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[CLKD]

   we all likes a moan we does, comes with the territory.  We all likes a rant we does so you are in good Company 

I thought that I had sciatica until diagnosed with a physio = bursitis - have exercises, it's not a problem until the early hours.  Many years ago I would wake in the early hours with deep, intense, excruciating pain in the thighs.  Found out it was due to bending over cabinets at antique fairs  now I have to be more careful.

[Fizwhizz]

Stuck in a similar is it hypothyroidism/menopause here too. I can usually motivate myself and help myself along but not currently. I’m just dragging my sorry self through the day and spending significant amounts of time being a couch potato. I never used to be like this. I just feel so fed up disinterested in everything. I was put on armour thyroid 3 months ago and whilst my levels of TR3 and 4 have improved significantly my mood has gone off a cliff. Prior to that I was faffing around with private HRT for 5 years but never got my hormones balanced and ended up bleeding and giving up as my body wasn’t clearing the oestrogen. I’m not sure now if I need HRT or an increase in thyroid meds or both. I’m on private thyroid treatment now because my bloods were always in range on the NHS even though I had so many symptoms.

[Elliebee]

Hi I have posted on this thread before . I have subclinical hypothroidism dud to Hashimoto disease and have annual blood tests. The recent one shows TSH to have increased from 4.27 to 6.44 in past year. T4 has dropped from 16.1 to 15.7so still in normal range. I’m waiting for GP to contact me to discuss results. I’m just wondering if I’ll now be offered treatment as my thyroid is obviously deteriorating and struggling. I do feel slightly more sluggish but hard to tell if my symptoms are due to thyroid or menopause?
Anyone else on meds for these levels?
Lab has suggested retesting in 3/6 mths but of course they’re unaware of my clinical history.

[AKatieD]

Sounds pretty bad @Elliebee. If your TSH is that high on treatent even a g.p.would realise you must be feeling bad, but for some reason they are happy for TSH to be that high before treated.

Some medical guidelines say over 10 before treatment but others say over 2.5, patient experience suggests that 10 is way too high

Did you ever have your thyroid antibodies tested? Sometimes if a g.p.sees they are raised they will realise that you have an autoimmune problem and treat you even though your TSH has not reached a level that they think is necessary for treatment. Mine got treated at just over 3 with raised antibodies.

Thyroid UK website and patient group on HealthUnlocked is a great source of thyroid help. You need to give lab ranges to get proper help though.

[Elliebee]

Sounds pretty bad @Elliebee. If your TSH is that high on treatent even a g.p.would realise you must be feeling bad, but for some reason they are happy for TSH to be that high before treated.

Some medical guidelines say over 10 before treatment but others say over 2.5, patient experience suggests that 10 is way too high

Did you ever have your thyroid antibodies tested? Sometimes if a g.p.sees they are raised they will realise that you have an autoimmune problem and treat you even though your TSH has not reached a level that they think is necessary for treatment. Mine got treated at just over 3 with raised antibodies.

Thyroid UK website and patient group on HealthUnlocked is a great source of thyroid help. You need to give lab ranges to get proper help though.

Hi KatieD
Yes I have been tested for the antibodies and was positive!

[Optimist2021]

Hi I have posted on this thread before . I have subclinical hypothroidism dud to Hashimoto disease and have annual blood tests. The recent one shows TSH to have increased from 4.27 to 6.44 in past year. T4 has dropped from 16.1 to 15.7so still in normal range. I’m waiting for GP to contact me to discuss results. I’m just wondering if I’ll now be offered treatment as my thyroid is obviously deteriorating and struggling. I do feel slightly more sluggish but hard to tell if my symptoms are due to thyroid or menopause?
Anyone else on meds for these levels?
Lab has suggested retesting in 3/6 mths but of course they’re unaware of my clinical history.

I really do wish you good luck. Because with high tsh but good T4, it's still subclinical and you'll just be asked to retest in another 8 weeks.
The tsh might be up because you have low free T3. But you can't know without a test.  Easier to pay privately than fight NHS rules, I have found.
I've had to start self medicating again. The NHS would leave me struggling endlessly with the "retest in eight weeks". While my life slips through my hands.

Dyk tsh is supposed to be higher later in the day. Maybe the time of test effected your results?  Proper good luck to all of us!

[Elliebee]

Well I’ve been put on a low dose of Levothyroxine25microgram for 3 month trial and repeat bloods in 3 months.

[AKatieD]

That is a start but be aware that 50mcg is considered a common starter dose and often needs more than that, so you are likely to need a dose increase or two before you start to feel better. Just hang on in there ...

[Elliebee]

That is a start but be aware that 50mcg is considered a common starter dose and often needs more than that, so you are likely to need a dose increase or two before you start to feel better. Just hang on in there ...

I think my GP is being cautious as T4 is within normal range and TSH at 6. It’s all very confusing TBH

[Elliebee]

Anyone got Hashimoto’s and Coealic disease ? I’ve got Hashimoto disease and being tested for coeliac. Apparently this is routine as both conditions linked.
I have previously had a postive blood test for coeliac (weak positive) and paid for a endoscopy and biopsies which were negative for coeliac. But I guess coeliac disease can develop at anytime.
Anyone had similar experience?

[Elliebee]

I’m new to taking levothyroxine. I take tablet around 5-6am and then have breakfast 2-3 hours later . Is this ok? Or should I eat 60 mins after taking tablet to improve absorption?

[Wrensong]

Hi Ellibee, I'm sorry your post was missed.  Bit late answering now but I hope you are getting on OK with the thyroid medication.

The timing of your dosing & food intake should be fine & by coincidence matches mine.  The standard advice is to take Thyroxine at least 30 mins - 1hr before any food or drink, other than the large glass of water you take the meds with.  I routinely leave at least an hour before eating & only very occasionally resort to 30 mins in unusual circs. 

The emphasis on separation is to avoid possible interaction with substances in food & drink that may impair absorption.  So an initial 30-60 min fasting period should allow sufficient time for your meds to be absorbed, but their efficacy could still be compromised if you are in the habit of taking certain supplements with breakfast.  There are a couple of straightforward links & extracts here (by straightforward I mean they don't detail the long list of possibly interacting medications some articles include) . . .

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/levothyroxine/

"4. How and when to take levothyroxine
Take levothyroxine once a day in the morning, ideally at least 30 minutes before having breakfast or a drink containing caffeine, like tea or coffee.

Food and caffeinated drinks can both stop your body taking in levothyroxine properly so it does not work as well."

https://www.btf-thyroid.org/levothyroxine

"How should I take levothyroxine?
Levothyroxine is best taken in the morning, with water, on an empty stomach, at least half an hour before eating and drinking anything. It is also best taken at least four hours apart from calcium, iron, cholesterol-lowering drugs (cholestyramine, colestipol), and multivitamin tablets, as these can also decrease absorption. Grapefruit also interferes with the absorption of levothyroxine. There are several other drugs that interact with levothyroxine. Always check with your doctor or pharmacy if you are on any other prescription or over-the-counter medication."

Wx

[Elliebee]

Thank you Wrensong .

[Elliebee]

How common are vitamin and mineral deficiencies in those with hypothyroidism? My ferritin level is always mid 30s and apparently anything below 30 is classed as a deficiency . Whilst my vit D and B12 are within NHS guidelines they are not optimal levels according to Thyroid UK .

But I don’t want to take supplements unless absolutely necessary. My diet is generally good but apparently those with hypothyroidism have low stomach acid which reduces absorption of nutrients. As I’m classed as having subclinical hypothyroidism I don’t think I’d have absorption issues ?

Also has anyone with autoimmune thyroid disease cut out gluten from diet? Again seems to be a lot of advice on this due to link between thyroid disease and coeliac disease.

Sorry so many questions!

[Moog77]

Coeliac disease had all my vits and minerals on the floor  like seriously.

Autoimmune diseases can come in twos and I'm lucky enough to have coeliac and hypothyroidism!
Add in peri and its a Russian roulette situation.

Diet sorted this but I still take the odd supplement here and there for short bursts to keep levels decent.

I note you have been diagnosed with Hashi's and you can temper this somewhat by diet and lifestyle- all the boring stuff 😁 - to avoid the swings that come with it. One of those things is adopting a strict gluten free diet even if you haven't tested positive for coeliac. You are trying to decrease inflammation throughout your body as much as possible. As someone who has no choice in that diet I can tell you it ain't easy at first but it will become second nature.

Please feel free to ping me a PM if you need to sound out a GF diet.