More test results for comment please ...

[Kiwidel]

Hi All,

Following on from my last post, the Dr reduced my Levo (Synthroid) down from 150mg to 125mg because in her opinion I was over medicated. I have also been prescribed iron tables (150mg Feramax) which I have been taking for the last couple of months and I also started taking high strength Vit c (with the iron), and B12 (separately) at about the same time.

This test (results in the picture) was carried out at 8.30am, I hadn't eaten anything since the night before and hadn't taken Levo since the day before.

The last test (below) was done late morning, I had eaten and had taken my Levo earlier that morning.

17Aug - had taken 150mg Levo about 12 hours earlier...

TSH 0.36 mlU/L (0.60-4.00)

Free T4 18 pmol/L (9-19)

Free T3 4.7 pmol/L (3.1-6.2)

TSH has increased, T4 has decreased but T3 has increased - so I'm converting better, I'm guessing this is because of the increased iron and B12??

The problem is, while the shortness of breath and just generally feeling "blurgh" I had has got better (I've actually started going to the gym again!), I have had a lot of symptoms return (feeling cold, itchy and spotty skin, poor sleep, feeling down / mood swings) and the existing ones (sore ankles, weight gain etc) show no improvement.

I'm due to go back to the dr but I'm now confused about what I should be pushing for (if anything). Should I sit tight on the lower dose of Levo and focus on trying other supplements to see if they help my symptoms,or ask to have it put back up to 150mg again, or ask to drop the Levo and add some T3?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Treepie]

Your TSH should be 1 or a bit below so was OK before reduction.FT3 was not over range .Yes ,the vitamins will help.Probably should not have reduced levo.

[Kiwidel]

Thanks for responding - it's the symptoms that are puzzling me. I don't know if it's all in my head or there is something else going on.

[Kiwidel]

Yes, I've only managed to remember to take it once recently and that was 36.5 C which is about normal for me (I laugh when medics tell me I need to get medical attention if I have a fever ... I can't remember the last time my temp was 37c let alone higher!) I've put the thermometer next to the bed so hopefully I'll start to remember to track it.

I've had a number of instances recently where I've felt cold 'in my bones' when my other half is in a t-shirt my temp at that point was 35.6 C which is heading to where I was when I was first diagnosed, hence me thinking its a thyroid symptom.

Just picked up a message from the dr saying my levels are perfect and she wants to keep medication as it is ...

Thanks all for responding.

[misscliocat]

Hey there! Was just wondering how you're doing now?

[Kiwidel in reply to misscliocat]

Hi, thanks for asking.

I'm OK, but I have taken things into my own hands ...the increased energy disappeared and after a bit more research I thought that part of the problem could have been a reaction to Synthroid which amongst other things has acacia in it - I get hay fever and apparently it's not uncommon for there to be a reaction to fillers like acacia.

The Dr agreed that might be the case, but wouldn't agree to both changing the brand and increasing the dose at the same time, so made me choose. I stupidly asked for a different brand, but then found out though visiting a number of pharmacies that the only alternative offered also has acacia in it (you would have though the dr would know this given she looked it up whilst I was with her!)

I took the decision to not change brands (better the devil you know) and because I'd never really got back to being well on Levo, decided to try and find a source of NDT. I saw a naturapath who said they can prescribe it if necessary, but in the mean time found a source for Thyroid-s through another group. I started taking 1 grain a week ago and am due an increase this weekend.

It's very early days but I am starting to feel a little better in terms of mood and have a lot more energy in the mornings. I'm crashing in the PM but I think that's just the reduced dose catching up with me. So far the hardest part has been restraining myself from increasing the dose earlier than the 10-14 days that seems to be recommended ... Hopefully it stays that way.