I cannot cope with this exhaustion any more!!

[Flamesparrow]

I feel like I spend my life going back to the doctor saying "I'm tired". They must think I am a crazy hypochondriac.

It isn't depression sleeping. I know that. I am medicated for that. It isn't "hide from the world" it is "omg my body cannot keep moving any longer".

I'm on levothyroxine and my levels are seemingly correct.

I am on iron pills.

I have a good diet, moderate exercise (when my body lets me), I drink plenty of water.

Yet once again I am sat in tears because I have things I want and need to do, but I have slept for most of yesterday and today because I couldn't physically stay awake any longer.

I go to the doctor and it is always "stress" or "depression". I'm 34, but a weekend away destroys me for most of the following week. A normal day with three kids and ill partner breaks me.

The thought of the rest of my life like this terrifies me. I am already sat here worrying about having the energy to take the Dude to cubs later.

I don't really know what I expect you to say, but it needed to all be out of my head.

[Clarella]

With that tsh, in me, doing as chop suggests would be what would work.

If you decide to do that Ideally try for 3 months then go to GP.

If they are obstinate, ask for consultant referral who will actually say if you feel ok on a slightly over medicated level, that is ok! (The one I saw said this)

And yes too much isn't nice at all so you will know. I was around 2.5 / t4 16 on 125, and the little extra of a 25 every other day was enough to get to 0.3.

[Yddraigoldragon]

Also if you can, add Vit D to your round of blood tests? And post the result here? Your comment about achey hips really resonated with me, mine were awful, I have been heavily supplementing Vit D and they are now much better. Vit D also boosts serotonin, lack of it can cause tiredness, so it seems worth making sure your levels are good?

[ICantThinkOfAUsernameH]

Have you had b12 tested?

[Flamesparrow]

Sorry, I waited for results to come back. Seemingly the Dr will call me tomorrow. Drum roll for results....
TSH: 3.3 (!!!!!)
T4: 12

It's still not flagged as abnormal on the system though!

[Pleasemrstweedie]

No FT3, so we can't see what your conversion rate is like, and no ranges.

However, TSH when on Levo should be around 1 and FT4 should be in top 25% of the reference range. On that basis you are, as I though under medicated.

I'm not a doctor, but I was on my knees with results like that.

If I were you, I'd ask what the reference ranges are and, assuming your FT4 is in the bottom half of the range, I'd ask for another 25mcg, and retest in the statutory six weeks. Promise to go back immediately if you have any symptoms of over replacement.

If there's nothing doing, get some back up. Join the ThyroidUK forum at //www.healthunlocked.com and the lovely people there will help,you find evidence.

These results will not be flagged as abnormal because they will have come back within the reference ranges. That does not however mean that they are optimal.

Good luck.

[RandomMess]

My Vit D results were only a little on the low results but I'm surprised at the difference in my energy since I've been taking the tablets. I'm not a bundle of energy but at least I don't want an afternoon nap every day anymore!!!

Sounds like your levels aren't high/optimal enough for YOU, ask for a 2nd opinion/referral to a specialist if they won't play ball and let you try a higher dose.

[Flamesparrow]

They said no to higher dose, that it is psychological. Getting a copy of my results and working out next plan for second opinion/referral.

It doesn't help where DP is now getting on the stress bandwagon. I'm not disputing I'm stressed. I'm stressed because I can't live my life this exhausted!

[Pleasemrstweedie]

Get yourself onto health unlocked, honestly. Ask for a copy of 'the Pulse article'. This is an article written by one of the top endos in the country, which appeared in the GPs house magazine, and which says how we should be dosed and that it is fine to have a suppressed TSH and FT4 at the top of the range, or even just over. Some people need that to be well.

It is disgusting that they are treating this as psychological when it is blatantly obvious that you are simply under-dosed.

Your GP is keeping you ill. Welcome to the club.

[LittleCandle]

I hope you can get this sorted. My levels were dropped to 100mcg 3 years ago and I finally was able to persuade the GP to put them back up to 125mcg about a month ago. I am beginning to feel the brain fog lifting, but am still really tired - the more so after driving 1000+ miles last week to visit my new baby granddaughter. When I first went to the GP complaining about my symptoms - fatigue, aching joints, hair loss, weight gain, dry skin, loss of eyebrows/eyelashes - I was told it was my age. GP was lucky not to get a smack in the mouth! My test results were 'normal' I was told, but she didn't know how to print them to let me see them. The GP i saw a month ago agreed that she's never had thyroid problems and so really couldn't say I was wrong, so 'humoured' me and increased the dose. I suspect I might need a bit more yet, even if just for a few weeks, and perhaps a referral to an endocrinologist as i have never seen one. I will go back in a couple of weeks (if I can get an appointment, that is) and see if they will increase it a little bit again, just for a few weeks and see how I get on.

[Flamesparrow]

I've posted on there now :)

I don't understand why it's so hard to believe people know their own bodies!!

[Clarella]

The thing is - it is highly stressful to function without enough of the hormone t3 and the prohormone t4.

It really is.

A slight lack affects working memory, executive function (ability to multitask) and general memory. I think this is why we become depressed, however I become extremely anxious first as I'm aware how much I cannot meet others expectations (and my own) job wise, social wise and life wise. It also weakens muscles considerable, more so if we push on through, and can cause mild muscle myopathy. I have experienced this several times when I've been under, but I'm very skinny and have weak connective tissue anyway due to hypermobility.

So of course you're stressed!!!

A diabetic would not be allowed to have semi satisfactory results.

Many do not realise (including my hypothyroid mum) that without the medication, you would eventually die.

Yes for those who have half a thyroid, a tsh of a little higher might be ok - MIGHT - as their thyroid produces 20% of the necessary t3. But a tsh showing over 1 is the body needing to stimulate the (possibly non existent) gland to try to get more t4 and t3.

Ours is unlikely to be working or does not by the time you're reaching 100-125 thyroxine.

I concur with getting the pulse mag article to show the GP. It's by the same endo I have mentioned below - Dr Antony Toft.

I'd recommend getting your Dh to read it as well as the BMA book I've recommended. Too many people think that you're 'cured' on thyroxine.

It clearly states in the BMA book by toft that "the ideal replacement tablet would be one that contains 100 mg t4 and 10 mg t3, the latter being in a slow release form."

Personally, when I am on a good stable amount of t4 I am very well, and more so if I exercise and make sure my muscles are strong. For me this means my tsh is between 1 and 0.3, as also stated by Dr Toft.

[Clarella]

This may also be helpful.

But please get the article and the book and show your GP.