How much ndt?

This most likely stupid question but here goes. I'm taking ndt and in May bloods were good but this week tsh down to 0.1mU/l (0.35-5.00) does this mean I'm taking too much or too little ndt? I'm getting confused and don't have medical support with this medication.

[Clutter]

Trishel8, low TSH doesn't mean you are overmedicated. TSH is often low or suppressed in people taking NDT or T3. You need FT4 and FT3 results to determine whether you are overmedicated. If your GP won't order them you can order private blood tests from Blue Horizon and Genova via thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[shaws Administrator]

When we take thyroid hormones, the best question/answer is 'how do I feel'. If well, we are on the right dose. Blood tests should only be used as a guide.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Thanks for reply. Im reducing slightly and recheck in 6 weeks.

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

Why are you reducing? Do you feel ill? How much are you taking?

You just cannot dose by TSH alone if you want to feel well. TSH rarely reflects thyroid status and is a thoroughly unreliable test. Besides, what time did you have it done? Did you take your NDT less than 24 hours before hand? Did you have breakfast before hand? All these things can alter the TSH, and that's what makes it a bad test to dose by.

[faith63 in reply to Hidden]

why?

[Jazzw]

Was anything other than TSH checked? It's not much use if you take a medication with T3 in...

[shaws Administrator]

This is an excerpt from a Dr who knew how to treat patients.

Our treatment team uses the TSH level only initially to help clarify a patient’s thyroid status. But during treatment, we completely ignore the level. The reason is that the TSH level is totally irrelevant to normalizing the patient’s whole body metabolism and relieving his or her suffering. The only clinical value of the TSH level is to see the effect of a particular dose of thyroid hormone on the pituitary gland’s "thyrotroph" (TSH-secreting) cells.

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

There are more topics at the top of the page.

[Glynisrose]

How do you FEEL? Thats the most important thing, not numbers.

[Musicmonkey]

Would you say that you would ignore TSH no matter how low it goes? It is a little scary 'going it alone' and not having a GP oversee or endorse your medication regime.

With my TSH going down to 0.06 I was reassured by all I've read hear (and other links) that I didn't need to worry about my TSH as long as I felt well and that the GP's threat (via the endocrinologist team at the hospital) of atrial fibrillation and osteoporosis was nothing to be concerned about provided I felt well.

A couple of days ago I became a bit anxious - not for any particular reason, just a bit jittery and it made me feel that perhaps I was being foolhardy by increasing my Levothyroxine dose without the GP's support.

To compensate, I took only 25mcg of Levo one day and 50 mcg then next. Within just two days I crashed, needing an afternoon nap, couldn't stay away in the evening, then slept solidly through the night for a full 7.5 hrs till my alarm went off. I became tearful and even more puffy-eyed than usual and my weight spiked. Also shoulder pain which had been improving returned.

I don't fully understand how this can happen so quickly because the Levo is meant to be slow acting, but wonder whether it is due to having a conversion problem.

I hope ok to post here. Can do as a separate thread if preferred?

[Hidden]

Your TSH level at 0.1 is perfectly OK. Even Dr Andrew Toft who is no fan of NDT, admits that many do not feel well until TSH levels are nearly or completely depressed. What is your body telling you?