Currently on 100mcg levothyroxine and being brought of meds for 3weeks to see if I have been misdiagnosed, dreading it! What can I do?

[emcbutterfly]

I was diagnosed with under active thyroid 7-8months after I had my first child. I've just had my 2nd baby she's now 10 weeks and the Endo consultant wants to take me off my meds 100mcg to see if I was misdiagnosed, as he thinks I may just have had thyroiditis. Latest bloods show that I'm over medicating and was meant to be going back to 75mcg. I'm thinking of keeping a diary whilst I'm off the meds what should I be logging? Diet? Exercise? Sleep? Tiredness? Emotional state? Any further advice would be gratefully recieved

[shaws Administrator]

I don't have medical knowledge but, especially that you've just delivered your second child, I would have thought it wouldn't be very good to take you off all medication. Why not just reduce it. I attach a link and cursor down to the third question and beyond.

I don't think he should mess about at present. Maybe lower your dose first. If he is only going by the TSH - it changes through out the day anyway. You may have had your medication before your blood test, etc. etc.

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

Keep us informed and best wishes to you and the addition to your family.

[shaws Administrator in reply to shaws]

Just had a thought, if you are on levo it takes some weeks to leave your system gradually. About six weeks altogether, I believe.

[shaws Administrator]

This is an extract for your information:-

Dr. Lowe: With most patients, I use thyroid function tests (TSH, free T3, and free T4) and thyroid antibodies only for a patient’s initial diagnosis. Afterward, I follow the practice, in principal, of Dr. Broda Barnes—that is, measuring tissue effects of particular dosages of thyroid hormone rather than remeasuring TSH, free T3, and free T4 levels.

My reason for this different protocol is simple: the TSH, free T3, and free T4 tell us only how the pituitary and thyroid glands are interacting. Of course, the test levels may also tell us something of the influence of thyroid hormone over the hypothalamus in its secretion of TRH, another hormone that influences the pituitary gland's secretion of TSH.

Tissue measures of thyroid hormone tell us what is most important, that is, how the patient's tissues other than the pituitary and hypothalamus are responding to a particular dosage of thyroid hormone. To accomplish this objective, with long distance patients, I mainly use the basal body temperature, basal pulse rate, speed of the Achilles reflex, and the voltage of the electrocardiogram tracing.

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

[galathea]

If you stop the t4 then some will be left in your system for weeks afterwards, You should track your temperatures now as per drrind.com. ( Take them 3 ties a day and plot the average on a chart ). If you become hypo they will drop. However, what is the endo basing his findings on? Do you have low tsh with over range free t3? Do you have a tremor, heat intolerant, eating but losing weight, tired and wired? Which symptoms of hyperthyroidism are you displaying? If the answer is none then I would tell him this and assure him that if you get any symptoms you will let him know. If he threatens you with osteoporosis, ask for a dexa scan to measure bone density.

[Glynisrose]

I don't have any medical knowledge either but I would never do what a doctor says just because he says it!! Ask for clarification, why does he want you off your meds? How do you feel? If you are OK on your meds then don't stop, just repeat that you are fine on what you are taking and do not want to experiment!!