it is being a long time until the last time I posted.My name is Joanna 32 yrs old,I have had total thyroid surgery. Been taking levo for 2 and a half years.My current dose is 125 everyday and 100 on Sundays.Still working on find my correct dose.English is not my first language so forgive me about that.
I have questions
1) is it possible that levothyroxine could damage the kidneys after a long time of period? Some days I have pain too much
2) Even if tsh blood test shows that I have to increase levo I feel better the days I take the lowest dose?
3) is drinking too much caffeine (2 strong cups a day) or emotional feelings (like depression,overstressed etc) affect negative to levo?
Also if I take the pill and go back to sleep does that affect the absorption.
1) I've been on Levo for 44 years and my kidneys are fine, last tested 2018.
2) You can't dose by TSH alone, that is not a thyroid hormone. You need TSH, FT4 and FT3 all tested at the same time, FT4 and FT3 are the thyroid hormones
3) Caffeine can affect the absorption of Levo, it's recommended to leave at least an hour after taking Levo before drinking coffee or other caffeine containing drinks. I suppose it's possible that strong coffee may have an effect.
Going back to sleep after taking your Levo is fine. Some people take it at bedtime. Some take it in the early hours of the morning when making a trip to the bathroom.
When were thyroid blood tests last done. Do you have results to add?
TSH
FT4
FT3
TSH is unreliable test on Levothyroxine. You need FT3 and FT4 tested
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
Ask your doctor to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 as well
Like vast majority of people on here you will need to get full Thyroid and vitamin testing privately
One of the reasons why there are almost 100,000 members on here
Very many of us only made progress once we got full testing. Vitamin levels are frequently too low and need supplementing to improve to bring to optimal levels
For full Thyroid testing 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 or if under medicated
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
Medichecks currently have an offer on until end of May - 20% off
I have Graves Disease diagnosed in 2003 and had RAI treatment in 2005 to ablate my thyroid, resulting in my now having hypothyroidism, thyroid eye disease and my original diagnosis of Graves Disease.
A fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you on a daily basis with approximately 100 T4 + 10 T3.
I personally believe that if there has been a medical intervention and the thyroid either surgically removed or ablated both these vital hormones should be on the patients prescription for " if and when " they may be needed.
Some people can get by on T4 - ( Levothyroxine ) alone, some people at some point in time simply stop being able to convert the T4 into T3 and some people simply need both these essential hormones dosed and monitored independently to bring them into balance and to a level of wellness acceptable to the patient.
The thyroid is a major gland responsible for full body synchronisation including your mental, physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual well being.
Living without this " conductor of the body " can cause numerous issues for the person.
It is essential that you are not monitored on just a TSH blood test and your results must include both T3 and T4 for your doctor to know what's going on.
I was dosed on monotherapy with levothyroxine and treated on TSH blood tests and became very unwell. I was then offered anti depressants and made to feel like it was all my fault.
With advice from this website I managed to get a dose increase in Levothyroxine and with further persistence a referral to endocrinology for the first time in over 10 years.
I was refused a trial of T3 with the excuse that my TSH was suppressed, but given no help on how to adjust my medication to fit into the stupid tick box exercise the endocrinologist was working to, and so discharged back out to primary care where I was faced with being called a conundrum, yet again and told I was over medicated because of my TSH reading, despite my T3 reading was at 4.5 - just some 37% through the range ?????
I have gone on to self medicate and am doing it for myself, and am getting my life back thanks to the people on here. I have purchased both T3 and Natural Desiccated Thyroid for myself and found relief of symptoms when I add a little of T3 to my T4 or as I've now found, I prefer to medicate myself with the NDT which feels softer on my body.
It's a massive learning curve, there is a lot to read, and reread again, and then understand especially if you're with that " darned brain fog " that seems to all too often cloud our minds and judgement.
If you follow the previous suggestions and repost with new blood tests you'll be taken through any steps that need to be addressed and you too can find better health.
You might like to take a look at the following book - it is written by a doctor who has hypothyroidism and is a relatively easy, sometimes funny, take on all that the thyroid does within the body and the implications of when it malfunctions or is removed from the whole body's jigsaw puzzle.
Your Thyroid and How To Keep It Healthy - Dr Barry Durrant- Peatfield.
thank you so much.I find it really strong by someone to self medicate.More ednos specially the new ones just follow what they learned at medical school.. they know nothing how difficult it is until you find the correct dose and when we feel really okey and no what lab tests show
I've been on this learning curve for about 2 years and have been empowered by the wealth of knowledge and shared experiences that this amazing platform offers.
The books I've purchased plus this site have set me in good stead to take a few steps for myself back to better health.
The medical profession were not helping me regain my life,, and when I was referred to by my doctor as a conundrum this was the last straw.
Self medication wasn't my first choice of action but the only route available to me.
And it's ok, it's less stressful than seeing a doctor, whose only interest is to tick a box an acceptable TSH read and suggests anti depressants when you ask questions as to why you feel no better, and in fact worse, than last time you were there.
I don't see myself as brave, or strong, but just desperate to feel better than I did.
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