Need opinions please.

[Munchlet]

So I got my GP to reluctantly do some blood tests as he hadn't done one since giving me a prescription of Levo 25mg. I had upped Levo myself to 50mg but as it was making me feel more tired/aching joints etc I decreased again and stopped the day before my blood test. I managed to get him to check Vit B12, Vit D, TSH and he requested FT4 as he'd prescribed Levo on the basis that my FT4 was only just in range and TSH was just under four.

I called for results and got told them were all normal but I asked for my Thyroid results as I wanted to see if the Levo had any effect. My TSH is now 0.95 and my FT4 has risen slightly from 12.6 to 14.15.

So now I'm thinking is it my Thyroid as my TSH has dropped a lot and if they upped my Levo then wouldn't I be in danger of going hyper? Initially on the Levo I felt good but I still have a lot of my symptoms. I'm just not sure how it works, I actually feel that based on the initial response to Levo if I could get my levels up so the correct ranges I could actually feel well but if I was to take higher doses I'm worried I go hyper because of the big drop in my TSH.

I really don't know what to do I thought about going to see Dr Willis at the Natural Practice but someone on here was kind enough to PM me and as well as the money for visits he seems to be quite expensive at ordering a lot of tests.

I guess I could try and get in with DR P.

The other issues I have are severe digestive problems, bloating, had IBS since early twenties, acid reflux etc. I tried eliminating gluten for a while but can't say it made a huge difference

I also have a lot of symptoms of PCOS, skipping periods etc, bad oily skin can't lose weight but they tested for that and said hormone levels normal although ultrasound showed small cysts on ovaries.

I just wondered where you would go next. I cannot lose weight I have been on the strictest diet for weeks and haven't lost a pound, even my work colleagues have been saying they can't believe the weight isn't falling off me.

I'm skipping periods, constantly bloated, feel full of gas alternating constipation etc,

I feel like I need to see someone but don't know who, I'm thinking it could be PCOS/Adrenal/Thyroid/Food Intolerances as all the symptoms overlap.

I think my main concern is how much my TSH has dropped but my FT4 has only gone up a bit.

Sorry hope this makes sense I know I'm rambling but I just think I need to find out what exactly is the main problem so I can correct it as at the moment I feel like I have other issues going on as well.

Also didn't get DR to test antibodies but had them tested a couple of times before and they were negative, oh and I have an enlarged thyroid with nodules.

Think that's everything.

Thanks

[greygoose]

You can't go hyper, because you're hypo. You can't switch from one to the other by taking levo. And a low TSH on its own, does not make you hyper.However, you can be over-medicated, but that is very unlikely on 50 mcg.

Ignore your TSH, it is a very bad indicator of thyroid status, and irrelevant once you are on thyroid hormone replacement. The important number is the FT3, but they won't test that. But, pay more attention to the FT4 than the TSH, and if that is still low, you are still hypo.

You probably can't lose weight because you are on a strict diet. Restricted calories negatively impact conversion. And, if you cannot convert your levo to T3, then you will become more hypo and put on more weight. So, forget the diet and eat more!

[Munchlet in reply to greygoose]

I love the idea of forgetting the diet and eating more GG!!

[greygoose in reply to Munchlet]

Just make sure that what you eat is fresh, soy-free and low-sugar.

[Clutter]

Munchlet,

I agree with GG, you won't become overmedicated with FT4 so low in range. Perhaps you could try 75mcg and see whether that improves symptoms.

If Gluten-free didn't improve your digestive symptoms and they didn't become worse when you reintroduced it you might consider eliminating dairy for a few weeks and then reintroducing it and see whether symptoms improve.

[Munchlet in reply to Clutter]

Thank you greygoose and clutter you guys are awesome! I just panicked, even though I've been visiting the website long enough to know that TSH isn't a reliable indicator I just don't think I expected it to have dropped so much but having said that my TSH isn't a reliable indicator because it's always been "in range" so I guess it would have to be very low for my other levels to be where they should be. I did wonder about dairy Clutter that was going to be my next try. The other thing I forgot to add is also I'm also mid forties so some of my symptoms might have something to do with the lovely peri-menopause!! Can I just confirm do you still think it's likely to be my thyroid causing the problems? I'm swaying between other things being the cause but with my thyroid levels so low I guess I won't know for sure until I get them where they need to be and I also know that things like PCOS, IBS etc can all be down to low thyroid hormones so I guess it's one big loop!

[Clutter in reply to Munchlet]

Munchlet,

I don't think FT4 14 is so low it would stop your period so perimenopause is a possibility and, if there has been no improvement whatsoever in your digestive issues, it may point to food intolerances rather than thyroid.