Over medicated?: Hi, over the last week or so, I... - Thyroid UK

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Over medicated?

Chelle1310 profile image
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Hi, over the last week or so, I have noticed that I am sweating a lot more than usual, it is similar to when I was diagnosed as Hyperthyroid, however since having had RAI in 2013, the sweating improved a lot.

Could it be that I am over medicating? I am taking 200mcg Levothyroxine (my g.p. wanted to increase to 300mcg as per my last lot of bloods, but I declined politely).

The last lot of test results I have are from the 3rd May and are TSH 5.3miu/L (0.3-5.0) T4 19pmol/L (9.0-25.0).

In case you are wondering why I declined the 300mcg, I strongly believe that I have an absorption issue, but of course that falls on deaf ears..

I was recently diagnosed with Gastritis, and some sort of ulcer that had tried to heal itself, but was bleeding (I take Rivaroxaban for DVT in my leg), so that doesn't help. I am waiting for the biopsy results x 4 to come back, so will approach the absorption issue once again when I get the results.

Thank you for any help/suggestions..

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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common and can badly affect Thyroid

Ask GP to test vitamin levels and to test FT3 as well as FT4 and TSH

Your current results suggest you are indeed under medicated, but dose should only ever be increased by 25mcgs

You were correct to refuse such a massive increase from 200mcg to 300mcg

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When 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)

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)."

Professor Toft recent article saying, T3 may be necessary for many otherwise we need high FT4 and suppressed TSH in order to have high enough FT3. Note especially his comments on current inadequate treatment following thyroidectomy or RAI

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...

Chelle1310 profile image
Chelle1310 in reply toSlowDragon

Hi, I had B12, Vit D, Ferritin and folate tested in May, the results of which are B12 263ng/L (220-700) Folate 2.3ng/ml (2.6-17.3) Ferritin 31ng/ml (10-420) Vit D 32.. The only advice I was offered, regarding all of these results, was to take a Vit D supplement. No mention of the under range Folate, the low but in range B12. I spoke to a g.p., about the B12 and Folate, they insist everything is fine, eat more greens to help Folate, knowing I can't eat properly and haven't been able to eat properly for months.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toChelle1310

Medics are just not interested in nutrients and their importance

Vitamin D was far too low. What dose are you supplementing?

Aiming to improve to around 100nmol. Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is good as avoids poor gut function. Suggest you supplement at 3000iu for 2-3 months and retest. It's trial and error what dose each person needs. Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there. Retesting twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk

Also read up on importance of magnesium and vitamin K2 Mk7 supplements when taking vitamin D

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

healthy-holistic-living.com...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

easy-immune-health.com/magn...

B12 and folate are terrible. Folate especially

Do you have symptoms of low B12?

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Sweating is low B12 symptom

Insist on full testing from GP for Pernicious Anaemia before starting B12 injections. Or if GP refuses to offer injections look at daily good quality vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid eg Igennus Super B complex or a Jarrow B-right

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...

Ferritin is too low - GP should run full iron panel to test for Anaemia

Eating liver or liver pate once a week should help improve

Vitamins are all low because you are under medicated and gut function is compromised as direct result

Low stomach acid is very common

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/hypochl...

scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/3-...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/m...

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/p...

Levothyroxine dose likely needs increasing by 25mcg

If improving vitamins does not improve low FT3 then likely need addition of small dose of T3

Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. Many take on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime

verywell.com/should-i-take-...

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable. Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription. Many patients do not get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. (Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients)

diogenes profile image
diogenesRemembering

You may have a resistance issue. It is important to get an FT3 to see where that lies in the range. Your pituitary is not responding well to the T4 dose, which on the face of it seems adequate as regards blood level, so there seems to be some insensitivity there. But an FT3 would be very informative to see how well you convert T4 to T3.

Chelle1310 profile image
Chelle1310 in reply todiogenes

Thank you I will look into this.

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