Thyroxine been reduced.

[sandybabywales]

Four months ago my GP reduced my levothyroxine from 100mcg to 75mcg. Since then my energy levels have dropped and I have gained 10lbs in weight (formerly 9st 2lbs and 5' 2"). I struggle to keep up at my thrice weekly exercise classes and find I get short of breath walking up the hill to my home. Previously I had no problem.

Results

07/06/13

FT4 14.7 (11.8 to 24.6)

TSH 1.63 (0.27 to 24.6)

29/04/13

FT4 17.8

TSH 0.21 came back marked low and GP in my new practice reduced dosage to 75mcg without any consultation.

T3 5.5 (3.1 to 6.8)

17/10/12

FT4 17.4

TSH 0.4

I wonder if I operate better at a low TSH?

I had strange symptoms 8 yrs ago when physical symptoms of hyperthyroid such as massive weight loss accompanied by the exhaustion of hypothyroid. Eventually private diagnosis of thyroiditis and then consultant considered thyroid packed in completely. Since then have felt great on 100mcg and new symptoms only since reduced dosage. Have appointment with GP in a week and will also ask for results of previous few years.

Any comments/advice please?

[lisabax]

I'm sure you will get many replies from those with more experience than me, but I would have though with those results you would be perfectly within your rights to ask for the dose to be increased again, particularly when you describe your symptoms to your GP. LB

[Flowers2]

Your results seem to have gone down hill. I'd be asking to get an increase again. I wouldn't be well on those levels. I need to have a TSH of zero point something to feel well and have the FT4 and FT3 in the upper end of the range. Do go back it sounds like you are under replaced. Good luck. x

[shaws Administrator]

Unfortunately many GP's don't know the first thing about metabolism and the effect thyroid gland hormones have on us, which enable us to function normally and feel well. Most look at the TSH result and then tell you HOW you are feeling. They don't ask.

This is a link (some of the links within may not work) but it gives good information. Cursor to question dated.

June 8, 2001

web.archive.org/web/2010112...

This is an excerpt from another page - go to date December 18, 2003

When that’s accomplished, the patient is well!—or so conventional endocrinologists hallucinate, as do general practitioners who foolishly take their advice about treating hypothyroid patients. Seldom is low-dose T4 effective in keeping metabolism normal in most body tissues. In fact, the low dose of T4 may actually slow metabolism further. This can happen when the T4 dose lowers the pituitary gland’s secretion of TSH, which in turn reduces the thyroid gland’s secretion of T4 and T3. If the patient’s T4 dose is too low to compensate for the thyroid gland’s reduced release of T4 and T3, metabolism slows further. To the patient's surprise, she develops more symptoms of hypothyroidism after beginning the use of T4 alone.

web.archive.org/web/2010112...

[Heloise]

Personally, if I were fighting this terrible system with the knowledge of how they react to a low TSH, I would consider finding ways of NOT pursuing blood tests if feeling very well. This is a terrible injustice to you to cause symptoms to return when you have been feeling well. The notion they will cause osteoporosis or heart failure are more likely with UNDER DOSED. Do whatever you can to get back on your normal dose.

[sandybabywales]

Thank you to all responses. New GP ay practice has agreed to put me back on 100mcg for a 2 month trial, after saying other GPs in practice would have stuck to lab results but she was willing to go by how I was feeling. Hurray!