RE: Advice needed with results

[Guest guest]

Hi sian, As 19 is stable or not is irrelevant- it is not at the top of the reference range and therefore there is room for improvement- especially as you have a high TSH- this would point to the possibility that you may not be converting T4 to T3. In you shoes I'd either get a thyroid panel done privately- Genova- see files of ask for a referral to an endo of you choice as you cannot put up with feeling as you are. aslo make sure you vits and minerals are OK as they are needed for proper thyroid function especially iron selenium zinc vit B12 and D3. Low iron is a common culprit for tiredness and porr conversion. > thyroid treatment > From: sian_porter@...> Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2011 13:51:52 +0000> Subject: Advice needed with results> > I have been feeling lethargic (again!!) and had my bloods checked. Am currently on 125mcg Levothyroxine.> > The results were:> > TSH 3.87 (0.25 - 4.0)> > Free T4 19 (11 - 22)> > I wanted to try and up my dose to 150 mcg but the doctor refused. I pointed out that my level of 3.87 was at the top end and i have felt better when it is lower but she said that the Free T4 Level of 19 was more important a figure to look at and as that was stable she would not increase my dose.> > I have just read the press release by the society of endocrinology in the files section and this has made me feel even more ii should up my dose.> > My doctor was absolutely against it and also said i couldn't have my bloods checked for another year! should i just up my dose myself?? > > > > ------------------------------------> > TPA is not medically qualified. Consult with a qualified medical practitioner before changing medication.> >

[Guest guest]

It is a shame we cannot get an FT3 test done. I would recommend the genova

thyroid panel as it shows so much more. I did one and got my blood done at the

gp's. They were happy to do it.

what is your base temp on waking ? Ideally it wants to be 36.4-36.6C. What are

your temps in the day time ? If they are stable then it shows the adrenals are

ok. If they go up and down all day then you have an adrenal problem. This

stops the thyroid from getting into the cells.

Your TSH is far too high and so from this i would say you have low levels of FT3

(but we dont know for sure). FT4 is good. If TSH was lower it would suggest

the T3 is pooling and the adrenals are at fault, but because it is high it means

you dont have enough T3. So as jenny suggests, you are not converting the T4 to

T3 very well.

Vits and minerals will help here: iodine, selenium, b12, iron, zinc, vit c. Try

and get hold of these and start doing them regulary. Some in the morning and

some at night.

As for trying an increase, well i would give it a go. If there is no change

then just increasing is not going to help. If you feel better and then you slip

back it may indicate you need more. The reason for this is when you feel better

you tend to be more active. The body gets used to this new level of activity

and so uses up more T4. You may then find you need more. This needs to be done

slowly though as you cannot just increase 25mg every week or so.

[Guest guest]

Hi Sian, your TSH is too high which shows your

body is not getting the thyroid hormone replacement that it needs. TSH should

be around 1.0 for people to feel better. Your free T4 is high, which shows that

it might NOT be converting to the active thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (or

T3). Thyroxine (T4) is a prohormone and it converts through the liver, kidneys,

brain, skin and other thyroid hormone receptors throughout the body into the

active T3. It is T3 that makes your brain and every organ and cell in your body

function. Without T3 - we die. Obviously your GP knows little or nothing about

thyroid disease.

This doctor has the capacity to do you harm.

Write to him and ask to be referred to an endocrinologist of your choice (I

will send you a list of doctors recommended by members of this forum who will

recommend T3 (either synthetic or natural) as most NHS endocrinologist follow

the BTA guidance and treat with T4-only). You may have to travel to see one if

there is nobody in your area, but it will be worth it.

In your letter, list all of your symptoms and

signs (check these against those in our web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk . Take your basal

temperature before getting out of bed in a morning and list these too. Normal

temperature is 98.4 degrees F. If yours is 97.8 or much less, this is an

indication your metabolism is running too slow and that you need either more

T4, or a combination of T4 and T3. Next, list the blood tests that you need

apart from the TSH and free T4 already done. Ask that you have your level of

free T3 checked. You should also ask to have the following tested to see if any

of them are low in the reference range: Ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin D3,

magnesium, folate, copper and zinc. Tell your doctor in the letter that if ANY

of these are low in the reference interval, the thyroid hormone is unable to be

properly absorbed by the cells until whatever is low is supplemented. Often, it

is found when people remain ill on thyroid hormone replacement that their

ferritin, B12 and folate is low in particular.

Next, ask for a referral to the endocrinologist

of your choice and give the name and address of the one you wish to be referred

to (I have marked on the list those I know are NHS and left blank those that

are private - but some of those blank one's may also do NHS work - you should

telephone them to find out whether they do or not).

Next, ask that your letter of requests be placed

into your medical notes and make sure that at the end of the letter, you write " Cc

- to Head of Practice " . Doctors take a lot more notice when you put things

down in writing because they know should anything go wrong and they have failed

to take action, they could be in serious trouble. This is your health and you

are the one who needs it back - and it sounds as if your particular doctor

doesn't really care about your condition whatsoever. I would also tell

her that you are not prepared to wait for a year to have your thyroid function

retested when already your TSH is just under 4.0. In America, the top of

their ref. range is 3.0. In Germany, Belgium, Sweden the top of their TSH

reference range is 2.5 with a further recommendation this be reduced to 1.5 -

so yours is very high in comparison.

Sadly, many of us have found that we have been

left in a situation where we have no other choice but to self diagnose, self

treat and self monitor, but with this forum we try to help members to walk

through this problem. Is there any chance you could see one of our Medical Advisers?

Luv - Sheila

> I have been feeling lethargic (again!!) and had my bloods checked. Am currently

on 125mcg Levothyroxine.

>

> The results were:

>

> TSH 3.87 (0.25 - 4.0)

>

> Free T4 19 (11 - 22)

>

> I wanted to try and up my dose to 150 mcg but the doctor refused. I

pointed out that my level of 3.87 was at the top end and i have felt better

when it is lower but she said that the Free T4 Level of 19 was more important a

figure to look at and as that was stable she would not increase my dose.

>

> I have just read the press release by the society of endocrinology in the

files section and this has made me feel even more ii should up my dose.

>

> My doctor was absolutely against it and also said i couldn't have my

bloods checked for another year! should i just up my dose myself??

>

>

>

>

__

[Guest guest]

Thank you all so much for your advice. I feel a little in at the deep end. But

have decided to make an appointment with another doctor in the practice and try

my luck with them! I asked my normal dr at last appt for a referral to an endo

in desperation but she absolutely refused so i will try the head practice dr

before putting it in writing! Thanks once again

>

> It is a shame we cannot get an FT3 test done. I would recommend the genova

thyroid panel as it shows so much more. I did one and got my blood done at the

gp's.

[Ed]