HI I'm new here.my GP changed my meds and now I'm a mess! TSH 1.62 (.36-3.74); TF3.3(2.0-4.4 TF4 1.21.(.76-146) My hair is falling out; gravel voice & extreme fatigue-brain fog. Seeing an Endo tomorrow..any advice to share with him? Thanks Louise
Hypo..and a mess!: HI I'm new here.my GP... - Thyroid UK
Hypo..and a mess!
What was dose changed from and to?
Same brand or different. Are you on Levo or T4 and T3
A bit more info please
Hi. Same brand. I'm on Levo only. I was on 112mcg for 15 yrs. New Dr changed it to 88 mcg. My tests are all within the accepted range. The good news is I'm headed to the endocrinologist today.
Classic case of doing well for years on "correct" dose. GP doesn't like suppressed TSH .......lowers dose and all hell breaks out
What are your recent results?
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 print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor please email Dionne: tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
Prof Toft - article just published now saying T3 is likely essential for many, unless medics are prepared to accept high FT4 and suppressed TSH