I had my thyroxine reduced from 162.5 to 150, about 6 weeks ago. Now I’m on occasions feeling down and irritable. I have had my thyroid removed some time ago, related to having graves disease. My wife is getting annoyed with me, being stressed a lot. I don’t feel very good about myself. I feel so down. It is like being on a rollercoaster of ups and downs. Can anybody help me to understand what is going on, please.
Peter
Do you know why the dose was changed? (Not an expert, but it might help someone more knowledgeable than me who comes along next.) Also, do you know your most recent blood tests (for the same reason).
Hi do you have blood test results for the change in dose?
Do you have results from when on previous 162.5mcg?
Presumably GP reduced dose, why?
Just dosing by testing TSH or TSH and FT4 is completely inadequate. Essential to test FT3 and vitamins
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 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)
Is this how you do your tests?
As it's now 6 weeks on lower dose it's time to get retested
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
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
I got my results back this morning. All the doctor said was that they were normal. I asked for the numbers. He said I don’t need to know, only that they are normal. I changed doctor about 4 months ago. On my first visit for a health check, he said he did not want me on that high a dose. No reason given. I’m going to see him tomorrow. Need answers. Can’t help thinking that it’s because I have had a heart block with syncope in the past. Pacemaker fitted. I did report some chest discomfort, when I was on 162.5 of thyroxine. It is very difficult to understand the numbers. Like what is the range.
DESPERATE, UNDIAGNOSED AND VERY LOST
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