Thyroid results

[JT85]

I have been on Levothyroxine for over a year. My latest results show that I am subclinically hypothyroid and I had my last thyroid function test done this week along with ferritin. I am on 75mcg Levothyroxine as well as ferrous sulphate.

Last few results:

July - TSH: 3.5 (0.2-4.2) - 50mcg Levothyroxine

September - TSH: 0.08 (0.2-4.2), FT3: 6.5 (3.9-6.7), FT4: 21.4 (12-22), TPOab: 188 (<34), TGab: 109.6 (<115), ferritin - 28 (30-400) - 50mcg Levothyroxine and doctor reluctantly started me on ferrous sulphate.

November - TSH: 7.1 (0.2-4.2), FT3: 8.3 (3.9-6.7), FT4: 13.1 (12-22) - 50mcg Levothyroxine moved up to 75mcg Levothyroxine after this result.

December - thyroid and ferritin results are back but I don't know what they are. The reason why I haven't yet gotten hold of them is because I had a phone call from my doctor's surgery telling me that my doctor wants to talk to me about the blood test results. The receptionist who called me couldn't go into a lot of detail so I have no idea where my thyroid or ferritin levels are at. I am worried that my TSH has now dropped like back in August and that to me is a worry because I don't think I'm on the right dose of Levothyroxine.

So why am I feeling more hypo on the increased dose and is there any way of knowing if it's both the thyroid and ferritin results?

Thank you

[JT85]

Thanks, my doctor hasn't told me I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis specifically - just hypothyroidism.

Symptoms of hypo I have at the moment (long list):

Constipation - happens every 5-7 days, used to be every other day.
Cramps - in legs and feet.
Cold intolerance - although lately I've been sweating a little bit.
Weight gain - this has happened ever since the Levothyroxine increase.
Difficulty swallowing, sore throats, irritated throat, pressure in throat/neck, lumps in front of the neck but at the side (where I can imagine the thyroid lobes would be if the thyroid was inflamed)
Acid reflux.
Low body temperature - it can be as low as 33.5 degrees Celsius but never goes beyond 36 degrees Celsius.
Headaches.
Dark circles under eyes.
Bags under eyes.
Eyelash loss - sometimes the lashes are going into my eyes.
Dry eyes.
1/3 of my right eyebrow thinning.
Tiredness and sleeping a lot.
Dry patches on skin - on arms, legs, ankles and on my nose.
Irregular menstrual cycles.
Muscle twitches.
Cracked heels.
Bruising a lot (minor pinprick bruises but unexplained) - on my legs.
Craving salty and sweet foods.
A lot more outbreaks of cold sores - probably unrelated.

Just to note: I have read articles saying that hypothyroidism is caused by things like iodine, radiation, medications and illnesses but I don't know if Hashimoto's is caused by any of them as well.

Unfortunately although the doctor wants to talk to me about my results the receptionist has said the earliest appointment is the 14th of January. Would it be a good idea to perhaps try calling them again after the holidays so I can be seen earlier?

[Barb135]

Has your doctor told you you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, as indicated by the elevated TPOab?

Without your December labs, we're kind of in the dark, since you've had a dose increase, plus you've been taking the iron.  Iron is necessary for the metabolism of thyroid hormones.

Since you have Hashimoto's, it appears that you may be swinging from hyper to hypo, as is common in early stages of Hashimoto's.

If your doctor is dosing you, based on TSH, you're going to end up on a roller coaster from which it will be hard to get off. You need to go by the FT3 and FT4 levels more so than TSH.  We have members who feel quite well on higher TSH.  Symptoms tend to correlate best with FT3 levels, since that's the hormone actually used by individual cells.

What symptoms of hypo are you having?  

When you get your new labs, be sure to post them here so we can see them.