helvellaAdministrator

Do you always get the same make of levothyroxine? Many people find that the makes are not interchangeable - they might feel one make is slightly more potent than another, or may be intolerant of some excipient.

Do you make sure you leave a good gap between taking your levothyoxine and having blood drawn for the test? For example, I usually take my levothyroxine at bed-time but on days when I have a blood draw, I skip taking it until after the blood has been drawn.

You could choose all sorts of regimes between 125 and 150 to try to get the best dose for you.

The only useful thyroid hormone tests are Free T4 and Free T3. (TSH will almost always be tested but technically isn't a thyroid hormone.)

Do you make sure you take your levothyroxine welll away from food, drinks (other than water), supplements and other medicines?

Are you taking any other medicines or supplements?

Olivia80 in reply to helvella

Hi, thanks for your reply.

I take no other medication or supplements, take tablets as soon as I wake up and don't eat normally for about 1.5hrs after taking them (including coffee) and have always had the same brand.

!!!

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helvellaAdministrator in reply to Olivia80

Maybe worth a read of this poll:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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SlowDragonAdministrator

ask GP to check levels of vitamin d, b12, folate and ferritin. These all need to at good (not just average) levels for thyroid hormones (our own or replacement ones) to work in our cells

ALWAYS Make sure you get the actual figures from tests (including ranges - figures in brackets). You are entitled to copies of your own results. When you get results suggest you make a new post on here and members can offer advice on results

Usual advice on ALL thyroid tests, is to do early in morning, ideally before 9am. No food or drink beforehand (other than water) When taking Levo, then don't take it in 24 hours before (take straight after). This way your tests are always consistent, and it will show highest TSH, and as this is mainly all the medics decide dose on, best idea is to keep result as high as possible

thyroxine must be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. (No coffee or tea) Many take on waking, but can be more convenient and recent research, suggests perhaps is more effective taken at bedtime. (Must be at least two hours after eating)

Some other medications or supplements must be taken at least 4 hours away.

Hidden

When you say you were over medicated when you felt really good. Do you know what your results were at the time with ranges? I'd certainly ask for your vitamin levels to be checked also folate, iron, b12, D.

Olivia80

Thanks for your responses everyone.

Haven't ever had the results broken down so will call gp tomorrow for them and post back here

shawsAdministrator

Welcome to our forum and am sorry you feel unwell. The aim of thyroid hormone replacement is to feel well but most on this forum have the same question 'I'm taking thyroid hormones but still feel unwell' - doctors usually say you are 'fine' 'normal' 'ok' when we feel anything but normal.

Doctors have a very bad habit of reducing our hormones due only to the TSH result.

Our TSH should be 1 or lower but most doctors are so badly trained they don't know this fact and are 'happy' when patients' TSH is somewhere in the range.

We have to read and learn if we've to get to good health. The NHS normally do TSH and T4 and if TSH is anywhere in range doctors believe we're on sufficient and don't increase. Neither do they know any of the clinical symptoms.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Ask your doctor for a Full Thyroid Function Test which is TSH, T4, T3, T4, free T4 and Free T3. All of them may not be done by the lab if TSH is in range, or GP not request them. You can have a test for those not done and we have recommended labs. It is important to know exactly what your results are before increasing hormones.

A Full Thyroid Function test is TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, and Free T3. B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate, The Blood test should be the very earliest possible as TSH is highest then and seems to be the only result doctors take notice of and adjust meds according to the TSH whilst not asking patient how they 'feel'. Any remaining symptoms we have are not thought to be connected when they most probably are.

New research has also shown that many feel much better on a combination of T3/T4.

Blood tests have to be the very earliest possible, fasting although we can drink water. Also allow 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards. This keeps the TSH at its highest as it drops throughout the day.

Always get a print-of the results with the ranges. We are entitled by law to have them and some surgeries charge a nominal sum for paper/ink.

I am not medically qualified but had undiagnosed hypothyroidism but am fine now thanks to Thyroiduk.org.uk but now we have the forum too.

Ria_Licence

I have just joined this forum as I am feeling the same. Taking 100mcg levothyroxine though my eyes are so puffy and I'm so tired all of the time, just had my TSH repeated to be told it's normal

Gonna ring the doctors tomorrow and ask for a full range of bloods to be taken - as feeling like this is definable NOT normal that's for sure!

Olivia80

Hi again everybody,

Right, I've called the GP and asked for my TSH and T4 readings:

7th Oct (taking 100mcgs)

TSH = 5.38

T4 = 14.3

12th Dec (taking 125mcgs)

TSH = 0.5

T4 - 17.7

1st Feb (taking 150mcgs)

TSH = 0.1

T4 = 16.2

NOW...HELP!!!!!

What the hell does all that mean??

thanks in advance everyone

Tamzin27 in reply to Olivia80

Hi Olivia80,

Quite interested in your post as I also had my thyroid removed 6 months ago. I'm still struggling to get my meds right. I started on 150 mcg Levothyroxine straight after surgery, then 125mcg, then alternating days. I have tried different options and I'm now considering going up to 175mcg. Your T4 is beautifully within range (higher part) when you are on 150mcg. Mine is nowhere near which means I need more meds. Seeing the doc next week. You really need to learn how to read the ranges of TSH, T4 and T3. I've been plotting mine on a graph so it's easier to compare. Good luck.

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Nanaedake

150 mcg seems like it's keeping your TSH at about the right place. Is your thyroid supposed to be suppressed? If so it looks like it is about where you would expect. It might be worth checking out all the B vitamins like people have suggested. I don't know what anaesthetic was used for your surgery but I read that nitrous oxide knocks out B12. I've found Vitamin C can be taken with thyroid meds and seems to help. Not sure if it's recommended but it works for me.