Last month I posted here to say that my GP wanted me to reduce my levo from 75mcg to 50mcg because my TSH had dropped to 0.27 which is the very bottom of the range (0.27-4.2).
I've had a private test now to include T4 an T3. My TSH has now fallen below range to 0.067 (0.27 -4.20) and my T4 is slightly above range at 22.7 (12-22). My T3 is in range at 5.32 (3.10-6.8) . I tested first thing in the morning, fasting, 24 hours after last levo and stopped all other supplements 2 weeks before.
I have no symptoms, in fact I feel the best I've felt in years, whereas I still felt ill on 50mcg. Is this safe to carry on or am I overmedicated and need to reduce?
Any advice gratefully received.
Thanks
Written by
loobyp
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KUDOS !!! I wish all Endo/Dr's would learn/Practice these Important Fact . It's FT3 FT4 that is the Most Important Thyroid Value that Counts . Not TSH .
Symptoms are the Most Important they are Cellular Results . Serum is just a snap shot of that particular moment that labs where drawn .
How Great it would be when Endo/Dr's would Practice to listen to Patients first and for most .
Symptoms are important, yes. But, you can't go by symptoms alone, because so many of them can be both hypo and hyper. You do need blood tests to back them up. But, you have to be able to interpret them correctly. And, you also need the understanding that some people need their FT3 over-range because of hormone resistance. It's not always straightforward, either way.
Spot On . I'm referring to Endo/Dr's that strictly go by numbers . If TSH looks good that means we must feel good too . That is not very helpful when symptoms are lingering on . Symptoms +FT3 FT4 that ultimately tell the whole story of what's going on .
Journaling symptoms and then running labs is the way to dose .
As you have Hashimoto's are you on strictly gluten free diet or tried it?
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten.
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
My TSH was crazy. At last test, 0.005, My T4 was something like 24, well above range, which keeps being reduced, but my T3 was normal in top part of range. Found a GP who agreed to test T3 and accepts my current level of levothyroxine is okay if I feel well. Very hard to find GP or even hospital consultant who will go along with this.
Like others, in my experience, the key issue is how you feel. Have had a rotten few months after my new GP followed the same pattern, of adhering to UK testing rather than how I felt. Reduced from 100mcg Levo, down to 25mcg, all within 6 weeks, resulting in complete immobility, unbearable pain and a possible blood clot. Exemplifies the fact that the testing is not comprehensive.
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Feeling overmedicated
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TSH increasing but T4 & T3 improving as well?
