Puffy upper eyelids

[Pats]

Hi I was took off levothyroxine about 4 weeks ago due to being over medicated....have noticed my upper eyelids have become very puffy again this had all went away when I was taking levo. I am not due to get bloods tested until 23 March........just wondering should I ask to get them done sooner?

[rosetrees]

Why were you taken off levo rather than just having your dose reduced? If you are getting hypo symptoms then I would think you need to be retested as soon as possible. Do you have any test results to type out here? If not, ask for print outs of all your recent results.

[Pats in reply to rosetrees]

I was put on 100mg of levo, reduced to 75mg then reduced to 25mg was having fast heartbeat was tested again tsh was 0.13 (0.30 - 0.40) T4 12.9 (12 - 22) so the doctor told me come off levo had to take betablockers and get retested on 23 March!!!!

[marram in reply to Pats]

Started on 100, then reduce! I despair! What DO these doctors know?

The normal procedure is to start low, usually 50 mcg, sometimes 25 for an older person. Thereafter increase every six weeks or so. This gives your system plenty of time to adapt, especially the adrenals which have been under strain when you are hypothyroid. When started on too high a dose, the adrenals often respond by giving you a fast heartbeat.

He should NOT have started you on beta blocker without a very good reason, and a fast heartbeat in response to far too high a starting dose of Levo is not a good enough reason. If you are hypothyroid, the beta blockers will make you feel like a geriatric hippopotamus in no time. I suggest you go back to him and ask how long he plans to keep you on beta blockers, and what justification there is for taking them.

It can be daunting to challenge the treatment a doctor is giving you, but he has not given you a chance by doing things completely the wrong way round. If he feels unable to manage your condition, then ask for a referral to an Endo who may not be a whole lot better, but should at least know that 100mcg starting dose is bound to make your heart go all over the place!

I do hope that with better treatment you can start to feel better.

Marie xxx

[rosetrees in reply to Pats]

I'm speechless. Your FT4 was bottom of the range and he told you to come off levo??? Go back asap and make sure he tests TSH, FT4 and FT3. Don't take no for an answer for FT3.

Then ask him to explain to you about secondary hypothyroidism. If he hasn't heard of it/doesn't know how to diagnose it you asking about it might focus his mind. Secondary hypothyroidism means you have a pituitary problem. This causes low TSH even when FT4 and FT3 are low.

If you have secondary hypothyroidism then you possibly have adrenal problems and sex hormone problems. Tachycardia can be a symptom of hypo as well as hyperthyroidism. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, the book rights and the film rights.

[humanbean in reply to rosetrees]

I'm another one who has had tachycardia with untreated and wrongly treated hypothyroidism.

I don't think it is uncommon at all.

Fast heart rate is mentioned in this very long list of hypothyroid symptoms - scroll down the page to see the list :

hypothyroidmom.com/300-hypo...

[silverfox7]

Thyroxine takes a while to be accepted by your body as marram says and increases and decreases are usually done in 25 mcg steps. That's why it can take while to get you to the best dose for you without causing further problems though a lot don't realise this and give you additional problems! You don't want to have to be given additional treatment just because the present treatment had t been done correctly. If he insists on keeping the beta blockers keep having your blood pressure checked. In this situation mine went very low which is t good either.

[Hidden]

I would see another Dr in the practice as this one hasnt a clue about treating thyroid issues and I would see one soon.

[Pats]

Thanks everyone for your replies.....this was a different Dr in my practice that took me off the levo and put me on betablockers btw I only took them for a couple of days and it was a very low dose (don't know if this was the right thing to do) I am going to make another appointment to get answers as I don't know what my levels were when I was first diagnosed as I hadn't a clue about thyroid then but thanks to this forum I am getting more knowledgeable. It really helps to chat with others who understand as I feel like I have been left in limbo x

[shirleydancer]

Exactly the same thing happened to me, 69 years old been mildy hypo for years, but my GP assessed that I was well without thyroxine, which I was, saw another doctor who put me straight on to 75mcg too much for my age and considering I had been mildly hypo for over 25 years, with mild hear murmur, my heart went crazy, plus went to dentist where I was given anaesthetic with adrenaline in it, heart went even crazier thought I was dying. Reducing the dose did not help so GP took me of thyroxine, I ask for my test results and somehow I dont get them. Have just had more tests waiting for the results. I will attempt to get my results at my next visit and post them on here. I do not feel ill without thyroxine, I am well underweight not over, I eat really well and do not put weight on, I have no idea what is going on, I will attempt to get my results once again.