On low dose of levothyroxine

[Bev70]

Hi I am new, I am 31 and on a low dose of levothyroxine but was on much more before. I am losing hair, gaining more weight, skin drier, passing stools less each day, periods stopping, feeling more cold and tired, memory deteriorating. I take 50mcg levothyroxine. Thanks for any advice or feedback

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum Bev70

First, I am sorry you have hypothyroidism and it would seem whomsoever you are seeing doesn't know how to treat till you are on an optimum of thyroid hormones. Optimum means we feel well with no clinical symptoms.

We have to read, ask questions, and become knowledgeable as few doctors appear to know anything or very little about treating people with hypothyroidism. Mainly they treat the 'blood test results' whilst not relieving disabling clinical symptoms.

50mcg is a starting dose of levo, with blood tests every six weeks with an increase of 25mcg levo until symptoms are relieved and you feel much better. I note your doctor has adjusted your dose (probably only going by the TSH) which is not correct.

The aim of taking thyroid hormones is to get the TSH down to 1 or lower, with a Free T4 and Free T3 towards the upper part of the range (these are rarely tested) and most important relief of clinical symptoms

Many doctors wrongly believe if TSH is somewhere in the range that we're on sufficient. Rarely are the Frees T4 and T3 tested even though they reveal more.

We need everything to be optimum, B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate too.

We have to read, learn and ask questions in order to feel well. It can be done and many members have sourced their own hormones and self-medicate which really shouldn't be necessary but is for many.

Blood tests have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of levo and test and take afterwards. This helps keep the TSH at its highest as that's all doctors appear to look at and adjusts dose to keep it somewhere in the range, when the aim (once diagnosed) is a TSH of 1 or lower.

Also request B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as deficiencies in these cause symptoms too. Everything has to be optimum.

[Bev70 in reply to shaws]

TSH 6.3 (0.2 - 4.2)

Free T4 12.9 (12 - 22)

Free T3 3.8 (3.1 - 6.8)

TPO antibodies 574 (<34)

TG antibodies 355.3 (<115)

[greygoose]

Who said you were taking too much? Did you feel you were taking too much, yourself? Sounds like you're not taking enough, now. 50 mcg is only a starter dose, and it's rare to find someone who is well on just 50 mcg.

Do you have copies of your blood test results? If so, post them on here, with the ranges, and let's have a look. Do you know if you've been tested for antibodies?

[Bev70 in reply to greygoose]

Hi the GP thought I was on too much before. (150mcg levothyroxine)

TSH 6.3 (0.2 - 4.2)

Free T4 12.9 (12 - 22)

Free T3 3.8 (3.1 - 6.8)

TPO antibodies 574 (<34)

TG antibodies 355.3 (<115)

[greygoose in reply to Bev70]

OK, well, GPs know very little about thyroid, and only look at the TSH, which is irrelevant when on thyroid hormone replacement. And, now, you are under-medicated. Your TSH is much too high - should be one or under - or, as you have Hashi's, it should be suppressed. And, your Frees are much to low - most people need them up the top of the range to feel well.

Did he tell you you have Hashi's - or Autoimmune Thyroiditis, as he probably calls it? Are you on a gluten-free diet and taking selenium to lower antibodies?

[Bev70 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks no I didn't know I needed to be gluten free or taking selenium. Is going gluten free easy to do?

[greygoose in reply to Bev70]

I'm afraid I'm not the right one to ask that question. But lots of people on here are gluten-free. Why not post a new question and ask them?

[shaws Administrator in reply to Bev70]

Hopeless doctor and that's why you aren't feeling better. They are so poorly trained that they seem to believe that if we are 'somewhere' in the range that we're on sufficient. Your doctor doesn't even believe that as your TSH is above the top of the range, i.e. 4.2.

The aim is when diagnosed the dose is increased every six weeks with a 25mcg increase until the TSH is 1 or below.

You need an increase of 25mcg every six weeks until TSH is 1 and going gluten-free can help reduce antibodies which are attacking your thyroid gland.

Due to having thyroid antibodies, you have an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease commonly called hashimoto's. This is because the antibodies attack your thyroid gland until you are hypothyroid and going gluten-free can help reduce them.