Testing after dose increase.

[lucylocks]

Hi

what is the earliest a blood test can be performed after a dose increase?

I increased my levothyroxine from 125mcg. to 150mcg. four weeks ago.

I feel worse since the increase. I was putting it down to a bug type virus as I have been getting a lot of headaches and feelings of nausea and feeling washed out. My husband also had it but only for a couple of days. Mine has been going on for over three weeks now. One day I feel a bit better then the next feel bad again.

I am now wondering if it is in fact the dose increase making me feel worse and want to get my levels checked to see what is going on.

I increased as I still had symptoms on 125mcg. levo. so had my levels checked with Medichecks and it showed they had dropped from previous test.

Test 20th April 2018

Thyroid Function

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE *0.021 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20

FREE THYROXINE 17.8 pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00

TOTAL THYROXINE(T4) 78.5 nmol/L 59.00 - 154.00

FREE T3 4.1 pmol/L 3.10 - 6.80

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY 115.000 IU/mL 0.00 - 115.00

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 21.1 IU/mL 0.00 - 34.00

HAEMATOLOGY

Vitamins

ACTIVE B12 153.000 pmol/L 25.10 - 165.00

FOLATE (SERUM) 7.44 ug/L 2.91 - 50.00

25 OH VITAMIN D 54.5 nmol/L 50.00 - 200.00

Interpretation of results:

Deficient <25

Insufficient 25 - 49

Normal Range 50 - 200

Consider reducing dose >200

BIOCHEMISTRY

Inflammation Marker

CRP - HIGH SENSITIVITY 2.67 mg/l 0.00 - 5.00

Iron Status

FERRITIN 120 ug/L 13.00 - 150.00

Test 6th December 2017

Thyroid Function

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE *0.014 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20

FREE THYROXINE 19.4 pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00

TOTAL THYROXINE(T4) 91.4 nmol/L 59.00 - 154.00

FREE T3 5.04 pmol/L 3.10 - 6.80

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY 103.000 IU/mL 0.00 - 115.00

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 20.8 IU/mL 0.00 - 34.00

So looking at April results I needed the increase.

I have also increased my Vit D supplement.

I know it is usually said to test six to eight weeks after dose increase so is four weeks much to early to test.

Thank you.

[greygoose]

Yes, it is. The extra T4 won't be fully synthesised in the body in just 4 weeks.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your folate is pretty low

Are you also taking a good quality vitamin B complex, one with folate in, not folic acid

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

How much vitamin D are you taking?

Are you also taking magnesium and vitamin K2 Mk7?

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

[lucylocks in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon,

many thanks for your reply.

I take Thorne Stress B Complex which has 200mcg methylfolate but have not taken it for a few days as I have a condition called cold urticaria ( I break out in hives from the cold weather or cold water ) My immunologist said the cold causes the histamine to rise therefore causes the hives.

Last week I read something about folate causing a rise in histamine (to be honest, not sure I really understood the info. and now cannot find it ) anyway I thought I would stop the

B Complex and see what happened. I have not had hives since, but then the weather is warmer so cannot say the hives have not appeared because of omitting the folate.

Today I feel absolutely exhausted, had to go back to bed after a few hours, could the reason be because I have not taking the folate in the B Complex for a few days.

I now take 6000iu since last result, was taking 2000iu before this.

I have just recently started taking magnesium but not K2 MK7 as I worry if it clots the blood.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to lucylocks]

Urticaria is linked to Hashimoto's

hypothyroidmom.com/chronic-...

Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

[lucylocks in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for the link.

I have thought before there could be a connection.

I tried GF last year for ten weeks but suffered three bad episodes of vomiting, diarrhea and severe cramping pains, thought is was nova virus first and possible second time, but thought surely not third time. My husband said this had happened since going GF so I went back to eating gluten again. Not had the episodes since, maybe it was three episodes of nova virus and nothing to do with going GF.

Just read symptoms of folate deficiency, and one was abdominal bloating which I have had really bad today.