you for the compliment :-) still learning stuff myself too but nice to hear I'm on the right track
Op - I feel much much better now (75 / 100 at the moment) and there was a big difference for me between 50 and 75, but I also had severe vit d deficiency and felt much better when that was sorted

Do you sort the Vit deficiency yourself or do you need a script?

Am finding this really really useful, so thank you.

Could you point me in the right direction for easy to understand literature re hypothyroidism too, please. I need to get to grips with this.

It is better to do blood tests then get gp to prescribe but you should check your results yourself as well
Eg b12 can be within range (say 150) but you should aim for it to be at the high end of the range (eg over 500). If you are below range, gp will treat, but if you are low in the range, you can buy high dose supplements

For vit d, a true deficiency needs gp - eg I took 40 000 iu daily for 10 days, followed by 40000 weekly. A usual supplement is only 400 iu. Also, you need blood calcium monitoring when taking such high doses

I also bought a magnesium body spray as apparently that can be low. My ferritin was low but above range so I take spatone

Is your cholesterol high too? There is a connection between low vit d, high 'bad cholesterol' and hypo

Once your vit levels are better you might find a big difference in how you feel. It can help your medicine work better too

I just googled most of this. I think RockinD might be able to suggest some books. I've just ordered one by anthony toft from the library but not read it yet

Merci, thank you. Your posts are so informative - hugely appreciated. Back to docs this week to request another blood test. My joints are still very stiff and achey so I need to nip this is the bud.

I'll be back!

Aww, (blush)
Good luck at gp - remember - don't take no for an answer!

Hi all, sorry to butt in, merci how much will the GP test for? I am contemplating going to see a private Dr who specialises in hormones/vitamins/functional medicine. Obviously charging a small fortune for tests such as cortisol, testosterone etc. Would help if I could get some stuff done on the NHS but I always feel like a neurotic pain when I bother my GP with 'I feel exhausted all the time'.

Hi topsi, I don't know what to advise there, do you think it is thyroid related? I would get the absolute maximum done by the gp first and you can take those results with you. They should run a basic bloods panel easily and you might need to ask specifically for some of the others. What have they tested so far?
There are some private labs you could also use. I know 'blue horizon' and have tested my t3 through them as gp can't test that (discount code from thyroid uk) but I'd try gp for tests first then see what private specialist recommends as extra
I got b12, cholesterol, ferritin and vit d tested for by gp after a bit of persuasion for the vit d. I didn't ask for hormones but if for example you think it is a hormone imbalance, they could test those too

Hi topsi, I don't know what to advise there, do you think it is thyroid related? I would get the absolute maximum done by the gp first and you can take those results with you. They should run a basic bloods panel easily and you might need to ask specifically for some of the others. What have they tested so far?
There are some private labs you could also use. I know 'blue horizon' and have tested my t3 through them as gp can't test that (discount code from thyroid uk) but I'd try gp for tests first then see what private specialist recommends as extra
I got b12, cholesterol, ferritin and vit d tested for by gp after a bit of persuasion for the vit d. I didn't ask for hormones but if for example you think it is a hormone imbalance, they could test those too

Thank you merci that is really helpful, I have tried to order tests from Genova Diagnostics and even though I am a nurse they wont let you carry out testing on yourself with out a nutritionist/dietitian registration code.
I will look at 'Blue Horizon' and see if their rules are different. I have has thyroid (basic tests) done before and they looked normal by GP.
With the cortisol (stress hormone) the GP will only carry out a blood test and they only think you have a problem if result is either extreemely high or low (cushings syndrome etc). However I am wondering about adrenal fatigue etc and high cortisol can distupt other hormones.
Many thanks!

You're welcome :-)
For geneva diagnostics, again check out one of the thyroid websites (thyroid uk or others), I think they have discount codes and you can use them as the reference thing, results come to you though. I'm not absolutely certain about that though
Good luck with all the tests, I've read about cortisol but never had mine tested, are you thinking of trying nutriadrenal or something similar?

yes I have put myself on that already along with DHEA. Its all a stab in the dark though and I would rather have the blood tests done to find out once and for all. Many thanks though for the advice think I will start with the full thyroid test to rule that out.