So my tsh is higher now than a month ago on levo. It was 3.8 now 5.69? On 25 mg of levo and skin very dry and thin whith hair still falling out feel like its worse this week, is that normal and does it come back or not after tsh levels get back. I see many people aking the same thing and nobody seems to answer it directly. These are my other labs
Tsh 5.69
T3 1.8 same as a month ago
T4 1.02 a month ago 1.09
B12 662
Ferritin 20.4 was 51 and I take iron every other day.
Insimnia is horrible and feel anxiety, never dealt with these issues before. Also very jittery a few hours after I take it and scared to increase dose with more side effects. Have ni more sick days and struggling to fet through a day physically and emotionallyand when I tell my dr this they dont seem to care
Written by
Loriputnam11
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Thank you for the encouragement Wow my spelling was horrible in that last post and hardly remember posting it, ugh!
From the looks of your lab results (and yes we do need the ranges as well) you still look very under-medicated. 25 mcg of Levo is just a very tiny starter dose. If you've only been on Levo for one month so far, it's very, very early days yet. You need at least 6 weeks on it before you feel the full effect, then you should be retested and in all likelihood your dose should be increased to 50 mcg. It's not unusual to feel worse before you feel better.
However... your ferritin does look very low (but need the range to be certain!) and if so you need to supplement with more than one tablet every other day. What tablets are you taking, exactly, and what is their strength?
The symptoms you describe are in line with hypo symptoms, which hopefully will reverse once your dosage is sorted out, but this can take quite some time, as you also need all your nutrient levels to be good as well. It's like building a house - you need a solid foundation!
And I should add I'm not medically qualified, just speaking from my own experience.
25mcg is a very small (too small) dose. Normal starter dose is 50mcg.
How long since starting this 25mcg dose was this blood test done? If longer than 6 weeks you are ready for dose increase.
Normal increase is in 25mcg steps. Retesting again after 6 -8 weeks.
Dose should increase until TSH drops to around one and FT4 to top of range
You need to add the ranges to these results, as each lab has different ranges
All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH and most consistent results
Your ferritin is probably too low, (difficult to tell without ranges) this is likely due to being under medicated on the Levo. But you need to improve ferritin to help thyroid hormones work
Essential to always get ranges on all tests
Ask for vitamin D to be tested, or get tested via vitamindtest.org.uk
Also essential to know if you have high thyroid antibodies. This is autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's. About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. if not had antibodies tested, ask if GP will test.
Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. Many take on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime
Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable. Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.
Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,
"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l. In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.
Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.
This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."
You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing louise.roberts@thyroiduk.org print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.
Thank you, I was checked for anti bodies which came back normal. The dr today wants to start T3 5 mg once a day to start tomorrow and then increase levo in a coyple more weeks if tests show no improvement. I had another doctor say they would up the T 4 to 50 instead of 25 without doing T3, so confused These two doctors are also opposite of how I am tested with one fasting and no meds and the other tAking meds and not fasting so I am doing both and then having to make my mind up. One is a GP and the other an endo. Theory for me is to take the T3 because you can increase or decrease amount depending on results, thoughts?
I'll bet the adrenals are the real problem, and not the thyroid. Its just that adrenal fatigue isn't really recognised as far as doctors go, and often missed until the thyroid cannot compensate for the flagging adrenals anymore!
In simple terms when your diagnosed with hypothyroidism etc, your in the first or second stage of adrenal fatigue, and if you get the doctor to test for Zinc levels its likely rock bottom. Zinc lowers cortisol levels, more serotonin better sleep, less to no depression and the thyroid rectifies itself if you feed the adrenals amino acids, vitamin c@1000mg and a B complex daily and hair stops falling out also, or just back to the norm at least. Could take 6-12 months, to heal but I started feeling better in 4-5days, and weaning off thyroid meds nicely
Vitamin D needs checking and levels correcting. Also with iron not absorbing could either be the low Zinc or Copper imbalance. Or if nutrients aren't absorbing properly your likely low in stomach acid and healthy bacteria, which is also common. Hope this helps...
It does waiting on cortisol levels now, urine tests came back High 50 range was up to 40 so did a mouth swan test and waiting for results. NEVER HAD ZINC TESTED SO ILL DO! Does having adrenal gland problems change the meds?
Just checking in, Lori did you get your zinc tested? As for meds I'm guessing you mean thyroid meds? If so I'm no longer on Levothyroxine just make sure I feed the adrenals with amino acids and the other nutrients too, the thyroid functions fine if I do this. In my opinion the only thing that can change this is if anyone is diagnosed as autoimmune thyroiditis, in this case there's usually a critter involved throwing things out, common ones are Candida, EBV, that invade the thyroid. Get rid of the critter and again the thyroid will go back to functioning properly... Hope that helps...
Is you GP happy with that TSH level? It looks to me as if you need an urgent appointment with another doctor who understands how to dose hypo patients. Your dose is too low and your TSH too high for a hypo patient diagnosed and receiving treatment.
You say that your doctor wants to add T3 - not an expert but that sounds good to me as your T3 is so low - not even in range! Your TSH needs to get down to 1 or below. But I agree with SlowDragon 25mcg of levothyroxine is too low a dose. Doctors usually start you on 50mcg and then test after 6 weeks and increase by 25mcg until your TSH level is right.
I am pleasantly surprised that your doctor is thinking about giving you T3 as most doctors are stopping it due to its high cost. Read through some of the old posts on the subject!!
T3 might be right for you as you don't appear to be converting really well but see what the other more experienced members say about that as I am not expert and everything I know was learnt from this site and Izabella Wentz!!! LOL
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Wow my spelling was horrible in that last post and hardly remember posting it, ugh!
Starting T3 Side Effects 
Need help with side effects and latest TSH 
NEW levels and confusing result
Help with new blood results/ t3
Levo doses and side effects 
