Hypo and meds

[Taz69]

I have been changed to 125mg one day then 150 mg of levo.so i have to alternate each day.its been almost a year since both ops (full thyroidectomy).i have gained weight tremers etc constant hypo plz tell me this dose will level me out i cannot cope.i have been eating best foods going to weight watchers nothing changes i wanf to join gym but im terrified of no reaults.my skin is so bad anyone suggest any moturiers etc for this plz and thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Nobody can tell you if that dose will help, you need to post your latest thyroid test results, with reference ranges, so we can see where your levels lie.

What dose were you on before and why was it changed?

Have you had vitamins and minerals tested, they all need to be optimal for thyroid hormone to work properly

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

[Jennymiddle]

Hi Taz69 , I also have the same issues as you it's so disheartening when your eating all the right foods and see no results. I have calorie controlled meals delivered and still nothing coming off. I do go to the gym around 4 x a week and although nothing coming off I do feel toned and the most important thing is it helps my mind/anxiety. The way I see it if I didn't try and eat healthy and go to the gym I would be even bigger so at least I'm keeping it at bay. For the dry skin I use body shop butter it really helps. You could try the gym a couple of times and see how you feel, don't sign up to one just go as Pay as you go if possible. Keep positive you are doing the right things (in my opinion)

Jenny

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full evaluation you ideally need TSH, FT4, FT3, TT4, TPO and TG antibodies, plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

See if you can get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP. Unlikely to get FT3

Private tests are available

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent 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:
[e-mail]

Professor Toft recent article saying, T3 may be necessary for many. Note especially his comments on current inadequate treatment of patients following RAI or thyroidectomy

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...

If your GP is just testing TSH this is inadequate

See this example of Thyroidectomy patient - low TSH but dose is too low - falling FT3 at every test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Email Thyroid UK for list of recommended thyroid specialists, some are T3 friendly

please email Dionne


[e-mail]

[Heloise]

Hi Taz, there are those who just don't do well on Levothyroxine only. Why not try adding T3 or using a natural desiccated hormone.

When you eat carbs you may cause insulin resistance. If you can reverse your diet, more fat less carbs, no gluten you will have less ups and down with insulin. One thing that really changes things is unfiltered apple cider vinegar with meals. Just two teaspoons before a meal helps to block starch, adds probiotics, kills certain bacteria. One of the speakers on the heavy metal summit we are listening to right now mentioned another benefit of ACV. Do you have many amalgam fillings? Mercury is a big problem.

theheavymetalssummit.com/ex...

[LAHs]

Your dose was reduced to 138 mcgs from 150 mcg, that's too big a jump. You do need to have your TSH, FT3 TT3 FT4 TT4 (at least) measured before drawing any conclusions. You should also have the items mentioned by seaside Susie above. HOWEVER... my first question is, how did you feel on 150mcg? If you felt well, did your doc tell you why your dose was reduced? Since you have had a total thyroidectomy you can expect your TSH to be suppressed, i.e. lower than 0.5 IU/L (units?) and that is probably why your doc reduced your dose. If that is the case, again you have to assess how you felt on the 150 dose. By way of a compromise you could take 150 two days then 125 one day, this would raise your dose to 143 mcg. You probably know this but with Levo (or any other pure T4) you are sustaining a level of the drug, it has a half life of 7 days. It's different with T3, T3 wears out as the day go by since it has a half life of a few hours (~8). Weight gain is keyed to metabolism and metabolism is keyed to T3. Your T3 level is probably low - but you need blood tests to get into all this.

If your doc will not do these blood tests do not upset yourself arguing for the next year or so, spend some money to get a full thyroid panel privately as soon as possible. Buy the tests through Horizon or True Health Labs or some such. Getting to your optimal dose might be a bit expensive at first but you get well faster and then you only need a few maintenance tests as the years go by.