GP says TSH levels now normal... now what?

[Guest guest]

I am looking for a bit of guidance from anyone in the UK.

I'm 36 and was diagnosed with hashi's last year after several years of feeling

crummy. I'm on 100mcg of Levothyroxine. My GP only tested for TSH/ T4. My Tsh

has come down from 36 to 1.6 (Free T4 has went from 11 to 19) and my doc is now

of the opinion that as I'm in range (0.3-5.5), it's job done.

I know this is a really common complaint. I've asked about natural thyroxine and

getting T3 tests done but am hitting a brick wall with my current GP.

I still feel pretty lousy - lethargic, trouble getting and staying asleep,

feeling cold, brain fog, SHOCKING memory and concentration which is really

effecting my work, still gaining weight even on calorie controlled diet with

exercise 5 times a week. Feeling VERY frustrated at what to do next? I seem to

find I have a day or two were I feel ok-ish, and then followed by two or three

days were everything returns and I just want to sleep.

My GP is not very helpful and couldn't get me out her office fast enough ...

when I mentioned how worried I was about weight gain was told " It's winter,

people always eat more than they think this time of year " . :-/

I went back today and got a print out of all my blood test results. I noticed

that my B12 levels are at 307 (range 180-1100) and so are on the lower side of

the 'normal' range, so I guess I will get some supplements for that.

My ferritin levels are 49 (20-200)

Other than that I'm not sure what to do. Would see someone private (i'm in

London) I think. I'm self-employed and live alone and at this point I'm really

struggling to maintain my income and my sanity! :-(

Its very frustrating. My pals are now pretty bored of me complaining about being

tired all the time and I imagine think its all in my head...

[Guest guest]

Hi Linzie

> I'm 36 and was diagnosed with hashi's last year after several years of feeling

crummy. I'm on 100mcg of Levothyroxine. My GP only tested for TSH/ T4. My Tsh

has come down from 36 to 1.6 (Free T4 has went from 11 to 19) and my doc is now

of the opinion that as I'm in range (0.3-5.5), it's job done.

Well not if it you still have symptoms, it's not.

> I went back today and got a print out of all my blood test results. I noticed

that my B12 levels are at 307 (range 180-1100) and so are on the lower side of

the 'normal' range, so I guess I will get some supplements for that.

Yes, that would be a good idea. The solgar sublingual b12 nuggets b12 are good.

> My ferritin levels are 49 (20-200)

As you may be aware, that's too low. Solgar gentle iron is a good product.

https://www.yournutritionshop.com/default.asp - you can buy both from here, use

the code DSC1210 to get 10% off your order

There are other nutrients to consider if you still don't do well on thyroid. I

had a lot of problems tolerating it until i got my Vit D3 levels up, vit A up,

copper, and a few other things .

> Other than that I'm not sure what to do. Would see someone private (i'm in

London) I think. I'm self-employed and live alone and at this point I'm really

struggling to maintain my income and my sanity! :-(

Don't know of anyone in london, Dr skinner is in birmingham, he's very good.

ask for a referral to him, he is private though.

http://www.iwestmidlands.co.uk/profile/100899/Birmingham/Dr-G-R-B-Skinner/

chris

[Guest guest]

Sorry to hear you are having so many problems with your GP.

Unfortunately, we have to educate our doctors ourselves because they are badly

taught about how the thyroid system works at medical school, and are then so

busy they have little time to do the required research to bring themselves up

to date.

With your free T4 as high as 19, this could mean that the

thyroxine is laying there in the blood doing absolutely nothing because it isn't

converting to the active thyroid hormone T3. Thyroxine is a pro-hormone,

meaning it has to change into another hormone for action to take place. There

is a large minority of us who cannot convert T4 into T3, and we need T3 either

adding to our T4, or take T3 on its own.

First, you need to write to your GP and tell her that you are

not prepared to continue to suffer with symptoms without being given the cause

for these. Tell her that you are determined to find out what is the cause and

that you hope she will work with you.

First list all of your symptoms and signs. Check these on our

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

'Hypothyroidism'

Next, list your basal temperatures for four or five mornings

before you get out of bed if these are 97.8 degrees F (36.6 degrees C or less).

Next, make a list of any family members who have a thyroid or

autoimmune disease.

Next, ask for a FULL thyroid function test to include TSH, free

T4, free T3, TPO and Tg antibodies. Tell her that it is possible the Thyroxine

is not converting and that this could be the reason why your cells are not

getting the active thyroid hormone T3 and that if she telephones the pathology

lab. and explains that she particularly needs to see what your free T3 level

is, they will oblige.

Next, ask for the following specific minerals, vitamins to be

tested if these have not already been done because if any of these are low, no

amount of thyroid hormone can be fully utilised at the cellular level until

whatever is low has been supplemented. These specifically are iron, transferrin

saturation%, vitamin D3, magnesium, folate, copper and zinc. Ask that when

these results are back, you are given access to the results and the reference

range for each test done. If she tries to tell you that there is no association

between these nutrients and low thyroid, copy out just some of the references

to the research/studies that has been done to show that there is (see

attached). (BTW, your B12 should be right at the top of the reference range so

you should supplement with 1000mcgs sublingual B12 - and your ferritin level is

too low too. Your result should be above 90, so you need to supplement with

200mgs Ferrous Fumerate or Spatone until your levels start to rise. Never take

iron though anywhere near to your levothyroxine, they must be taken 4 hours

apart)

Next, because you are showing no signs of any improvement in

your symptoms, ask for a referral to an endocrinologist (preferably of your

choice) and ask for a copy of the letter of referral to be passed on to you.

Remember that no doctor can withhold any information that is in your medical

notes or information that passes between doctors under The Data Protection Act

1998.

Next, ask for your letter of requests to be placed into your

medical notes, and keep a copy yourself in case you need to refer back to it at

some future date.

Doctors take more notice of the written word because they know

it can be referred to later, whereas they can deny face to face communications

with patients that happen behind closed doors.

Good luck

Luv - Sheila

PS. I have attached another document showing some of the

associated conditions that go along with those with symptoms of hypothyroidism

when their thyroid hormone isn't working.

My GP is not very helpful and couldn't get me out her office fast enough ...

when I mentioned how worried I was about weight gain was told " It's

winter, people always eat more than they think this time of year " . :-/

Other than that I'm not sure what to do. Would see someone private (i'm in

London) I think. I'm self-employed and live alone and at this point I'm really

struggling to maintain my income and my sanity! :-(

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MINERALS AND VIT. TESTING.doc

WHY THYROID HORMONE REPLACEMENT MAY NOT BE WORKING FOR YOU.doc

[Guest guest]

HI

There is some information on the whole of the greater thyroid system at this

address::

http://www.tpa-uk.org.uk/greater_thyroid_system_table.pdf

Well, it is job done as far as the thyroid gland goes. However, as you will see

in the diagram, there are part left unexamined. These parts require T3 in some

form. However, the BTA and the RCP have effectively banned T3 from being

prescribed even though there are T3 therapies that are approved and available.

So, you have three choices:

1. Do nothing and suffer.

2. Go doctor hunting with the TPA list.

3. Go to Dr Skinner or Dr. Peatfield and then try to get NHS hormone

replacements or buy them yourself.

Unfortunately, the misguided folks in the BTA and RCP have left you will little

comfort and less guidance. However, there have been lots of folks who have

found a workaround. They have become patient counterexamples with their

suffering on medicine's prescriptions and virtual resurrection on the

proscriptions.

Good Luck,

>

> I am looking for a bit of guidance from anyone in the UK.

>

> I'm 36 and was diagnosed with hashi's last year after several years of feeling

crummy. I'm on 100mcg of Levothyroxine. My GP only tested for TSH/ T4. My Tsh

has come down from 36 to 1.6 (Free T4 has went from 11 to 19) and my doc is now

of the opinion that as I'm in range (0.3-5.5), it's job done.

>