Please help

[Gracestuart]

I was diagnosed about a month ago and was put on 100mg levo but feel worse everyday here are my blood results can someone please advise me on what else i can do to help with all the symptoms

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You are ready for dose increase

TSH is still too high and FT4 too low. You are ready for 25mcg dose increase

TSH should be around one and FT4 towards top of range on Levo

Always take your Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many take on waking but can be more effective taken af bedtime. Trial and error to see which you prefer

Do you have Hashimotos also called autoimmune thyroid disease? Diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

If not been tested ask that they are

Has GP tested vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12?

These are often too low and may need supplementing

Always get actual results and ranges on all tests

Make an appointment to see GP for Levo dose increase

Different brands of Levo are not the same. Many people only like one brand

Always stick to same brand and watch out for different brand with dose increase.

[Gracestuart in reply to SlowDragon]

My dose has just been dropped to 50mg is this wrong

[shaws Administrator]

You have my sympathy. When first diagnosed and given levothyroxine we don't expect to feel worse but unfortunately we are dealing with thyroid hormones and not pills for other problems.

Usually we start on 50mcg of levo and after six weeks have a blood test with a 25mcg increases until our TSH is 1 or lower with a FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of the range. You have been started on 100mcg. Whether or not he/she will increase your dose in two weeks we don't know yet till she/he informs you.

We do not expect to feel worse when prescribed levothyroxine, but many do intially until their dose reaches optimum which does take time.

When you get your blood test in two weeks time, make the appointment now so you can choose the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of levo and the test and take it afterwards. This helps keep the TSH at its highest and may prevent an adjustment.

Levothyroxine should be taken, usually first thing on an empty stomach and wait about an hour before eating. Food interferes with the uptake of the hormones, as can coffee.

Your doctor should check B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as deficiencies also cause symptoms.

Usually we start levothyroxine at 50mcg, with blood tests every six weeks and 25mcg increases until we feel well and have a TSH of 1 or below with FT3 and FT4 in the upper part of the ranges. Even though your dose of levo was 100, it might be too much for you initially. Your results don't include a Free T3 blood test but it is usual for doctors to only check TSH and T4 and if TSH is somewhere in the range

Most on this forum will commiserate with you how you are feeling at present but it can get better but it has to be at increments of 25mcg until we feel well. The aim is relief of all clinical symptoms.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Always get a print-out with the ranges of your blood test results for your own records and you can post for comments.

[Gracestuart]

My dose has just been dropped to 50mg do you think this is wrong ?

[silverfox7]

It depends on the reason he dropped it down. He may have been told he should have started you on 50 though I understand why as TSH was very high but we normally start low for our bodies to get used to it. So I'm hoping he will soon raise it up to 75 and later 100 though there should be a 6-8 week gap in between. Keep in touch with what he is doing. The other scenario is that he has no idea what he is doing which unfortunately only too common. So keep us in the loop so we can keep an eye on things for you.

[Gracestuart]

Thanks will do

[Gracestuart]

My first bloods were free t4 <3pmol/l

Tsh >100mu/l that was 4 weeks ago so it is starting to come into range will keep you updated