Should i skip a few days of levo??

[ThyroidObsessed]

I had a high reading of ft4 at 27.8 ( 11 - 23) tsh was 2.5 (0.27 - 4.5) ft3 4.88 ( 3.1 - 6.8) do u think this is a false high reading due to taking levo before blood test?.. or should i skip a few doses?

[Heloise]

It does seem that way since your other levels do not indicate that you are over medicated. Do you take a large dose and was it within a few hours before the blood draw?

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to Heloise]

Im on 100mcg of levo i have been on this dose for 4 weeks when tested?

[Clutter in reply to ThyroidObsessed]

ThyroidObsessed,

That may be why your TSH was still high. 6-8 weeks is usually required to check response to a dose.

[Heloise in reply to ThyroidObsessed]

Next blood test, don't take your hormone until after the test. T4 goes into storage and has a half life of two weeks so you can see it takes a while to build up and also a while to break down. T3 works quickly and dissipates in a day or two. NDT or natural thyroid contains both T4 and T3 so many find it more satisfactory. T4 needs to go through some steps to become T3 and this takes good adrenals and liver which often a sick patient won't have.

The serum levels are not as helpful as other signs like your body temperature which is too low when you are hypothyroid which means you are not burning calories as fast as you should which means you will continue to gain weight. This happens even though you may try dieting (don't), your body will probably lower your temperature in order to conserve calories and you will be worse off. Same with too much exercise. It's kind of a vicious cycle.

[Clutter]

ThyroidObsessed,

It could be high if you took Levothyroxine a couple of hours prior to your blood test. FT3 isn't high but TSH is a bit high so I wouldn't skip doses and would continue taking your normal dose and retest in 6 weeks.

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to Clutter]

I think it was exactly 2 hours that i took it before test aswell!..

I have been on 100mcg for 4 weeks when they took the test could this make a difference too?

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to Clutter]

Also im starting to feel depression coming on is this because im undermedicated?

[Clutter in reply to ThyroidObsessed]

ThyroidObsessed,

Possible but unlikely. Your FT4 and FT3 must have been lower before you started 100mcg. It wouldn't have been unusual to have felt depressed then.

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to Clutter]

Well the anxiety was really bad and unstable moods was bad when i was on 75mcg and my tsh was at 15 and ft4 at 18 and ft3 at 3.88.. but now it seems to have changed into a ll round low mood that is not normal for me..

[Clutter in reply to ThyroidObsessed]

ThyroidObsessed,

Perhaps it will improve after you are optimally dosed.

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to Clutter]

I hope so 😣

[Heloise in reply to ThyroidObsessed]

I do think low thyroid may cause depression or negative thoughts due to the lack of serotonin and/or low dopamine activity.

youtube.com/watch?v=nZ_CP7l...(Not working as expected?)

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to Heloise]

I really think it is the cause for me as i only started with anxiety and depression when my tsh went high.. i cant wait to be back to my old self again its horrible 😣

[SilverAvocado]

If you took the tablets 2 hours before, this test is not valid and you can't really conclude from it. Also 4 weeks is a bit quick to test. Taking the tablets right before is an explanation for why the freeT4 is high, so there's no need to worry about that. There will be a spike in your blood shortly after taking the Levo, and that's what this test shows. Ideally you want a 24hr gap between taking it and the test.

Four weeks is quite a short time, and everything with thyroid replacement is slow. It's not unexpected to have different moods in that time. Low thyroid can cause anxiety, depression and even psychosis and other mental illnesses. As your dose gets closer to optimal and everything else settles you should find your mood improving overall, and feeling less overwhelmed and exhausted and everything that goes with that. But there can be bumps on the road, definitely, and things can get worse before they get better. Wait at least 6 weeks, and hopefully things will settle a bit. You may need more dose adjustments to get yourself optimal.

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to SilverAvocado]

Thank you just what i needed to hear 😊