I’m recently diagnosed and thought I’d try the MediChecks finger prick test. As I was unsure how I’d get on I just purchased the basic test as it was on offer. My results seem to be improving yet I feel like rubbish ....
I’m not due to see my dr until Mid July and I saw a letter from an Endocrinologist suggesting they may like to take me off Levothyroxine and see if I return to a euthyroid state (my dr wrote asking for advice as my tsh had increased dramatically, whilst T4 had declined, but I was TPO antibody negative). Should I go with it or ask for something different like increasing my Levothyroxine? Any suggestions welcome
I’m on 25mcg Levothyroxine (I’m not sure why I was given this dose as I’m under 50 and don’t have heart problems)
With a TSH of 9.9 and 16.45 you were very definitely hypothyroid
Not surprised you feel rubbish if only on 25mcg. The standard starter dose is 50mcgs and dose is increased after each blood test until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range
Highly likely to have low vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
See GP and ask for 25mcg dose increase in Levothyroxine and for vitamin levels to be tested at next test
Suggest you see a different GP, this one obviously not got a clue
NHS guidelines saying standard starter dose is 50mcgs and that most patients eventually need increase in dose to between 100mcg and 200mcg
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 at
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
Official NHS guidelines saying TSH should be between 0.2 and 2.0 when on Levothyroxine
(Many of us need TSH nearer 0.2 than 2.0 to feel well)
Thank you SlowDragon. Do I need to pay thyroiduk for this article? I hate confrontation and I’m dreading seeing my dr to discuss. Going on what’s happened so far I bet mine will be happy once I’m back in range, even when I’m feeling so awful. I will research and pull together what I can and write my points down in preparation
Adults usually start with a dose between 50 micrograms and 100 micrograms taken once a day. This may be increased gradually over a few weeks to between 100 micrograms and 200 micrograms taken once a day.
Some people, such as over-50s or people with heart disease, may start on a lower dose.
Make an appointment with GP (or different GP) and request 25mcg dose increase in Levothyroxine and bloods retested in 6-8 weeks
You will likely need several further 25mcg dose increases of coming months
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