a couple of weeks ago. Diagnosed with Hashi's, the doctor started me on 150mcg Levo. I am in Peru and have private healthcare. Generally I have felt better however I do have episodes of what feels like heart flutter, a 'wet'cough, not really chesty but need to clear it a bit and nervousness/anxiety - two particularly unpleasant episodes combined with shortness of breath, tight chest etc. Am I over medicated? I am 1.78m, 95kg, 45 yrs. My next blood test is on the 14th but I'm worried I could be harming myself under the current dosage. Original test results were...
TSH Ultrasensitive 9.07 Range 0.5-5 uUI/ml
T4 Free 0.91 Range 0.8-1.8 ng/dl
Anti TPO 60 Range 0-33 UI/ml
Thanks in advance...
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MPG1972
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That is a very high starting dose! It is more usual to start on 50mcg and raise gradually. I couldn't even tolerate 50mcg to start with and had to take 25mcg for a few weeks to get used to it.
MPG1972 You were started on too high a dose of Levo. Usual starting dose is 50mcg, maybe slightly more, then it's built up in 25mcg increments every 6-8 weeks after retesting. It's a replacement hormone, you go slowly with hormones. It's possible that has caused your heart flutter and anxiety.
You are still Hypothyroid with your current results. The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it is needed for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective reference ranges if that is where you feel well.
Your high antibodies confirm autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's, which is where antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it. You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members. Gluten contains gliadin which is a protein thought to trigger antibody attacks. Supplementing with selenium L-selenomethionine 200mcg daily also helps reduce antibodies, as does keeping TSH suppressed.
Thanks to Seaside Susie and Clarebear for the replies. I've been on 150mcg for roughly 4 weeks. As I've already mentioned most of the time I've felt a lot better. Family members have said I seem like my old self again, which is lovely to hear. I have had a couple of bad experiences and I'm having one again right now. My cough is worse today, I feel tight in the throat and chest, I've had trouble swallowing and have belched quite a few times. I also just 'feel' like there is a problem with my heart, though it has beaten a little faster than normal at times today, my wife had a listen and says it is steady, but to me it feels fluttery and not quite right. I received my new lab results yesterday and they are as follows...
T4 LIBRE1.81 ng/dl 0.80 - 1.80 *
TSH ULTRASENSIBLE0.31 uUI/ml 0.50 - 5.00 *
PARATHORMONA29.0 pg/ml 15.00 - 65.00
CORTISOL AM12.41 ug/dl 6.20 - 26.00
Am I having a flare? Is it possible that the thyroid is being attacked releasing hormone and that coupled with the 150mcg dose is making me feel hyper? Feeling a little confused and also disappointed as I've had a great few days.
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Thinking of upping my Levo as a start
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Starting to think my body doesn’t like Levo 🤷♀️
