Levothyroxine

[raine-wager]

Just a question. If someone was taking Levo and they were not hypo what would happen?

[humanbean]

There are quite a lot of things that might happen, for example :

Fast heart rate

Profuse sweating

Difficulties sleeping

Losing or gaining weight

Anxiety

Tremor/shaking

Breathlessness

In fact... Just look at this list :

thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

[raine-wager in reply to humanbean]

My gp has got me doubting my self. Was only on Levo 3months then had a pacemaker was on 50mg now 75 but not sure if improvement due to pacemaker or Levo, just doubting myself..

[humanbean in reply to raine-wager]

Did you have a fast heart rate before taking Levo? Or when you were on Levo? Are you still taking it?

Doctors insist that hypothyroidism is often accompanied by a slow heart rate and usually refuse to admit that the heart can also go too fast with the same condition. However, there are quite a few people on this forum who mention the opposite problem, including me.

I'm hypothyroid but my heart is usually going too fast for my liking (95+ beats a minute). I frequently suffer from low iron - and when I do I get a very fast heart rate. When I was very severely low in iron my heart ended up going so fast that I was in pain and I ended up in hospital being investigated for a non-existent heart attack.

I've discovered another cause of my heart going too fast is if I eat a lot of very sugary stuff like ice cream, chocolate or sugary drinks like coke.

I also get a fast heart rate if my T3 level is too low or too high.

Although I'm not aware of it affecting me, having low vitamin B12 can also cause a raised heart rate. Low levels of B12 are very common in people with thyroid problems, as is low iron.

I had to discover all these things that affected my heart rate myself - doctors never mentioned any of them.

[raine-wager in reply to humanbean]

I had bradycardia and long pauses. Heart was 50bpm and less. It seems OK now it took 6 weeks that's why I'm not sure if it's Levo or pacemaker or both. I've started feeling tired again so not sure if Levo should be increased. Tsh is now. 0.96(0.27_4. 2) t4 15.5(12_22)

Dr won't diagnose hypothyroid neither will consultant. Which makes me doubt myself. So confusing.

[humanbean in reply to raine-wager]

Your Free T4 is only 35% of the way through the range which isn't enough for most of us being treated for hypothyroidism. Most people who are hypothyroid need it to be in the upper half of the range i.e. over 17, and possibly as high as 20 or 21. Everyone has their own "healthy" level.

But the really important result you need is Free T3. T3 is the active thyroid hormone whereas T4 is the raw material for making T3 (i.e. T4 is a prohormone) and is thought to be very inactive.

[jgelliss in reply to humanbean]

When I was dosed on Levo Only after my TT . I had all the symptoms one can get on Levo . Sweating ,insomnia , Weight issues , aches and pain ,Palpitations , constipation , jaundice , high blood pressure ,anxiety etc.

The heart has receptor sights that need and use T-3 . IMHO it's criminal to hold back giving patients some T-3 or NDT with their Levo . Healthy thyroids do make T-3 and T-4 . Why deny giving patients manually what thyroids can Not produce naturally any longer . That's T-3 and T-4 . That should be up to the patients discretions what feels *RIGHT* to them and what does *NOT* . We as Thyroid Patients must Trust Ourselves what feels right for us . And Dr's Must Learn to Trust Patients when patients don't feel right and need some T-3 or NDT .

[Jazzw in reply to humanbean]

I’ll echo all of that. And add alcohol. Can’t even have a single glass of wine without it making my heart go really fast.

[meme in reply to Jazzw]

I have started to be the same this year😔and I did enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. I can just get away with a small glass with lunch sometimes now.

[Hidden in reply to meme]

Look on the bright side - you can never ever become an alcoholic!

Not intended as snarky, but alcoholism has to be worse than not being able to drink at all xx

[meme in reply to Hidden]

And think of the money I will save! It’s not looking so bad after all!!!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

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, 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)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Many find being under medicated for thyroid cause heart issues

[raine-wager in reply to SlowDragon]

It's just so exasperating trying to explain it all. I know all about the above. But getting the Dr to test t3 and antibodies is a different matter. I take prescribed vit d and self medicated b12 folic acic. Not had any scans of thyroid because bloods within guidelines. Just getting fed up with it all.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to raine-wager]

Then, you need to get full private testing and come back with new post once you have results and ranges

I wasted over twenty years with GP/endo's not testing the right things.

[Howard39 in reply to SlowDragon]

Blimey that’s even longer than me!

This information is vital to a good life.

After 13 years I found out my t3 was nil.

So private testing ( if you don’t have a good specialist )is essential.

Then after 12 years on t3 due to cost it was taken off me.

You have to be prepared to get support here and forge ahead yourself.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Howard39]

Taken me 25 years to get T3 finally, just last year....complete transformation

Would never have got sorted without fantastic help on here ........Hashimoto's diagnosed 25 years ago. Never well on Levo

Realised how common gluten issues were, coming here.........hidden severe, but, absolutely no gut symptoms, gluten intolerance, confirmed by private endoscopy, private blood tests confirmed multiple vitamin deficiencies and private DNA test confirmed heterozygous DIO2

More details on my profile

[jgelliss in reply to SlowDragon]

WOW !!! Now I feel LUCKY and BLESSED to have gotten the MUCH NEEDED T-3 /NDT added to my T-4 after 23 years . What a GREAT Difference it's made for me .

It Only proves I'm NOT ALONE .

I just Hope that MEDICAL ACADAIMIA changes their way of Teachings when it comes to Thyroid Treatments .

[gingerthecat in reply to SlowDragon]

All the Information on here is so useful, I have been told I have had a Mild Heart Attack, waiting to see Cardio Spec before I take the Meds I have been given. I know my GP's surgery only do the basic Thyroid Test, I will get my last results and post them on here and perhaps you could let me know if they are OK. All's I ever get told is that they are in normal range! I find I am sleeping for 10 hours a night whereas I used to be able to get away with 8. This Forum is so helpful, thank you.

[Hidden in reply to gingerthecat]

The problem is that "In range" is not at all what we need. I was no worse than "Subclinical, and still didn't feel right when thyroxine treatment finally got the TSH down to just under 3 - still too high for most people to feel well.

[Geniler in reply to SlowDragon]

I’ve just had a medicheck ultravit thyroid test done. I had asked my GP for the usual pathology request form and took both the GP form and the medicheck kit to my hospital phlebotomy department. I simply asked for blood to be drawn for both and there was no problem. This saved me paying to have blood drawn twice once for the GP and privately. My GP will get the results of the basic TSH T3 T4 request which we all know is completely useless and I’ve got the results from the Medicheck test for my own management. Maybe this can limit the cost for people needing to get the full range of tests done.

[humanbean in reply to Geniler]

My local hospital phlebotomy department makes a charge for taking blood for private tests. Several years ago the charge was £18. I haven't used them in recent years, so I have no idea of the current charge.

[trelemorele]

It depends what dose you'd take.

Generally if you take hormone replacement any type i.e. estrogen, testosterone, thyroid etc in doses not exceeding natural body production, synthetic hormones will suppress your own body production and nothing will happen. You will be replacing what you'd normally produced.

It may become problem if you start exceeding natural production and for prolonged period, then you'll end up with symptoms of over replacement.

Good references to be seen are women on combined contraception or bodybuilders taking (excessive) testosterone.

[Greyarea73]

Yes , this is what's making me think too as I should be on it but I would like at her wait a few months , I've been waiting for 3 until now

[raine-wager]

I've been on level for just over a year,50mg then 75mg, all my tests come back within range. I've also had lots of heart investigationshaped no blockage but had a pacemaker just after started levo. My symptoms are now as bad as they were a year ago,don't know what to do next. Also have sleep apnoea. Any suggestions?