How Were You Able to Tell if Your Meds Were Wor... - Thyroid UK

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How Were You Able to Tell if Your Meds Were Working?

thyroidrose profile image
10 Replies

A bit of an odd question here, but I am wondering how you could tell that your thyroid meds were working? Did you wake up one day after several months of treatment and think "EUREKA!" Or was it more of a gradual "Hey I don't feel like poo today?"

I have worked up to Tirosint 75 mcgs. Here and there over the past few months I've had good days or weeks that get my hopes up, but then comes a crash and I'm back down in the dumps with severe symptoms.

Hoping to hear from some veterans!

Thank you,

Rose

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thyroidrose
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shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

75mcg is not a high dose. What we should do when we've been 'stable' on a dose for a while then we don't feel so good we have to get a new blood test. All have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose and the test and take afterwards.

You want TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and antibodies (if you haven't had antibodies tested before). Vit B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

If lab wont do all of them, even if GP requested them, you can get these through one of our recommended labs.

If you chose a private lab, you must be well-hydrated a couple of days before as they are prick-prick tests. Members can advise how best to draw the blood. GP should do vits/minerals.

thyroidrose profile image
thyroidrose in reply to shaws

Shaws I really appreciate the answer! I also don't think 75 mcgs is that high of a dose but I am so desperate to feel better that I am hoping I don't have to go too much higher to accomplish this. Time is of the essence but also so is patience!

Thank you!

Rose

Nanaedake profile image
Nanaedake

I had to make a lot of changes besides taking levothyroxine until I felt well. For example, I had to correct vitamin deficiencies. Find a levothyroxine that suited me, took quite a few years trial and error and manufacturers changing supplies, now I stick to it. I've had to adjust my dose several times. I've gone low carb, high fat and take apple cider vinegar for low gut acid which can cause reflux. Recently I've added a gentle exercise programme.

It's taken a long time to work out how to feel well and how to maintain feeling well. There is no quick fix to thyroid disease but you can get better if you follow the advice on this forum. The doctors do not know how to make us better and if in the UK, the appointment system makes it difficult for continuity so you need to learn, take control and implement your own recovery programme. Simply taking levothyroxine without understanding your disease will not help you get better.

vitamin levels are very often low in people with thyroid disease. If you post your latest thyroid results and any vitamin test results here along with laboratory ranges then people will help you understand them.

thyroidrose profile image
thyroidrose in reply to Nanaedake

Thank you Nana for the info. I had a severe ferritin deficiency which has been corrected and also H Pylori which was treated successfully.

I'm hoping in the next tweak of meds I will be feeling good most days.

I will certainly post my next set of lab results if I am still needing guidance and direction!

Thanks again,

Rose

Nanaedake profile image
Nanaedake in reply to thyroidrose

It can take time to heal once you've sorted everything out. Sounds like your body's taken a hammering. Be patient and give your body time to heal. Lots of rest, good food and enjoy little things each day.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to thyroidrose

If you Hashimotos then looking seriously at changing to strictly gluten free diet too

thyroidrose profile image
thyroidrose in reply to SlowDragon

Yes Hashimoto's here so I am embarking on the gluten free path today. Thank you.

Marz profile image
Marz in reply to thyroidrose

Have you been tested for PA - Pernicous Anaemia ? What other meds/supplements are you taking ? Do you know your B12 & VitD levels ?

thyroidrose profile image
thyroidrose in reply to Marz

Marz I've been tested for anemia and B12 and both were fine but I don't know if I have been tested specifically for pernicious anemia.

I only take vit D and tumeric, plus a multi vitamin.

B12 and D levels were decent at last check but I am going to have them checked again.

Thank you!

Marz profile image
Marz in reply to thyroidrose

I only asked about PA as you suffered the H Pylori bacteria. This only happens when acid is low. Good acid levels protect the stomach from unwanted bugs. PA should be tested - Intrinsic Factor and Parietal Cell anti-bodies - but false negatives are possible. You need the actual results with ranges ti know fir sure if your B12 was fine.

Multi - vits rarely have enough of anything in them to be of benefit.

Always obtain copies of all your test results so you can monitor and post here with more info.

😊😊

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