Weight loss

[Gillybabe48]

I have lost a stone since being on levothyroxine. My TSH was 0.18 T4 12 last time with ranges TSH 0.35 to 5.0 and T4 7 to 20. Apparently Darenth hospital ranges not Medway ranges anymore which differ.

[dylansmum]

Omg you are so lucky! Good luck to you, I hope you continue to feel better x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Is this weight loss desirable or not welcome?

Some hypothyroid patients struggle to maintain weight if not adequately treated

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Your GP should be testing vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

New NHS England Liothyronine guidelines November 2018

Note that it says test should be in morning BEFORE taking Levo thyroxine

Also to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin

sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploa...

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw). This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

[LittleHil]

Like you, I have lost weight since being on Levo. Prior to diagnosis I had gained a few pounds but am now back to my original weight which suggests my metabolic rate is less sluggish these days and that Levo is having the desired effect.

[Gingernut44]

You really are lucky to lose weight, I have put on well over a stone since starting Levothyroxine

[danym]

do you think you would have to decrease your dose now that you lost weight?

[Clarrisa]

I was on Synthroid for the longest but my Endocrinologist felt it was no longer absorbing well. I was put on Tirosint but lost weight. I think I had been retaining fluid while on Synthroid & Tirosint seems to be opposite, removing too much. So I now alternate these medicines taking Tirosint one day & a smaller dose of Tirosint & Synthroid the next day. This cost wise is far from ideal but my weight remains stable & I have been functioning overall better than in the past.