Do I need higher dose of levothyroxine?

[josaphina68]

I've been taking levo since june last year 75mcg, my tsh went down to 1.00 and I started to feel well, however last month been feeling awful again and had blood tests, results tsh 2.78 range 0.50-3.50, ferritin 8 range 23-300. Gp won't up my levo as I'm within the range, feeling frustrated

[shaws Administrator]

email [e-mail] for a copy of the Pulse Online article by Dr Toft and highlight question 6 and give it to your GP.

[puncturedbicycle in reply to shaws]

Who knows why but there are GPs who know that some people feel better when their tsh is 1 or below and they still make you jump through hoops for more levo. I brought Dr Toft's book to my GP to ask for a higher dose and he knew all about it and agreed that we could try getting the tsh below 1, though he had never suggested it before.

If you felt better when your tsh was lower and return to the surgery to complain about feeling unwell when it is higher I can't imagine what justification they could have for denying you a trial of a higher dose. The dose you are on would be too low for many people. They can't just give you a random amount of meds and send you off expecting to never have to adjust it.

Good luck. You have logic and good sense on your side!

[josaphina68 in reply to puncturedbicycle]

Thank u

[foreversummer]

Did he/she give you iron tablets? Your low ferritin may be making you feel worse.

[josaphina68 in reply to foreversummer]

No iron tablets

[shaws Administrator]

If you cursor down to this date. January 25, 2002 and read the answer to the question, you will see what happens when adjusting due only to the TSH result. Unfortunately, GPs are unaware of how metabolism is affected:-

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

[shaws Administrator]

Your GP is wrong - if you have a recurrence of clinical symptoms, you do need an increase. Email [e-mail] and ask for a copy of the Pulse Online article by Dr Toft (ex President of the British Thyroid Association) and highlight question 6 for your GP to read. I would highlight it before your appointment to discuss an increase.