On low dose of levothyroxine

[Flower90]

Hi I am new. I was diagnosed hypothyroid 6 years ago when I was 24 (age 30, female). If I am on too low a dose of levothyroxine what symptoms does it cause please? I have difficulty waking up in the mornings, cold intolerance, pins and needles, joint pain, dry skin, weight gain, puffy eyes, dark circles under eyes, feeling sick, low pulse, breathlessness, swelling in neck, dizziness, headache, back pain. Thank you

I take 25mcg levo, my thyroid results are

TSH 4.67 (0.2 - 4.2)

Free T4 14.7 (12 - 22)

Free T3 3.3 (3.1 - 6.8)

[Jazzw]

Well, it causes all of those symptoms, directly or indirectly. And when you’re left undertreated for a while, many folk with hypothyroidism develop low B12 levels, low Vit D levels and low ferritin (iron) levels, which is what I mean by “indirectly”. Low nutrient levels are far more troublesome than many doctors seem to appreciate.

What dose of levo are you on? Do you have the results (and ranges) of any recent blood tests? If not, ask your doctor for a print off and by all means post them here for comment.

[Flower90 in reply to Jazzw]

I take 25mcg levo, my thyroid results are

TSH 4.67 (0.2 - 4.2)

Free T4 14.7 (12 - 22)

Free T3 3.3 (3.1 - 6.8)

Done December 2017, thanks

[Jazzw in reply to Flower90]

Ah, right. Yes - you need a raise in dose. Your doctor didn’t ask you to come in for an appointment after those?

Make an appointment, ask for a dose increase. Your dose should be increased until TSH is below 1.0 and symptoms are relieved. Your doctor is probably one who thinks “in range” results is fine - they aren’t. 25mcg is a starter dose and you shouldn’t have been left on that for so long!

[Flower90 in reply to Jazzw]

The GP doesn't know I take this dose. Neither does the endo. I reduced it because I stopped sweating. Since the reduction I have been sweating more.

[Jazzw in reply to Flower90]

But you now have all those other symptoms. So you need much more than 25mcg. What did you reduce it from? You probably need more than your doctor thinks you’re taking. It’s much more likely that you’re undermedicated than taking too much.

[Flower90 in reply to Jazzw]

175mcg

[Flower90 in reply to Jazzw]

I just assumed the sweating was a hyper symptom

[Jazzw in reply to Flower90]

Well, it might have been - but there was no need to reduce your dose so drastically. A drop down to 150mcg would have been a better idea.

OK, so you’re prescribed 175mcg, so you can increase your dose again. How long have you been taking just 25mcg?

[Flower90 in reply to Jazzw]

November 2017

[Flower90 in reply to Jazzw]

Forgot to add my hypo symptoms were worse on higher dose

[Jazzw in reply to Flower90]

Well, you know in my first post I mentioned low B12, Vit D and ferritin? Those things might be the reason. Would be worth asking your doctor to check them.

Meanwhile... start increasing your dose again. Go back up to 50mcg. 25mcg really is far too low to do anything.

[Flower90 in reply to Jazzw]

Vitamin and minerals tested 2 weeks ago do I post?

[Jazzw in reply to Flower90]

Yes - please do

[Flower90 in reply to Jazzw]

Vitamin D total 22.3 (<25 severe vitamin D deficiency patient may need pharmacological preparations)

Ferritin 21 (15 - 150) I have anaemia

Vitamin B12 236 (190 - 900)

Folate 2.0 (2.5 - 19.5)

[Jazzw in reply to Flower90]

Right. So has your doctor started you on loading doses of Vit D? You’re seriously deficient! Or were these private tests? If they were NHS tests your doctor is being negligent in not following it up. No wonder you feel so unwell! It wasn’t your thyroid meds, it’s your Vitamin/mineral levels.

You need iron tablets if you’re not on them already and it would be good if your doctor could test you for pernicious anaemia - the pins and needles is a classic symptom of very low B12.

[Flower90 in reply to Jazzw]

No loading dose of vitamin D, they are NHS tests. Was on iron tablets but they were stopped

[Jazzw in reply to Flower90]

Right. Go to the doctor! See someone different to usual maybe. You need those results acting on ASAP.

[Marz in reply to Flower90]

Click onto SeasideSusie - then click onto her REPLIES and follow her excellent advice to the many people who have similar problems. Reading and reading again and again is the only way to learn from the good people on this forum. When I joined over six years ago I too was in the dark - learning new things was so empowering and now as I enjoy my 72nd year I am as well as can be. Just finished taking a yoga class

I treat myself with B12 injections - 10,000 IU's VitD - B Complex - Selenium - Zinc - VitD K2-MK7 and many more. You can also click onto my name above and quickly read my Profile to see that it has not always been good - so it can be done !!

Wishing you well !

[Flower90]

And my levels went all over the place, GP and endo told me I was thyrotoxic despite feeling undermedicated. I didn't know whether I was coming or going

[Marz in reply to Flower90]

Did you ask them why they thought you were thyrotoxic ? - Did they have any answers ?

[Flower90 in reply to Marz]

High thyroid hormones and below range TSH told overmedicated thanks

[Marz in reply to Flower90]

But the FT4 and FT3 are not high enough and the TSH is NOT below range so how can you be over medicated. You are only over medicated when the FT3 is over range ... Who are these muppets ?

Have you read up on the links I posted for you .... am sure you would have commented had you done so. So good to get feedback

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Flower90]

Have you had thyroid antibodies tested? Sounds as though you may have Hashimoto's.

[Flower90 in reply to SeasideSusie]

TPO antibody 1000 (<34)

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Flower90]

Your high antibodies confirm autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's.

Sorry, not well enough for in depth reply. See this thread and the replies by myself and SlowDragon which explain how you should address the Hashi's and accompanying problems

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Marz in reply to SeasideSusie]

Be well soon - you are greatly missed

[Flower90 in reply to Marz]

Also advised to reduce dose

[Marz in reply to Flower90]

A SCANDAL .... please read this forum as much as possible and learn how to take care of yourself ....

[Flower90]

Was discussing symptoms with a friend and she said why not start all over again if GP won't help you

[Marz in reply to Flower90]

I think that is what is happening here - if you are able to follow the advice.

[Flower90 in reply to Marz]

I will follow advice but my friend advised me to reduce my dose to 25 without GP knowing

[Marz in reply to Flower90]

That is too great a drop. You should only ever reduce or increase by increments of 25mcg. Then leave for 6 weeks to test again and see where things are ... Sorry but I do not think many of the 70,000 plus members here would agree with your friend under the present circumstances .....

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Flower90]

Your friend is not a doctor and has harmed you. 25 mcg is a starter dose for a frail elderly person or one with heart disease. Sweating and palpitations can be symptoms of both under and over medication, as, if you are undermedicated, the body revs up adrenaline production to keep you going and too much adrenaline causes sweating, shakes, palpitations etc.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

See my reply to similar low dose

You need to increase dose up, probably in 25mcg steps

Low vitamins are direct result of reducing dose

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...