Thyroid help!

[rusty151]

Hi,

I know the answer to my question is “go see the doctor”, which I will. But I only got my blood test result this evening, and bring that it’s xmas and all...

Anyway, my results are T4: 14.7, and TSH: 9.6

I’ve been taking 100 micro grams of thyroxine daily for about a year. I have been experiencing symptoms again lately: weight gain, lethargy, breathlessness.

Despite eating healthily and exercising regularly, I still feel like crap. Anyone have any insights into my numbers? Or any advice generally?

Tia

Do you take your thyroxine either first thing in the morning an hour before eating/Tea/coffee or last thing at night two hours after eating?

Have you had things like ferritin/iron, vitamin B12, folate and vitamin D checked, and if so, are they all at optimal levels?

You're very undermedicated and should also get vit d, ferritin, folate and b12 checked with your symptoms. Once medicated you should aim for a tsh if 1 or under to feel well. See an endocriologist if possible.

Thanks for your replies! Yes. I usually take the thyroxine first thing in the morning, about 30 minutes before eating. Also, I don’t drink coffee until around 10am.

I’m also taking 20 micro grams of Prozac - do you think there might be a negative interaction? I asked the doctor, and he said I shouldn’t worry about it. I’ve always wondered whether I was treated for depression in error, and they hadn’t picked up on the thyroid issue.

All very vexing.

Dear God, those results must be making you feel shattered. You need more thyroxine, pronto. TSH should be about 1.

Get a Vit D spray and use it, take iron, all of which can be done before you see the GP. To shout at them, frankly. You need bloods done every 12 weeks too.

Good luck.

Exactly what WhentoD said. You’re very under-medicated and as well as looking at other things needs to keep your TSH ideally below 2. Unfortunately some doctors think this is under 5 but new (actually not so new) research shows under 2-3 should be normal. I have to say I feel terrible when my tsh is anything over 2. I’ve had this for over 20 years and it’s a pain to negotiate levels with doctors so very handy if you have a doctor who agrees with the tsh under 2.

I think I’ve been putting it down to getting older....but it really isn’t normal to have naps at every opportunity when I’m only 45. I’ve had to quit the gym as well because I couldn’t make it through a class. Started to get worried when I was getting breathless during a half hour presentation at work 🙈

You could consider trying to take medication in the evening instead as some people find that helps with absorption. But with those numbers I’d suggest a dose increase first and dr should take it seriously as your TSH is way too high.

May I ask are you taking your meds together? I'd try taking the fluoxetine at a different time to the thyroxine. Idk if there is any reason to believe they bind to each other but this is the case with some meds and there is nothing to risk by taking them separately.

But yes, as pp say, by most lab ranges you are very undermedicated and most likely need an increase in meds. Ideally, unless you suffer from certain health problems eg heart issues or are very frail/elderly, if you're still symptomatic you should be prescribed more thyroxine (some people don't feel better until their tsh is much lower, closer to 1) to see if there is any improvement.

Has your gp said why he thinks it's fine for your tsh to be so high? Is your cholesterol also high?

I feel for you, it can be a real pain in the arse finding a gp who knows anything about thyroid stuff.

Agree those lab results suggest you're under medicated.

FYI on lab results though. Not everyone needs to have the same numbers to feel ok though. I need to be less than 1 for TSH, others need to be a bit higher. The results are an indication of where you're at but not an absolute. So it looks like you need a higher dose because you're over the "normal range" and once you get to feeling good, then you check what the corresponding lab results are for you and that's where you want to stay, whatever the numbers are.

This means if a Dr says something like "Oh your results are normal" that doesn't necessarily mean that the problem is something else. It's something that's tricky, but to keep in mind as you (hopefully) get your dosage changed (DON'T attempt that on your own - definitely go back to Dr and explain your symptoms).

And take all other medications separately to it in general. There are so many tiny variables that can impact thyroid medication and such a pain to calibrate, it's best I find to keep everything away from it!

Thanks all - some really useful info and tips. Will eat myself daft over Christmas then see GP as soon as.

Hope you all have a good one 👍

Your TSH should be under 4 and not below 1

Go and see anither gp and ask to be medicated correctly to bring your TSH within the normal range

Problem is with thyroid people are so low it’s difficult at times to be demanding.

Op this is really wrong and you are ok to demand a large does to get yourself to “normal”

Op the reason you are napping is due to your condition not being medicated and tell the gp you’ve had to stop going to the gym as you can’t get through a class