Stopped medication

[Lauraball]

Hi I am new I stopped taking my levothyroxine 150mcg when will I feel better after stopping this diagnosed 2011 thank you

[bantam12]

Why have to stopped it ?

[Lauraball in reply to bantam12]

GP told me to because of TSH 0.03 (0.2 - 4.2) Free T4 21.1 (12 - 22) Free T3 4.3 (3.1 - 6.8) endo was happy with where TSH and Free T4 were

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Lauraball]

Lauraball

Endo trumps GP. Endo is specialist, GP is generalist. Do what your endo says. If GP doesn't like it tell him to discuss it with endo and until endo says otherwise you will stick to dose he/she says.

Your results are fine, no need for change unless you don't feel well. If you don't feel well, adding T3 is indicated by high FT4 and low FT3.

[bantam12 in reply to Lauraball]

Your GP doesn't know what he's talking about, your Endo does so get back on the Levo.

Low TSH is irrelevant, T4 is perfect and T3 could actually be a tad higher, how do you feel ?

[Lauraball in reply to bantam12]

I have sweats and tremor and also feeling more cold hard stool pins and needles dry skin puffy eyes tiredness depression weight gain hair loss joint pain muscle cramps and spasms loss of appetite memory loss confusion thanks

[bantam12 in reply to Lauraball]

Well stopping Levo will make everything worse, raising your T3 will probably help.

I found taking my Levo at night improved my T3 level.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Lauraball]

Lauraball

Also sounds like low nutrients. You need to test

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

All need to be optimal, not just 'in range'.

[Lauraball in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi I had phone call from GP regarding my results and he says I am deficient so will post results when I get them

[Lauraball]

Also felt worse with sweats and tremor

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Lauraball]

Lauraball

Sounds like Hashimoto's. Have you had thyroid antibodies tested?

[Lauraball in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi yes I think they are positive

TPO antibody 375 (<34)

TG antibody >1100 (<115)

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Lauraball]

Lauraball

Hashimoto's confirmed by high antibodies. Adopting a strict gluten free diet and supplementing with selenium L-selenomethionine 200mcg can help reduce antibodies.

Nutrients most likely low or deficient, Hashi's tends to cause that.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to SeasideSusie]

Lauraball

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How long since you stopped taking your Levothyroxine?

Your GP was completely wrong to tell you to do this

TSH is largely irrelevant on Thyroid replacement hormone. Provided FT4 and FT3 are within range dose is correct

Your FT3 was actually too low. Probably needed higher dose, or had low vitamin levels or not on gluten free diet.

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease). About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's

With Hashimoto's, until it's under control, our gut can be badly affected. Low stomach acid can lead to poor absorption of vitamins.

Low vitamin levels stop thyroid hormones working.

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. Always get actual results and ranges.

Post results as soon as you have them, members can advise

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

[Lauraball in reply to SlowDragon]

Stopped it 2 days ago

[shaws Administrator in reply to Lauraball]

I'd begin again and tell your GP to phone your Endo if he has a query.

We have a fatal disease if untreated so it is essential our hormones are optimal.

I agree that some of us feel worse on levothyroxine (sometimes due to a small dose) or our body doesn't like it. If so you could enquire about having an option i.e. some T3 added to T4.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Lauraball]

So you need to go back on it today at same level of 150mcg.

vitamin D, Folate, ferritin and B12, very likely much much too low if you are not taking any supplements.

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 articles from Thyroid UK email [e-mail]. print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.