levothyroxine dosage

[juliecressey]

hello everyone quick bit of advice needed please. I have graves had a TT and just had orbital decompression surgery. I am on 125 mg levothyroxine - today I felt shaky and slightly hyper. should I reduce or increase my levothyroxine? my endo appt is not until January. TIA julie

[greygoose]

I don't think you should change anything at all on the basis of one day of symptoms. Hyper and hypo symptoms can cross over. Could be that you're still under-medicated. 125 mcg is only a small dose. Do you have a copy of your last blood test results? If so, post them here to give members a better idea of what is going on.

[juliecressey in reply to greygoose]

hi thank you for the reply my last lab tests were ft4 11.6 and my tsh 8.3.

[greygoose in reply to juliecressey]

You are extremely under medicated with a TSH of over 8, so, l wouldn't lower your dose if l were you. How long have you been on that dose?

[juliecressey in reply to greygoose]

hi bit complicated at the moment I was on thyroid s but obviously my levels were out when I went in for decompression surgery so the nhs wouldn't do the op I then went back on to levothyroxine in September had the op 11th October and that was my last result I am at the GP this week for another test. I do panic in case the hyper comes back and my eyes bilge again julie

[greygoose in reply to juliecressey]

Yes, I understand that, but it was the level of antibodies that affected your eyes, not the levels of your thyroid hormones.

You cannot become hyper again, in the true sense of the word, because you no-longer have a thyroid gland. Hyperthyroidism means that the thyroid is making too much hormone. If the gland is removed, it can no-longer do that.

You could, of course, be over-medicated. But that is not at all the same thing, and I don't think it would make your eyes bulge. But with a TSH of over 8, you are a long way off being over-medicated. What you have to do, though, is keep an eye on your antibody levels, as well as your thyroid hormone levels. Your doctor should not just be looking at your TSH.

[juliecressey in reply to greygoose]

oh God I didn't even realise that I could not get hyper anymore you have explained it better to me I was also getting confused about foods not to eat one website said eat broccoli etc another website said not to! I have made my approach with GP to ask for my antibodies to be checked. thank you so much for your time this brain fof certainly doesn't help x

[helvella Administrator in reply to juliecressey]

It would be so good if doctors would provide a modest book as part of diagnosis. Something that has been well-produced and explains things.

And links here and to thyroiduk.org.uk

[Clutter in reply to helvella]

Helvella,

Depends who writes it.

[juliecressey in reply to helvella]

thank you so much x

[Clutter in reply to juliecressey]

Juliacressey,

Suppressing TSH <0.1 helps suppress thyroid activity in remnant cells and will dampen down Graves. You can eat whatever you like. Goitrogens will not upset you post thyroidectomy.

[juliecressey in reply to Clutter]

thank you clutter much appreciated - as you can probably understand I just get so confused. so can i go back on to thyroid s and is it worth me getting my antibodies checked? I find just on levothyroxine my joints ache brain fog all the normal xx

[Clutter in reply to juliecressey]

Juliecressey,

I don't know why you stopped taking Thyroid-S. If you were over medicated prior to your surgery you only had to reduce dose.

I'm not sure there is any benefit in retesting antibodies and I doubt you'll be able to get antibodies tested unless you can persuade your endo or eye surgeon to do them. Graves antibodies aren't tested in primary care as far as I'm aware.

[juliecressey in reply to Clutter]

hi clutter the plot thickens the only reason I stopped my thyroid s was because of Moorfields they would not do my decompressiosurgery because of my levels !! I am getting so depressed about everything. I am going to start back on my thyroid s so hank you for your time clutter xx

[jimh111]

If you don't feel well tomorrow contact the surgeon, they can advise just in case it isn't straightforward thyroid hormone levels.

[juliecressey in reply to jimh111]

ok thank you x I just panic now since having graves and TED

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Are you on gluten free diet? Apparently it can help with Graves as well as Hashimoto's

The immune recovery plan by Susan Blum is worth reading

[juliecressey]

hi No I am not at the moment but have just started shopping everything gluten free so will be 100% gluten free by next week x