Levothyroxine

[Maria444]

I am very sick on levo. I take 75mgs. I need help

[Marz]

Sorry Maria - we need more information. Do you have any results with ranges ? Do you have Hashimotos ? When were you diagnosed ? Are you taking any other medicines ?

[Maria444 in reply to Marz]

No graves my thyroid was killed with radioactive iodine. Last results showed normal but they do not want to make freeT4/T3 nor reverse T4/T3. I also have UTI constantly

[jgelliss in reply to Maria444]

Sympathy and strength to you . UTI is a sign that you might be under dosed . Most Dr's will not catch it . Please have them run labs on your thyroid panels . I had a very similar experience . Two Dr's never thought of thyroid testing . I had to figure out that it must be my thyroid meds that where under dosed .

Best wishes .

[Hidden]

Like Marz pointed out, you need to post labs here for members to comment. However, 75 mcg is a pretty low dose, and many people need twice that much to rid themselves of all hypo symptoms on T4 only. When you take T4 only, you need your FT4 levels to be at the very top of range, in order to make sure enough T4 is converted to T3 (provided you are a good enough converter).

[Maria444 in reply to Hidden]

Uuuuuffff first I took 100mg now 75 mg. Next tests will be in two weeks

[Hidden in reply to Maria444]

Why did you lower your dose from 100 to 75 mcg?

[Maria444 in reply to Hidden]

The Endocrinologist told me and I did

[Hidden in reply to Maria444]

Without knowing anything about your particular case, I know from my own experience that most endos only look at your TSH and tell you to increase or decrease thyroxine depending on your TSH reading. This leaves many patients under medicated and symptomatic!

[Maria444 in reply to Hidden]

Yes you are right I will order today on Tests T4 T3, free T4 and T3, reverse T4 and T3. Folates and vitamin 12. Last timeans and I will also ask for a copy of my results these ones and the previous ones. Thank you all for your answer.

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum and I am assuming you are quite new to hypothyroidism. When were you diagnosed?

It does come as a surprise to many when they feel worse than before being diagnosed but it isn't unusual. Levo has to be increased about every six weeks till you get to an optimum dose that makes you feel well.

I shall give you a couple of hints:

1. Blood tests for thyroid hormones have to be the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water).

2. You have to leave a 24 hour gap between your last dose of levothyroxine and the test and take afterwards. This helps keep the TSH higher as most doctors only look at this number.

3. Ask GP to test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as we can be deficient and everything has to be optimum for us to feel much better.

Always get a print-out from the surgery of your blood tests results. We are entitled by law (some charge a nominal sum for paper ink). They have to have the ranges as labs differ and it makes it easier to comment on results.

It is a big learning curve and I must admit most of us feel awful when first starting hormones but it does improve for many.

[Maria444 in reply to shaws]

I have graves. I was hyper then became hypo. Mt thyroid was killed with radioactive iodine. I have not gained weight but I am full of gas. Or I am constipated or I shit down my legs. I started to take levothyroxine eight months ago. My eyes hurt I have bad digestive problems. Now head ache. I would like to try the dry hormones treatment

[Maria444 in reply to shaws]

My vitamins B are fine I take D3 that one was vry low. Now it is ok

[shaws Administrator in reply to Maria444]

Of all vitamins/minerals B12 and Vitamind D are the most important. both are pro-hormones and are required to be at the optimum level, not anywhere in the range.

Deficiencies in B12 can lead to dementia or alzeimers. You have to get a print-out of your results with the ranges and post on a new question for comments. o.k. may not be optimum.

This is re weight gain - the most common question on the forum.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Maria444 in reply to shaws]

Fighting with them because I want the results in my hand. I have a solicitor now. B12 is normal because I paid for the test and D3 was liw started to taje fultium 800ml and now is normal. My mental state is goid I font know where I get the strength from

[shaws Administrator in reply to Maria444]

Sorry to bother you again Maria 444 but we need numbers of your results with the ranges. We can be in the 'normal' range but maybe at the bottom instead of top.

If you are in the UK it is the Law that we can ask for and receive a copy of our blood test results with the ranges.

[Maria444 in reply to shaws]

I willdo in two weeks when they give them in my hand

[shaws Administrator in reply to Maria444]

o.k. and put them in a fresh post as they will be lost in this one.

[Maria444 in reply to shaws]

I will do. Yes I am in the UK

[Stourie in reply to Maria444]

They are breaking the law by not giving you your results. Jo xx

[Maria444 in reply to Stourie]

Ye I asked for copies from everything from first day.

[dizzy864 in reply to shaws]

Have you tried a different brand of levo?

They are not all the same !! It is what it is mixed with that may be causing you to feel sick.

Pharma and Teva both contain acacia which causes me many problems.

You just need to ask your pharmacist for a different brand, if they don't stock it they should order one in for you.

Good luck

[Maria444 in reply to dizzy864]

I will ask

[Maria444 in reply to dizzy864]

There you are it says Teva in green letters. I will ask for yhat in two weeks

[Margareta3]

What brand of Levothyroxine are your taking? I was very ill on TEVA, changing brand to Mercury Pharma (the same dose) made me 90% better.

[Maria444 in reply to Margareta3]

Levothyroxine sodium 75mgs new formulation

[richard123]

I too changed brands to mercury and whilst 8 months I'm still not 100% I am improving with this brand.

I felt that it was thyroxine making me feel so rough but I guess symptoms were hypothyroid.

The members on this group have been Invaluable and at many low points have guided me with good advice.

Hang on in there and arm yourself with knowledge of the condition.

I wish you well

[Maria444]

Thankx. I have grave's disease. Took radioactive iodine then I have no thyroid. I would like to try the dry hormones

[bamy]

I was too, and Synthroid. Armour was better but I never felt well, til I switched to Nature-throid. Now i feel totally normal and great. (It's prescription)

[shaws Administrator]

If when you take levothyroxine you feel very ill. What you can try is to take one anti-histamine tablet one hour before you take your dose of levothyroxine.

Take your dose of levothyroxine with one full glass of water and if you don't have any reaction, your doctor will have to prescribe another make of levothyroxine as you have a sensitivity to the one you've been prescribed.