12wks 6 days pregnant, TSH level has dropped, my GP is saying it’s because I have been taking pregnancy multivitamins to close to my levo...

[Georgiegirl34]

Dr is saying my level has dropped because I have been taking multi vitamin pregnancy tablets with my Levothyroxine. My doctor told me to take an hour later and is not increasing my current dosage of 150mg per day. I had my last child 10 years ago and the same happened and I was increased from 25mg to 75mg, I told my dr this and she dismissed what I said and said she may call me back in 6 weeks to check my levels. I am aged 40 in 8 weeks and have been diagnosed with an under active thyroid and taking levothyroxine for 20 years. Does my doctors advice sound correct, it isn’t sitting well with me and I’m worried that by not increasing my levothyroxine it may have implications for either my growing baby or me? Many thanks.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Georgiegirl

Levo must be taken on it's own, with a glass of water and water only for one hour each side, on an empty stomach (one hour before food or two hours after) and 2 hours away from any other medication and supplements, some need 4 hours (iron, calcium, magnesium). So in this respect your doctor is correct, the absorption of Levo will be affected if these suggestions aren't followed.

However, what is your latest TSH result? Usually when TSH lowers it's because of an increase in Levo. If you were undermedicated then TSH would rise, and I imagine if your Levo wasn't being absorbed properly then your TSH would rise and FT4 lower.

[greygoose]

I doubt taking a mult-vit too close to your levo would make your TSH drop. It's more likely to make it rise - and that's when you need an increase, when it rises. But, can you tell us your actual results and ranges, and what's in the multi-vit?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Do you mean TSH has risen?

Can you add your results and ranges ?

TSH, FT4 and FT3

B12

Folate

Ferritin

Vitamin D

Both TPO and TG Thyroid antibodies

Recommended Thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and no levothyroxine in 24 hours prior to test

Best to take any vitamins four hours away from Levo

[MaisieGray]

She is correct that we need to separate supplemented vitamins and minerals from our thyroid meds; but she's got it backwards regarding your TSH. If we take something that interferes with how our meds are absorbed for instance, in simple terms we would expect our thyroid hormone levels to drop and our TSH to increase. A TSH falling when we are medicated with exogenous thyroid hormones, generally indicates that we are becoming optimally medicated or overmedicated, according to the degree; and the only way to know if that is the case, is to test levels of FT3 and FT4 along side the TSH. Dosing or any other decision must not happen in isolation.

[humanbean]

You are legally entitled to copies of your blood test results. I think you really need to get hold of them.

Ask for access online first of all to your medical records and blood test results - you will need to take proof of identity with you.

Not all doctors allow this (although they are supposed to!). If you can't get access online then ask for a copy of all your blood test results for the last year (or two). Don't accept hand-written results, don't accept verbal results. You want a printout of the results directly from the computer. The results must have reference ranges included to be of any use.

The results of most importance are the ones SlowDragon has given in her reply above.