Re: going hyperthyroid from hypo.

[Cinnamon]

My last TSH was 0.12; FT4 21. My GP was worried and shifted meds to alternating days of 25ug/50ug (had been on 50). Elevated BP is my big issue and my BP was down to normal on 50ug. After 10 days of alternating doses BP was up significantly. So, I moved myself back to 50ug every day. Saw GP today and told her what I'd done. She is worried about me going hyper, though I have no symptoms. She also said something about issues with treating me as is because I was diagnosed at borderline hypo rather than full blown. More bloods in early October. Any thoughts about what to make of this much appreciated. I feel good on 50ug and don't want the docs mucking with my meds.

[susymac]

Wait for your next set of bloods to see what the outcome is.

You have to remember that you have gone against the GP's advice by upping the dose on your own, yet it is the GP who is ulitmately responsible for your well-being. Fingers crossed that you are not hyper and she/he will then allow you to carry on, but your T4 levels look high (although it is difficult without the range to judge) and she may well insist you drop back down or refuse treatment altogether which she is entiled to do under the circumstances.

[Cinnamon in reply to susymac]

I'll definitely wait for the bloods, but as to my GP her key focus was my BP. Over several years no antihypertensive had any effect (in fact, one actually made things worse). It was only once I was on levo and then the levo dose was raised that my BP fell. So, she 'gets' the compulsion to focus on my thyroid.

[nostoneunturned]

Dr Toft's little book, "Understanding Thyroid Disorders" might help you, £5 from Amazon/chemists, BMA publication, Dr T past head of BTA. Page 88 has helpful comments on judging the correct dose of thyroxine, and the T3 level being out of its range demonstrates hyperthyroidism. The ranges applicable to what he says on P88 are on P87.

P44 has info on treatment of mild/subclinical hypothyroidism.

[Cinnamon in reply to nostoneunturned]

Have seen refs to this a lot. Need to get a copy.

[nostoneunturned in reply to Cinnamon]

While we cannot agree with every word he has written, nevertheless this can be a valuable book to have as it is written by such an authority so doctors find it difficult to argue his points.

[JanetR05]

I have been diagnosed as having hyperthyroidism rather than hypo after 20 years and wonder if it has something to do with the fluctuation of other hormones in my body as I am 50 and definitely Peri-menopausal. I recently read something about women who are Peri-menopausal actually finding out they have hypothyroidism but nothing the other way around. I have gone from .125mcg pf Levothyroxine to .75mcg! Its only been a couple of days since my .100mcg was lowered but the symptoms I was suffering due to elevated levels of thyroid hormone were pretty horrific. Irregular bleeding (sometimes non stop all month), sleeplessness, irritability, being irrational, I was just not myself at all. I now feel much more like my old self and hope that the lowered levels of levothyroxine are not going to change that. Dr said it maybe that I have had hypothyroidism for the past 20 years but that might have been a transient phase! Who knows? He also said I may have to come off levothyroxine all together.

[Cinnamon in reply to JanetR05]

I am in the menopause now and the hormone fluctuations certainly throw you for a loop.

[JanetR05 in reply to Cinnamon]

They certainly do! Apparently having any hormone fluctuate can have an effect on others so I read. I want to check this with the doctor though.