Just joined here and wondering if anyone could help me.
I was diagnosed with hypo fifteen years ago following the birth of my daughter and have been on levo ever since and had a few dosage adjustments over the years. However last few months or so started feeling cold most of the time, skin playing up, hardly losing weight even though dieting and exercising, constipation etc. All classic signs of hypo (or so I thought) had blood test and now got letter from drs saying to reduce dosage from 100 to 75 as TSH was 0.16 range is 0.38 to 5.5 and free T4 is 22, range 10-18. I'm reluctant to lower dosage though as I don't feel over medicated apart from trouble getting to sleep but do have insomnia anyway. Trouble is I cant get into see dr until end of June and I don't know what to do. Can anyone help advise please?
Written by
KickingK
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Hypo after childbirth is common. If you copy and paste your above history above onto your Profile, it will help members in future to read if they need some background.
You could be a poor converter of levothyroxine (T4) into liothyronine (T3).
T4 is an inactive hormone and it has to convert to T3. T3 is the only Active thyroid hormone and it is needed in our millions of T3 receptor cells so it surprises many on this forum that both FT4 and FT3 are rarely tested. Your T3 should be nearer the top of the range.
When you have blood tests for thyroid hormones they have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take afterwards. Taking levo before a blood test skews the results and doctors adjust willy/nilly which isn't good for patient.
Levo is usually taken first thing on an empty stomach with one full glass of water and wait an hour before eating. Food interferes with the uptake of levo.
Ask GP to test TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. If he - or lab - wont do all of the Ts, you can get a private home pin-prick test from one of our two labs. Follow procedure above. Blue Horizon or Medichecks. I'll give a link just in case. If you did decide make sure you are well hydrated a couple of days before and arms/hands are warm before blood draw. They can also advise where to get blood drawn if needed.
Get a print-of your results with the ranges. Ranges are important to enable members to comment.
If our metabolism is too low, due to not being on sufficient thyroid hormones, weight can be gained. Doctors don't seem to be aware of anything other than the TSH and T4.
Thank you for your reply. I will get a private blood test done through one if the two you mentioned as I can't get in to see GP until end of the month. Hopefully the rest might make things clearer. If I do need T3 can my GP prescribe or do I need to ask to see an endocrinologist. GP surgery also won't let me have a print out of my results saying I have to see the doctor which is a nuisance as I've got to wait three weeks to see them. Thanks for your advice.
You can tell the Receptionist at the surgery that he/she is breaking the law by not providing a print-out of your results to you. Speak to GP first and let him inform the receptionist. By the LAW we are entitled to our results (in UK) and they should give you a copy with the ranges. Some receptionists act like they have the authority but they do NOT.
My surgery charges 30p per sheet,
Doctors are not now permitted to prescribe T3 but you can source your own from a reputable company if you put up a new post asking for a private message to be sent to you. It will then be closed just in case someone might put info on the forum. You should get private message. There is also a natural dessicated thyroid hormones (NDT) which was the very original thyroid hormone replacement (from 1892) and from then on doctors only used their expertise and knowledge of clinical symptoms. NDT was used successfully and saved many lives until Big Pharma's push to get some profits by introducing blood tests/levo and gradually over the years doctors have been told to not prescribe NDT or T3. NDT contains all of the hormones a healthy gland would have i.e. T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin and is made from animals' glands..
I totally understand how your feeling. Has your doc check your magnesium, iron, cortisol levels.... Check into Gluten resistance. I had your symptoms, plus may food allergies, until I stopped eating Gluten and started supplementing with Mag, Iron & a Multivitamin. I know there are a few other vit & mineral that effect you this way if they are low, but I can’t remember which they are. One of the things that happenes to us as we age and being hypo is our stomach gastric juices diminish and we stop digesting food to the levels our body needs. So because of this we grow more candida (bad yeast) in our systems and get things like H-Pylori. Its just figuring out what your body needs supplement wise and food arrangements to make you healthy again. Some people add T3 to the T4 they are already takin. I hope this helps
Thank you for your advice. It's really confusing isn't it. I try to eat a good diet with plenty of fresh fruit, veg etc and started on kefir but i think I will take a multivitamin as I don't know my levels and dr hasn't tested. I'm looking into a private blood test to see if it can shed some light. Thanks for your help.
It's not generally recommended to supplement a multivitamin.
It has too little of what we need and some stuff we don't want. Most multivitamins contain iodine - not recommended and best avoided.
Far far better to test FIRST, then supplement the ones required
You need vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested.
Medichecks run offers on private testing on Thursdays. Blue horizon often offers are towards end of month
It's most likely you have autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting.
If on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get antibodies tested.
Write back to him and tell him that you'll agree to reduce your dose when he's tested your FT3 and found it to be over-range. Otherwise, you're not over-medicated. The TSH means nothing, and you're probably a poor converter because you need your FT4 that high to feel well. Show him who's boss!
Thank you everybody. Think I'm going to go and get some private tests done to get a clear picture. Something is definitely not right and I feel like I'm just being treated in levels and ranges and not symptoms. Thanks for all advice. Very much appreciated.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Help - Levothyroxine dosage dilemma 
Dosage and results don’t make sense 
Becoming resistant to NDT dosage?
Levothyroxine dosage 
dosage
