Would you say that I need an increase in my Levothyroxine please?

[Ellie-Louise]

I’m seeing the doctor tomorrow morning because my digestive system seems to have gone to pot over the last two weeks.

Checking through my latest blood test results from March, against those taken last June there is a difference that is making me think I might need to ask for a slight increase when I see him.

The week before Christmas I tore a ligament in my knee which made me unable to walk or put any weight on it at all until the end of February, so I was sitting down most of the time unless I was crawling upstairs to the loo or bed. Now it’s slightly better but still awkward and limits how much I can walk so an hour round the supermarket is my limit so far.

Consequently my weight has crept up, only by about half a kilo but no whatever I do I can’t get it back down again. I’ve also started to feel tired around 9pm which is unusual for me because I could keep going until the early hours before. Thank you. x

(I’ll leave out the vitamin results because I am getting on top of those now).

I take 75mcg Levo after midnight at bedtime.

March 2018

TSH: 0.50 mu/L (0.35 - 4.94)

Free T4: 14.3 pmol/L (9.0 - 19.0)

Free T3: 3.9 pmol/L (2.6 - 5.7)

June 2017

TSH: 0.12 mu/L (0.35 - 4.94)

Free T4: 16.5 pmol/L (9.0 - 19.0)

Free T3: 4.3 pmol/L (2.6 - 5.7)

[shaws]

I believe and I am not medically qualified that 'yes' an increase is warranted due to these:-

Free T4: 14.3 pmol/L (9.0 - 19.0) should be nearer the top of range.

Free T3: 3.9 pmol/L (2.6 - 5.7) nearer 5 would be good.

Lots of doctors believe that if TSH is low or suppressed we will develop heart or bone problems. We would most likely develop these if not on an optimum dose, i.e. a dose that relieves all clinical symptoms.

[Ellie-Louise in reply to shaws]

Thanks Shaws, I must say that when I actually looked at them side by side, it seemed blaringly obvious that I required some sort of increase.

[Peanut31]

when you say your having problems with your digestive system did you test positive for antibodies?

I did and I have Hashimotos, this causes leaky gut and I am now gluten and dairy free which has helped a lot. I no longer get the awful tummy pains or bloating.

Best Wishes

Peanut31

[Ellie-Louise in reply to Peanut31]

I can’t see anything about antibodies in my results, just the above and the range of vitamins.

A couple of weeks ago I think I prob ate too much, (we were brought up to clear our plates so I can’t leave anything because it goes against the grain as it were) anyway I got indigestion.

After that it happened daily if I ate anything made of flour, pastry, bread etc. So I left it out as much as I could, but it has left my chest sore and if I drink anything hot it isn’t comfortable plus, I was burping a lot.

I did wonder if it was IBS back because I had that years ago. But I changed to Ryvita for teatime and that’s fine, we have dinner in the middle of the day. I also get really bad hunger signals, it’s very strange.

[Peanut31]

The blood test, is known as the Thyroid Peroxidase antibody test and anti thyroglobulin. TPO antibodies test. If you have a good GP ask to be tested for this, don't be fobbed off that the NHS don't do this, they do. when you get the results if he/she agrees post them on here with the lab ranges.

If you have anti bodies present it means you have an auto immune disorder. Hashimotos perhaps.

This maybe why you are struggling. This can be anything from indigestion to tummy cramps, muscle cramps.

Diary causes me to have terrible muscle pains in my joints, fingers and toes especially, and, as said anything with gluten causes major tummy cramps and bloating and the following day my tummy feels so bruised.

Best Wishes

Peanut 31

[Ellie-Louise]

I don’t have symptoms like that and I’m fine with dairy. I had similar pain in my chest and burping a lot a few months ago come to think of it, I was diagnosed with acid reflux.

[Ellie-Louise]

Saw the doctor this morning and he has agreed that it looks as if I need an increase, so now I’m on 100mcg of levo for 6 weeks before having another blood test.

That brings it nicely to within a week of my 3 month test for the extra D3 I was told to take. He has made a note to get all tests done together.

He also thinks I have had acid reflux again, maybe brought on by the naproxen I had taken a for my knee injury when the pain wasn’t being touched by ordinary painkillers, and they can also cause ulcers.

[Ellie-Louise]

These are the results of the tests that my doctor did (as mentioned above). (It said they were borderline).

Serum TSH level < 0.03 mu/L [0.35 - 4.94]

Below low reference limit.

Serum free T4 level 16.6 pmol/L [9.0 - 19.0]

Serum vitamin D level 89.2 nmol/L

71-200 nmol/l Replete

Note: Optimum vitamin D level is seen in Autumn.

I'm wondering if I did do the right thing increasing my levo because my hair suddenly got worse, lots thinner on top and the crown than ever it was, and my finger nails are dreadful. I never could grow them long but they did look normal. Now they are back to splitting and peeling again and barely growing.