I think I'm overmedicated. Dr says "No".

Hi. New here so would appreciate gentle handling !

I was diagnosed Hypothyroid 9 years ago. Diagnosed with sleep apnoea at the same time so with the CPAP and Levothyroxine Sodium I felt much better quickly. Dose settled to 75 micrograms and has stayed at that for most of the time. Dose was raised to 100mgs in March this year due to blood test result and was considered OK still in June. I don't know the figures of the blood test results.

Over the last four to five months I have become very irritable, anxious, shaky, tight chest, trouble sleeping for more than 3-4 hours per night, waking sweating and in the last 4-6 weeks upset stomach. I'd lived with all of these until recently when, on an inspiration, I looked at the symptoms of overmedication for hypothyroidism online and checked the list in the packet of pills. So, off I trotted to the doctor and asked for a blood test to check if things were OK.

The results have come back OK so apparently all those symptoms can't be overmedication. The doctor has latched onto the most recent symptom (upset stomach) and referred me for a colonoscopy. Blood pressure was high but in range and it was only when I got home I realised he has only told me to get back to him after the colonoscopy without addressing any of the other symptoms.

To be honest the idea of a colonoscopy has only served to increase the anxiety and I blubbed most of last evening.

I want to go back and ask to have the dose reduced back to 75mgs in an attempt to address the symptoms but I know he'll say the blood tests are OK. Another sticking point seems to be that I've put on a few pounds rather than losing weight recently.

Has anyone got any bright ideas of how I might be able to convince him ? Or any other advice ? Maybe I'm deluding myself that the sudden appearance of all these symptoms are linked to the increase in dose despite the bloods being 'OK' ?

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Jay1955.

What are your thyroid results and ranges (figures in brackets after results)? Your results may be high in range which doesn't suit everyone.

If you want to see whether you feel better on a lower dose you can halve a 100mcg tablet and take 50/100mcg alternate days which is equivalent to 75mcg daily.

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

Hi Clutter.

I don't know the figures. Never asked or been told as I've always just gone along with what the Dr says. Maybe naive.

I would rather reduce dose with the Dr's blessing or at least knowledge but don't want to threaten and become an 'Awkward Patient'.

Thanks for your quick response.

(Not sure I could halve the tablet - it's tiny !)

[Clutter in reply to Hidden]

Jay1955,

Ask your GP receptionist for a printout of your recent results and ranges (the figures in brackets after the result) and post them in a new question for advice.

GPs are more likely to under medicate than over medicate so when your GP says you are not over medicated s/he is probably right.

The tablets are easily halved with a pill cutter.

[shaws Administrator]

The doctor is probably diagnosing by the blood test alone and not taking into account how you 'feel' which I think is the most important. Clutter has made good suggestions as usual. Being underdosed is just as bad as being overdosed.

[Hidden]

Thanks for the help.

I'm struggling with all of this, probably should have seen the Dr sooner but as I said, he hasn't addressed the anxiety etc symptoms - just seems to have clutched at the diarrhoea as something he might be able to do something about by referring me.

Every time I think I've got my head sorted I get the waves of misery and I'm a wreck again.