Newbie

[Daisha]

Please help I feel really poorly my toes have gone cold and numb outside, neck swollen, tired, dry skin everywhere I take 25mcg levo was happier on 200mcg levo diagnosed 2012 thank you

Dec 2017

TSH 4.9 (0.2 - 4.2)

FT4 12.7 (12 - 22)

FT3 3.0 (3.1 - 6.8)

DHEA 1.9 (2.7 - 7.5)

[Clutter]

Daisha,

Who reduced Levothyroxine from 200mcg to 25mcg? Why, and when?

[Daisha in reply to Clutter]

GP reduced it in September 2017 because she was worried I would lose more weight

[Clutter in reply to Daisha]

Daisha,

Your GP should not make swingeing reductions to dose. Dose adjustments should not be bigger than 50mcg and in most cases 25mcg dose adjustments at 6 week intervals with a thyroid function test to check levels is the preferred protocol. Your GP's reckless reduction has now made you undermedicated with TSH 4.9 and FT4 low in range with FT3 below range and dose needs increasing to raise FT4 and FT3.

Your GP obviously doesn't know how to treat hypothyroidism so you should ask for referral to endocrinology.

The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 0.3 - 1.0 with FT4 in the upper range. FT4 needs to be in the upper range in order that sufficient T3 is converted. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email [e-mail] if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.

[Daisha in reply to Clutter]

Thank you I am under an endocrinologist as well