What to do about dosage??

[bucklemyshoe]

Recently had my thyroxine increased from 150 to 175. Felt the best id felt in a long time. My gp just rang to day I need to go back to 150 as my blood result say tsh 0.06 and t3 is 31.4.

I feel the best ive felt in a year.

What should I do?

[motherelle]

How long have you been on the increased dose ? Short term you may be feeling ok but may start to get over medicated symptoms .I would have a word with your Gp and see if you can continue on this dose with the promise you will reduce if you start to feel over medicated . There is always the concern with osteoporosis if over medicated .

[bucklemyshoe]

Only been on it for 8 weeks. What symptoms should I look out for x

[HarryE in reply to bucklemyshoe]

I would have thought if you were going to get any hyper symptoms, 8 weeks is plenty of time for them to manifest themselves. Palpitations, anxiety, sweating??

[Stourie in reply to bucklemyshoe]

If you feel that good I would stay on the dose 175. Your tsh doesn't matter, you do.

Jo xx

[bucklemyshoe in reply to Stourie]

They have already dropped my prescription down yo 150

[Stourie in reply to bucklemyshoe]

do you have extra levo's at home that you could take and then go back to gp and tell him what you have done as you feel better on the 175. He isn't supposed to lower your dose just when he thinks he should. It is supposed to be a two way discussion between you and him. If you do take 175 and are going to run out of tablets, he surely won't leave you with none. Good luck.

Jo xx

[Angel_of_the_North]

If you feel better, tell him you disagree and want to do continue with your current meds. If you email Louise in the office, she can send you the Dr Toft Pulse article that explains that some people need a very low TSH to feel well.

Do you have any hyper symptoms?

T3 sounds way off, though, what are the ranges? And what about T4?

You could try 175 and 150 on alternate days.

[Hidden]

Either change GPs or start self medicating is my personal advice.

[bucklemyshoe in reply to Hidden]

I don't have a gp consistently. I am seeing my specialist in may so going to continue snd see what he says.

[bucklemyshoe]

My t3 is 31. Think that's too high. Imnot having any hyper ssymptoms. I dont think x

[puncturedbicycle]

Can you remember if you took your meds before your test? When I last had a test and took a fraction of my usual dose nine hours before, my results were 'too high;.

[bucklemyshoe in reply to puncturedbicycle]

I always take in morning and I had bloods done st 11:50. X

[puncturedbicycle in reply to bucklemyshoe]

Bingo. That's why your levels were so high.

Tell them you had only taken your dose a couple of hours before your test and it must have spiked so could you have another test please.

Whether or not they'll pay you any mind is a different story. If they still insist on panicking, you can always have a private test, no dose of t3 beforehand - and then make up your own mind.

I wish I knew what was the 'right' margin. I took my dose 21 hours before one test and it was fine, then I took a tiny fraction of my usual dose nine hours before my test and was high, and I had no hyper symptoms at all. I don't want to be overmedicated, but I need to be on enough meds to be well, so it is always a conundrum. xx

[bucklemyshoe]

I always tske mine in the morning on an empty stomach. Is this wrong? Should I miss my meds beforr a blood test x

[HarryE in reply to bucklemyshoe]

That's what most people recommend, especially if you are taking anything with T3 in it

[bucklemyshoe in reply to HarryE]

Goodness me I never knew this. I am going yo request more tests. X

[HarryE in reply to bucklemyshoe]

You learn something new every day

[puncturedbicycle in reply to bucklemyshoe]

And yes, if you're on levo, it is best to take it on an empty stomach an hour before food or drink (except for plain water).

If you're feeling well, maybe see if you can persuade doc to just wait the usual three months before the next test.

How long were you on the higher dose before your blood test?

[bucklemyshoe in reply to puncturedbicycle]

Only 8 weeks. I only increased by 25mg and ny results before were really bad x

[puncturedbicycle in reply to bucklemyshoe]

When you say 'bad' do you mean you were previously undertreated?

Eight weeks should be enough time, in other words it isn't likely that your levels are still rising, so if you feel good (not hyper) on this dose, I don't know why the doc would refuse to just leave you on it and do bloods in three months.

If they try to reduce dose, you can always refuse, but do your research first, write a careful letter about how your symptoms were relieved on a higher dose and you took your meds just before the test.

If you stretch it out long enough, it will soon be time for another test anyway and maybe you can convince doc to test before making a decision about dose. xx

[motherelle]

Try and get your bloods done as early as possible in the morning ,most people try to get them done first thing say around 8am .Your TSH is at it's highest around 4am and starts to lower as the day goes on .

[Glynisrose]

NO!! Never let your doctor tell you what your dosage ought to be based on blood tests, go by how you FEEL.

[wombatty]

So in the UK you don't need a doctor's prescription for thyroid meds? In the US a person with thyroid issues is entirely at the mercy of her/his physician.

[puncturedbicycle in reply to wombatty]

Yes, you need a script.