Hello I am a new member living in Spain. I have an underactive thyroid and been on eutyrox 100mcg for approx 15 years all blood test apart from cholestrol were great. approx 5 months ago I went gluten free to help with digestive problems which has helped enormously. After going Gluen free I reduced my eutyrox to 50mcg after speaking to a chemist because I had dizzy spells and palpatations. felt much better but blood results said differntly here are my results
Valoración: Nivel deseable: Inferior a 200 mg/dL Nivel límite superior: Entre 200 - 240 mg/dL Nivel alto: Superior a 240 mg/dL Amparado por la acreditación Enac.
Valoración: Nivel deseable: Inferior a 130 mg/dL Nivel límite superior: Entre 130 - 159 mg/dL Nivel alto: Entre 160 - 190 mg/dL Nivel muy alto: Superior a 190 mg/dL
T4 LIBRE ( TIROXINA LIBRE ) Quimioluminiscencia RESULTADO.... 0,91 ng/dL (0,70-1,48) Amparado por la acreditación Enac.
As you have Hashimoto's (confirmed by high antibodies) vitamin levels are very often too low
You will need to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin along side Thyroid levels 6-8 weeks after dose increase to 75mcg
Dose needs increasing in 25mcg steps until tsh is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range
All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, take last dose 24 hours prior to test, and take next dose straight after test. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
Thankyou for your reply, yes TSH was 37.27 this was the reading after being on 50mcg. I have increased my dose from 50mcg to 75mcg which is what I have been on now for a couple of weeks, I have taken on board your suggestions of blood tests vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin along side Thyroid levels 6-8 weeks after dose increase to 75mcg. You have been very helpfull.
It is very important to realise that palpitations occur in both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism (and, of course, under-medication and over-medication).
There is such a strong meme that palpitations are a symptom of Graves/severe hyperthyroidism that any other part of the story gets drowned out and forgotten.
Going from 100 to 50 was very heavy-handed and I criticise any chemist who suggested or supported that approach. Small changes only - unless there is a very obvious and severe issue. For example, 25 micrograms or even 12.5 micrograms. (You could alternate doses 100 and 75, to achieve 87.5. I prefer to take the same dose every day but would do that to see how it goes.)
37.27 is a ludicrously high TSH for anyone being treated and on what is supposedly a stable dose.
Many thanks for your reply it looks like I was given some bad advice by the chemist recommending cutting the dosage by half. 37.27 TSH was the reading after being on 50mcg. I have increased my dose from 50mcg to 75mcg which is what I have been on now for a couple of weeks . I will go for more blood tests in the next few weeks as suggeted. Your information is helpful thankyou.
I have also, in desperation to find a solution, Tried a gluten free diet and am surprised at the results. It's only been 2 weeks and my bloating and weight have dropped also energy levels have increased hugely.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and for the great links, all of which I've read. I feel that the door is open a crack and some hope there is a way forward for me. Doctors in the U.S. are obviously 'onto it' more than those in the U.K. So grateful to you.
Thanks again. I was prescribed Vitamin D after a mountain biking fall resulted in a broken leg. It was to help prevent osteoporosis. I should be taking 1 tablet of Adcal D3 lemon twice daily which contains:
1500mg calcium carbonate (equivalent to 600mg calcium) and 400 I.U. colecalciferol (equivalent to 10 micrograms of vitamin D3)
breakdown:
calcium carbonate (1500mg, equivalent to 600mg calcium) and vitamin D3 (400iu equivalent to 10ug colecalciferol)
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