Upping my Dosage of Levo, is it safe

[HypoHelen2867]

Im thinking of upping my levo from 75mg to 100mg is this safe?

I'm struggling to wake up every day and stay awake, when I do get up my eyes are heavy and sore. I have dry skin and hair and just feel lousy at the moment.

I don't get my bloods done until 13th Feb so thought I'd up my dosage and see what my bloods are on the 13th.

Am I doing the right thing?

Last Blood test results

TSH 0.505 - 0.4-4.0

T3 2.11 - 1.8-4.2

T4 1.14 - 0.8-1.9

Thanks 😄

[Mary-intussuception]

Isn't that a bit tricky? Won't you run out of tablets.

I would, personally, hang on till 13 Feb and tell the doctor about my symptoms.

[HypoHelen2867 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

i have plenty of 50mg tablets left from when I used to just take 50. But yeah maybe I should just stick with my 75mg tablets until the 13thThanks

[Mary-intussuception in reply to HypoHelen2867]

Hi Helen, I've just seen your added results - do you think it would be worth considering asking for some T3 rather than an increase in Levothyroxine? How long ago were these last results? See what 13 Feb results are ?

[HypoHelen2867 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Hi

Last result were 3 months ago

Yes I can ask him

Thanks 👍

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Ideally a dose change needs 6 weeks to be fully absorbed and show how it affects your results (and personally I find I need 8 weeks). 13th February is less than 3 weeks, not enough time to see how the increased dose affects you.

[HypoHelen2867 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ok thank you. I will speak to my Endo on the 13th

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Presumably you have Hashimoto's? Also called autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

I see from other posts you have B12 injections and iron infusions

What about folate and vitamin D? These need checking and very likely need supplementing

When having B12 injections, especially when Hashimoto's we may need vitamin b complex too

We can be low in other B vitamins like Thiamine and B5.

Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

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)

Ask GP/ endo for coeliac blood test first

Persistent low vitamins with supplements suggests coeliac disease or gluten intolerance

gluten.org/resources/health...

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...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

[HypoHelen2867 in reply to SlowDragon]

I don't have Hashimotos

My B12, iron are all ok

Don't know about Vit D

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to HypoHelen2867]

Folate is important too

See Box 1. Towards end of article below

Some possible causes of persistent symptoms in euthyroid patients on L-T4

You will see low vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 listed

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

[HypoHelen2867 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for the info 👍

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to HypoHelen2867]

You may still have gluten intolerance even without Hashimoto's

[HypoHelen2867 in reply to SlowDragon]

Antibodies in latest blood below , I don't think I have hashi

It says

TPO AK <10 IU/ml

TG AK <20 IU/ml range 0-80

Thanks 😄

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to HypoHelen2867]

Yes that is low antibodies

Persistent low iron, folate and B12 vitamins despite supplements can suggest coeliac disease or gluten intolerance

You don't need to have any obvious gut symptoms

gluten.org/resources/health...

[HypoHelen2867 in reply to SlowDragon]

I'm going to mention it to my Endo and get tested

Thank you 👍

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to HypoHelen2867]

Worth trying strictly gluten free AFTER coeliac test, even if result is negative.

Far more people are gluten intolerant, but there's no test. You just have to try it, but do coeliac blood test first

[Mary-intussuception in reply to HypoHelen2867]

Ask for full details of all nutrients levels results and definitely get Folate and Vitamin D tested.

[HypoHelen2867]

Yes all ok

[Treepie1]

The FT4 result looks odd .Usually see a range of around 11-22. Have you got it right?

[HypoHelen2867]

I live in Germany so it's Germany and USA range then

[helvella Administrator in reply to HypoHelen2867]

HypoHelen2867,

To make it clear:

The range will depend on the lab. The very different numbers will be due to the UNITS in which the result has been reported.

The USA uses ng/dL

The UK uses pmol/L

I am actually somewhat surprised that Germany uses ng/dL.

[HypoHelen2867 in reply to helvella]

That's exactly what is says on my blood test results