Re: New and need advice (Pascale)

[Guest guest]

Hello Pascale

Why are they leaving you to wait until the middle of February to

do other blood tests to see decide whether or not to put you on thyroxine.

Surely if your January results were significantly different to your previous

one, you should have been started with a trial of thyroid hormone replacement.

You should get your test results from your GP and post them

here, together with the reference range for each of the tests done and we can

help with their interpretation.

You might ask your GP to check your free T4 and free T3 if your

TSH only was tested to see where they lie in the reference range. Also ask to

be tested to see if you have thyroid antibodies.

The pain you describe is often called fibromyalgia and is often

caused because the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4) which is mainly inactive, is

not properly converting to the active thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3). It

is T3 that is needed by every cell in your body and brain to make them

function. This is why it is important to check the level of T3 to see if it is

low. You should also ask y our GP to check your levels of ferritin, vitamin

B12, vitamin D3, magnesium, folate, copper and zinc because if any of these

show low levels, again they would stop the active thyroid hormone from being

absorbed at cellular level until whatever is low is supplemented.

Your tingling all in the places you mention could be an

indication your vitamin B12 level is very low. It needs to be near to the top

of the reference range. As soon as you get these results, post them here. Many

sufferers of the symptoms of hypothyroidism have low levels of B12 and iron.

Once you are put on the correct thyroid hormone replacement and

the correct dose, your back pain should disappear, and hopefully, so should

your other symptoms.

Have a look at all the symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism in

our web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk under

'Hypothyroidism' in the Menu and check these against yours. Also, check y our

basal temperature when you wake in a morning and before getting out of bed for

4 or 5 mornings. Normal temperature is around 98.6 degrees F. If yours is 97.8

(and it could be much less) this is an indication your metabolism is running

too low and you need thyroid hormone replacement.

Until you get a proper diagnosis, there is little you can do for

the pain but to take Ibuprofen or some other suitable pain killer. I would buy

Dr Barry Durrant-Peatfield's book " Your Thyroid and How to Keep it

Healthy " which you can buy through Amazon as this is one of the best books

for patients, as it is written for patients. Dr Peatfield is one of our medical

advisers.

For most people, it is considered " safe " to start with

synthetic thyroxine (T4). Thyroxine is a prohormone though which has to convert

to the active thyroid hormone T3. however, for a large minority, we are unable

to convert and are left suffering the symptoms and unable to regain normal

health until we are prescribed some form of T3, either synthetic, or natural.

Your NHS doctor is very unlikely to prescribe this, so you will have to wait

and see whether the thyroxine will work for you. Most people say it works fine

for them.

Luv - Sheila

After

a whole series of tests for back pain (MRI, CT Scan, Bone XRay, 2 visits

at the physio) + leg pains (where the sciatica nerve runs) , pins and

needles, the only thing that comes up is a borderline hypothyroidism. My doctor

told me that there was a significant difference in results between my test in

February 2010 and the one I did in January of this year. She is asking me to

redo a blood test + other (?) mid Feb to decide if I should go on

thyroxin.

The

tingling all over the body (head, tongue, face, arms, legs) but sometimes

strong pin and needles in legs (especially when I've done exercising) is

awful and sometimes I cannot sleep....that's the worst and no remedy seems to

help. With unexplained constipation (I eat very healthy food and drink lots of

water), some unexplained small weight gain and very dull looking

hair, these are the symptoms I can see for time being.

[Guest guest]

Hello SHeila

Since your email here below, which was very helpful, I've had another thyroid

test test done and also the antibodies.

In the meantime, I went to see a kinesiologist (also specialised in nutrition)

who gave me zinc and magnesium which he found my body needed. The pin and

needles regularly disappear and felt I did not need to take the nurofen, codeine

for my leg muscle pains and was started to feel much better. Then I started to

take Thyroxine 2 days ago (50 microgram)after my doctor got the new test results

earlier this month and all those symptoms game back and even worse. Is this just

a coincidence or could it be related?

I did take my temperature over 5 days as yourrecommended and they were all 97.1

to 97.5

You asked to post my results. This is a very long list and not really sure what

you need. Just for your information, my doctor prescribed another test in 6

weeks and also to check on T3.

Free thyroxine: 10.4 (29/12/10) - 9.6 (01/02/11)

Thyroid stimulating hormone - 12.7 (29/12/10) - 13.2 (01/02/11)

Thyroid autoantibodies: 20 (1/02/11)

Results from Dec 2010: fasting glucose 5.6 / serum ferritin: 47 / B12 561 /

folate: 10.8

I look forward to hearing from you as I'm again at a loss!

Many thanks

Pascale

>

> Hello Pascale

>

>

>

> Why are they leaving you to wait until the middle of February to do other

> blood tests to see decide whether or not to put you on thyroxine. Surely if

> your January results were significantly different to your previous one, you

> should have been started with a trial of thyroid hormone replacement.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Pascale, whenever you post blood/urine test results, always

post the reference range too, otherwise we have no way of knowing whether your

results are at the bottom, the middle or the top of the range. However, I can

see that your fT4 is too low, your TSH is too high, and that you probably don't

have thyroid antibodies, but let us have the reference range before we can

comment further. I can also see that your fasting glucose looks OK, your

Ferritin is far too low at 47 (you need to start taking some form of elemental

iron such as 200mgs Ferrous Sulphate or Fumerate daily with food), your vitamin

B12 is too low, so you need B12 1000mcgs sublingual tablets daily (Solgar are

the best), and your folate also appears low, but again, we need the reference

range. If folate is low, you need to use 5mgs folic acid daily to help build up

this level. Until these are built up, the thyroid hormone can't be properly

utilised at cellular level. Problem is - doctors don't even know about los

levels of vitamins and minerals and the effect they have on the thyroid system.

So long as the results are anywhere within the reference range, you will be

told that you don't have a problem.

As far as taking the thyroxine is concerned, are you allergic to

any of the fillers, i.e. lactose, maize. If so, your doctor can prescribe for

you a Pure form of Thyroxine which is available from dale's Pharmacopeia.

Luv - Sheila

Since your email here below, which was very helpful, I've had another thyroid

test test done and also the antibodies.

In the meantime, I went to see a kinesiologist (also specialised in nutrition)

who gave me zinc and magnesium which he found my body needed. The pin and

needles regularly disappear and felt I did not need to take the nurofen,

codeine for my leg muscle pains and was started to feel much better. Then I

started to take Thyroxine 2 days ago (50 microgram)after my doctor got the new

test results earlier this month and all those symptoms game back and even

worse. Is this just a coincidence or could it be related?

I did take my temperature over 5 days as yourrecommended and they were all 97.1

to 97.5

You asked to post my results. This is a very long list and not really sure what

you need. Just for your information, my doctor prescribed another test in 6

weeks and also to check on T3.

Free thyroxine: 10.4 (29/12/10) - 9.6 (01/02/11)

Thyroid stimulating hormone - 12.7 (29/12/10) - 13.2 (01/02/11)

Thyroid autoantibodies: 20 (1/02/11)

Results from Dec 2010: fasting glucose 5.6 / serum ferritin: 47 / B12 561 /

folate: 10.8

_,_._,___

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila

My doctor was not too happy with giving me the reference range and advice me to

be very careful and just be a little more patient! Yet, I would say she's a

very good doctor :-)

here below are the additional info:

>

> Free thyroxine: 9.6 (9.0 to 19.0)

> Thyroid stimulating hormone 13.2 (0.35 to 4.94)

> Thyroid autoantibodies: 20

>

serum ferritin: 47 (5 to 204)- B12 561 (160 to 88.883)

> folate: 10.8 (2.2 to 16)

Please let me know which vit/minerals will support the thyroid, quantities,

length of time I should take them for and when to take them.

I get very constipated with iron tablets!!

many thanks

Pascale

[Guest guest]

Hi Pascale, Your doc is right that treating a thyroid problems isn't an overnight fix, but the problem does need decent treatment!your Ft4 is at the bottom of the range, TSH is very high- most healthy folk have a TSH of around 1.0. What thyroid meds has you doc prescribed?- you should be going back in 6 weeks for a retest and dose increase until TSh is' normal'. you should be taking supplements to increase you iron as that will help with utilising thyroid hormone properly.constipation with iron can be alleviated with a decent quantity of vitC- maybe several grams daily, but you'll have to do trial and error to find the right amount- this will also improve iron absorption. Zinc and selenium are also vital for thyroid function, and always worth supplementing as they are both low in UK soils.> thyroid treatment > From: pascale.hayward@...> Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 11:06:18 +0000> Subject: Re: New and need advice (Pascale)> > Hi Sheila> > My doctor was not too happy with giving me the reference range and advice me to be very careful and just be a little more patient! Yet, I would say she's a very good doctor :-)> > here below are the additional info: > > > > > Free thyroxine: 9.6 (9.0 to 19.0)> > Thyroid stimulating hormone 13.2 (0.35 to 4.94)> > Thyroid autoantibodies: 20 > > > serum ferritin: 47 (5 to 204)- B12 561 (160 to 88.883)> > folate: 10.8 (2.2 to 16)> > Please let me know which vit/minerals will support the thyroid, quantities, length of time I should take them for and when to take them.> I get very constipated with iron tablets!!> > many thanks> > Pascale> > > > > > > ------------------------------------> > TPA is not medically qualified. Consult with a qualified medical practitioner before changing medication.> >

[Guest guest]

Well, your doctor cannot withhold them, whether she's a very

good doctor or not. Probably didn't want you to know because your free T4 is at

the very bottom of the range and this is bad. For those not on hormone replacement,

free T4 should be above the middle of the reference range and for those who are

taking thyroid hormone replacement therapy, it should be in the upper third of

the range.

Your ferritin is to low at 47 - it should be in the region of 70

to 90 and your B12 is too low also, which should be near to the top of the

range. Boost your ferritin level with either ferrous sulphate or ferrous Fumerate

200mgs daily, with high dose vitamin C 4/5000mgs, - but any iron supplement you

take should be taken at least 4 hours away from thyroid hormone replacement.

Your folate is on the low side and you would probably benefit from taking 5mgs

folic acid daily and your B12 should be boosted by taking 1000mcgs B12 (Solgar

is one of the best) sublingually so it is absorbed directly into the blood

stream and by-passes the stomach. Get your blood tested again in 3 months time

and see if the levels have risen. You need to take supplements until they have done

the job they are supposed to do.

Has your GP started you on levothyroxine?

Luv - Sheila

My doctor was not too happy with giving me the reference range and advice me to

be very careful and just be a little more patient! Yet, I would say she's a

very good doctor :-)

here below are the additional info:

> Free thyroxine: 9.6 (9.0 to 19.0)

> Thyroid stimulating hormone 13.2 (0.35 to 4.94)

> Thyroid autoantibodies: 20

> ferrritin: 47 (5 to 204)- B12 561 (160

to 88.883)

> folate: 10.8 (2.2 to 16)

Please let me know which vit/minerals will support the thyroid, quantities,

length of time I should take them for and when to take them.

I get very constipated with iron tablets!!

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Sheila. I read someone's else answer which was not complete and did not

realise you had already replied with more detailed information.

Yes, I am on 50 micrograms and having another test, also checking T3, in 6

weeks.

So daily food containing iron would not be sufficient?

Best

Pascale

>

>

> Your ferritin is to low at 47 - it should be in the region of 70 to 90 and

>> Boost your ferritin level with either ferrous sulphate or ferrous Fumerate

> 200mgs daily, with high dose vitamin C 4/5000mgs, - but any iron supplement

> you take should be taken at least 4 hours away from thyroid hormone

> replacement.

>

> Has your GP started you on levothyroxine?

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila

Is it normal that after taking levythyroxine 50 microgramms for 3 days, my

symptoms are actually worse. Pain killers hardly help + insomnia (2 hours sleep

last night). I just feel dreadful and also worried for the days to come. Is this

normal? Thanks. Pascale

w are the additional info:

> > Free thyroxine: 9.6 (9.0 to 19.0)

> > Thyroid stimulating hormone 13.2 (0.35 to 4.94)

> > Thyroid autoantibodies: 20

> > ferrritin: 47 (5 to 204)- B12 561 (160 to 88.883)

> > folate: 10.8 (2.2 to 16)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

No, it's not normal and your symptoms should not be worse. Do

you know whether you have an allergy to lactose and maize? Your fT4 is far, far

too low, and there is little there to convert to the active hormone T3 and your

high TSH shows your pituitary is making your thyroid work too hard to produce

the thyroid hormone your body is craving. You may be one of the counterexamples

to T4-only therapy and need T3.

Get your ferritin and vitamin B12 supplemented as quickly as you

can. Get the 24 hour salivary adrenal profile to see where your cortisol and

DHEA levels lie at four specific times during the day and night and we can take

it from there.

Luv - Sheila

Is it normal that after taking levythyroxine 50 microgramms for 3 days, my

symptoms are actually worse. Pain killers hardly help + insomnia (2 hours sleep

last night). I just feel dreadful and also worried for the days to come. Is

this normal? Thanks. Pascale

w are the additional info:

> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Sheila. And how do I go about the salivary profile. Where do I do that?

Can I do it privately? I don't want to do it via doctor.

You said:

-Get

> the 24 hour salivary adrenal profile to see where your cortisol and DHEA

> levels lie at four specific times during the day and night and we can take

> it from there.

>

> Luv - Sheila

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

You get it done privately through Genova Diagnostics. Go to the Home Page of this forum thyroid treatment and in the Menu, click on FILES. On the page that opens, scroll down the list of folders until you come to the one entitled 'Discounts on Tests and Supplements' and on that page, click on 'Genova Diagnostics' and you will see the thyroid, adrenal and candida tests they do. You can either email them or telephone them to order the kit, but you MUST tell them that you are a member of Thyroid Patient Advocacy to enable you to get your discount. They will send the kit out immediately, and when you send it back you will pay for it then. The results will be sent to you, and not to me. You can then tell us what they are at those times during the day, together with the reference range for those particular times, and we will help with their interpretation.

You will be sent four little testubes and four little straws. You place a straw in the testube at the right time, the other end in your mouth and you proceed to spit down the straw until you have filled it as much as you can. If you find it hard to produce any saliva, you will find you have two little gland under your chin. Place your thumb and index finger either side of your wind pipe but under your chin and you will feel two little lumps. These are your salivary glands so simply stimulate these and this will help produce more.

You do this on an ordinary stressful day, not a day where you sit around all day just reading a book - remember this is a 'salivary stress profile' test. It usually takes just under 10 days for them to return the results to you.

Luv - Sheila> > Thanks, Sheila. And how do I go about the salivary profile. Where do I do that? Can I do it privately? I don't want to do it via doctor.> > > > >>

[Guest guest]

I'm not Sheila... but I'm also on levo as well. No, nothing we're going through is really " normal " . Hang in there, it gets better. It takes about 25 days for your body to " register " your FIRST increase/decrease of levo. If I read the article correctly, and experienced people correct me if I'm wrong. So after 3 days, you might just be feeling the new meds and not new lasting symptoms. When I go up in my levo I get splitting headaches for part of the day.

 

have you tried melatonin (all  natural) for sleeping? I've been using it for a decade at least, LOVE IT.

 

Don't worry, it will get better! Hang in there!

On Sat, Feb 12, 2011 at 1:48 AM, carpette5 <pascale.hayward@...> wrote:

 

Hi SheilaIs it normal that after taking levythyroxine 50 microgramms for 3 days, my symptoms are actually worse. Pain killers hardly help + insomnia (2 hours sleep last night). I just feel dreadful and also worried for the days to come. Is this normal? Thanks. Pascale

w are the additional info: > > Free thyroxine: 9.6 (9.0 to 19.0)> > Thyroid stimulating hormone 13.2 (0.35 to 4.94)> > Thyroid autoantibodies: 20 > > ferrritin: 47 (5 to 204)- B12 561 (160 to 88.883)

> > folate: 10.8 (2.2 to 16)> >>

[Guest guest]

Hi Pascale, !Hi, Have you considered iron supplementation- that ferritin is very low- should be at least 90. thyroid hormone needs sufficient iron to allow proper utilisation.

On Sat, Feb 12, 2011 at 1:48 AM, carpette5 <pascale.hayward@...> wrote:

Hi SheilaIs it normal that after taking levythyroxine 50 microgramms for 3 days, my symptoms are actually worse. Pain killers hardly help + insomnia (2 hours sleep last night). I just feel dreadful and also worried for the days to come. Is this normal? Thanks. Pascale

w are the additional info: > > Free thyroxine: 9.6 (9.0 to 19.0)> > Thyroid stimulating hormone 13.2 (0.35 to 4.94)> > Thyroid autoantibodies: 20 > > ferrritin: 47 (5 to 204)- B12 561 (160 to 88.883)

> > folate: 10.8 (2.2 to 16)> >>