The same old same old, G.P. said to reduce levo.

[lucylocks]

Well here we go again, received a letter from a G.P. (Dr. R.) at my practice to say my latest results show I am over medicated.

TSH 0.09 range 0.35 - 4.70

T4 14 range 7.80 - 21.00

G.P. and nurse who took blood said they would request T3 but lab. did not do it. No surprise there then.

Last year I was taking 100/125mcg alternatively, felt O.kish but had bad days.

By December felt I was feeling worse so asked for bloods to be tested,

Results were TSH 0.11 range 0.35 - 4.7

T4 13 range 7.8 - 21.00

G.P. rang to say reduce to 100mcg. daily, I argued the point but he would not have it, claiming the risk of bone thinning and heart problems.

In the meantime I got a result from the cardio call heart monitor I had been using and got a call from another G.P. (Dr. W) at the surgery saying there was a curve on the result so she referred me to a Cardiologist, I have not got the appt. yet.

Had bloods taken 8 weeks later,

TSH 0.46 same range as above

T4 12 same range as above

Went back to see G.P. who reduced levo. and he seemed to have a change of heart and said the risk of bone thinning and heart problems from a suppressed TSH were only very very slight.

I asked about the curve on the cardio call and he said it was on the T curve but said he thought it looked just a bit pronounced and a lot of Doctors would have not been concerned about it, but he added he did not want to criticise Dr. W.

He then went on to say we have to make you feel well, so he increased to 125mcg. daily.

Bloods done 8 weeks later and results at top.

Last week received the letter from Dr. R at the at practice, saying same old same old, risk of bone thinning , heart problems and she has reduced my levo. to 100mcg. daily.

So I was going to make an appt. with Dr. R. who sent the letter and tell her what Dr. G. said,

then I thought should I just go back and see Dr. G.

The thing is I am not really feeling any better, have had the odd day were I thought this is the turning point, then next day felt bad again.

Should I push for a further increase of levo. or add some T3 as advised by some on the forum last time I posted, (I thought I would give the increase of levo. a try first, which I have done) or is NDT the way forward.

I am taking Vit C. Vit D B12 B-Complex and was taking iron but stopped a week before last blood test and it had dropped from 91 to 79 range 15.00 - 300

Symptoms are fatigue, carpet tunnel in bed, aches and pains all over, twitching and cramps in calf muscles, tingling, itching and the worse of all is the niggling anxiety were by my mind seems to be going round and round and constantly worrying about my health.

Today I am feeling down in the dumps and wondered if I ever will feel well.

The other thing is my husband goes in hospital to have a knee replacement in 4 weeks so I am worried if I try T3 or NDT and it does not suit me,

Should I plod on with the levo. until he recovers or do I take the plunge and try it now.

Any advised would be gratefully received.

Many thank browny

[Clutter]

Browny, TSH 0.09 is below range but FT4 14 is less than halfway through range so you are not overmedicated. I would go back to Dr. G to discuss leaving you on 125mcg but I don't think you are likely to get a dose increase.

Some practices have a rotation system where GPs action test results. It doesn't oblige you to see Dr. R who wrote to you re reducing dose.

It should be fine to add T3 to T4 prior to your husband's operation. If it doesn't suit you can stop taking it and thanks to the short half life of T3 most of it will be out of your system within 3 or 4 days after your last dose. It may take longer to transition to NDT and optimise dose so it might be better to wait until your husband has recovered before making that change.

[lucylocks in reply to Clutter]

Many thanks Clutter for your reply,

Yes I think it is time to add some T3

Do you know if this would help with the anxiety? as this seems to be the worse symptom I have.

When the Doctors go on about the low TSH and been over medicated, I sometimes think because of the anxiety I think I may be over medicated as I know this is a symptom of hyper but like you say surely my T4 would be a lot higher if I was overmedicated.

I have said before the levo. only seems to lower TSH and does not increase my T4 and T3 much.

Thank you browny

[Clutter in reply to lucylocks]

Browny, if your anxiety is due to low T3 then adding some T3 to T4 is likely to be very beneficial.

I can only reiterate that low TSH with less than mid range FT4 doesn not indicate overmedication.

Adding T3 is likely to suppress your TSH and your FT4 may drop too as the T3 stimulates better T4 to T3 conversion. You may need to come clean with your doctor about self medicating after your next blood test if TSH is suppressed to avoid him reducing your T4.

[lucylocks in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter,

I am going to order T3 this weekend.

Should I just add a small dose to the 125mcg. levo. (if Dr. G keeps me on that dose) say 5mcg morning and 5mcg evening to start with.

[Clutter in reply to lucylocks]

Browny, online T3 is usually 25mcg. Reduce T4 to 100 mcg and quarter a 25mcg T3 tablet and take 6.25mcg for a week or two to see how you tolerate it. 6.25mcg might be all you need but If you need to increase dose, go to 12.5mcg split into two doses 6-12 hours apart. I would recommend staying on 12.5mcg for 4-6 weeks and ordering a private FT3 test before increasing further.

[lucylocks in reply to Clutter]

Will do, many thanks yet again for all your help and advice, it is much appreciated.

Hope you are keeping well.

[silverfox7]

Think good advice from Clutter browny but just want to have a little rant as well!

What is the point of having an accepted range if we have to be towards the bottom of it! Rant over!

Hope things go well with you browny. Let us know how it goes

[lucylocks]

Thanks silverfox7

Hope things are going better for you.