Hi recently diagnosed hypothyroid, taking 50mcg from 25mcg. Feeling pretty awful right now despite normal results. Can my TSH jump down that quickly from a 25mcg dose? Advice appreciated. Thankyou
May 2017
TSH 76.3 (0.2 - 4.2)
FREE T4 9.6 (12 - 22)
Sep 2017
TSH 41.0 (0.2 - 4.2)
FREE T4 12.3 (12 - 22)
FREE T3 3.4 (3.1 - 6.8)
It could but you may also have high thyroid antibodies, which means autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's
With Hashimoto's TSH can swing around due to attacks by antibodies
Do you know if you have had antibodies tested? If not ask that they are
You should be retested in 6-8 weeks after each dose increase
Also get vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested, especially if you have Hashimoto's
I think I have Hashimotos, TPO antibody 840.5 (<34) and TG antibody >1000 (<115)?
Yes definitely Hashimoto's
See lots of my replies to others with links to websites about gluten and why it's not good for anyone with Hashimoto's
Also been told vitamins and minerals are fine despite how awful I feel and I think my symptoms are caused by deficiencies somewhere.
Risingstar
Post your Vit and min results (with ranges) and say what, if any, supplements you are using. I'm off to bed now and out tomorrow morning, but will be happy to comment later on.
Get vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 checked. Always get actual results and ranges
If you can't get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw or
HI , i was diagnosed in june this year with under active thyroid, i started on 50mc of levo and felt so much better then started to go down hill again, so now on 75, picked up again but was also positive for antibodies but this has not been explained to me by my doctor she just said was for her records so i am not sure what this means can anyone help
High antibodies means you have autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's
Medics ignore Hashimoto's as in the main they don't understand it, but to feel well and really improve you need to work out the cause of the high antibodies
It's pretty much always due initially to leaky gut, causing food intolerances but can also be due to gut infections or Ebstien Barr (EBV) also known as glandular fever
Hashimoto's very often affects the gut, leading to low stomach acid, low vitamin levels and leaky gut.
Low vitamins that affect thyroid are vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. When they are too low they stop Thyroid hormones working.
Get them tested and always get actual results and ranges
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms.
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...
Gut infections
hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...
thank you so much for your reply , I am a little worried now though as does this mean just being on levo wont help my symptoms
You will need to learn as much as possible about Hashimoto's
Always get copies of blood test results. Keep good records of dose you were on and how you felt on the dose as well
You are likely to need further dose increase, but we have to wait for body to rebalance after each increase. You can't rush it.
Always get blood test 6-8 weeks after any dose change. Always try to stick to same brand of Levo too
Ask GP to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at next retest. Very common for these to be too low
Post results on new post when you get them.
Yes most/many of us with Hashimoto's do need to be on gluten free diet, to lower antibodies and improve symptoms
Thank you so much for your reply , i will get them to test for vitamin d , folate, ferritin and b12
Risingstar Your results are classed as normal because they are within the ranges. That doesn't mean they are optimal. The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it needs to be for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective reference ranges when on Levo.
You need testing 6-8 weeks after your increase to 50mcg, another increase of 25mcg, retesting 6-8 weeks later and another increase of 25mcg, and repeat until your symptoms abate and you feel well. That is the normal protocol.
When having thyroid tests, always book the very first appoinment of the morning, fast overnight (water allowed) and leave off Levo for 24 hours. This gives the highest possible TSH which is needed when looking for an increase or to avoid a reduction. Do this every time you are tested so that you can compare results accurately. It's helpful to keep a diary or spreadsheet of your results, dose, how you feel, etc., so that you can refer back to it if your GP every wants to reduce your dose and you know you felt unwell when previously taking that dose.
Sorry TSH is wrong, it is 41.0 (0.2 - 4.2)
So you need the 6-8 weekly tests/increases as mentioned. Make sure you don't go over that length of time, you have a long way to go and increases should only be in 25mcg increments.
Recently diagnosed with Hypothyroidism - six weeks on Levothyroxine
Am I hypothyroid not yet diagnosed
Dose changes advice please 
Recently diagnosed subclinical hypothyroidism
