Thyroxine reduction

[Lornac78]

Hi I have been on thyroxine for ~20 years. I had started going to the gym just before getting my latest blood test. The GP has now reduced my dose by 25mcg and I feel awful, have no energy and haven't made it to the gym since. Back to feeling lethargic, comstipated and struggling to sleep and get up in the mornings for work. I read that exercise can improve thyroid function results could this have produced misleading results? My GP didn't even speak to me about the results all I got was a message from the receptionist to lower my dose. I had lost 5 lbs going to the gym/healthy eating and in 4 weeks its all back on again

[shaws Administrator]

Go to the surgery and ask for a print-out of your blood test results first and make sure the ranges are stated. Post your results on a new post for members to comment upon them.

After you get some advice from members phone GP and ask for your 25mcg to be increased and tell GP you simply feel awful. Tell her that your results are wrong i.e "because you took a dose of hormones before the test". or You didn't have a fasting test (they are truly unaware that eating before a blood test skews results). You would like a new blood test as you feel simply awful.

Allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of levo and test and take it afterwards. It should be a fasting test (GPs unaware of this as they assume a fasting test is to check for cholesterol alone). The blood draw should be at the earliest possible too asTSH is highest early a.m. and drops throughout the day which means the doctor will reduce your dose if TSH is too low. We need a TSH 1 or lower. Maybe give her a print-out if she has adjusted due to your TSH alone without checking the Free T4 and Free T3.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/thyroi...

[Lornac78 in reply to shaws]

Thanks I'm going to get an appointment and will ask for my results then.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Lornac78]

I do wish they wouldn't mess about with patients' doses according to a blood test result, rather than asking if their symptoms are improving. The pity is I doubt they know one clinical symptom unless they are hypo themselves.

[greygoose]

Going to the gym is more likely to make your levels worse, rather than improving them. So, I don't think you are at fault, there. Sounds more like a doctor that doesn't know what he's doing. They shouldn't mess around with people's doses after 20 years, certainly not without consultation. They just don't understand how these reductions affect us.

[Lornac78 in reply to greygoose]

It is awful feeling so rough because of the reduction in dose. I've had them change over the years when I had my kids but this time its hit me like a brick wall. Been so emotional about it too. Fingers crossed the results give me some answers x

[greygoose in reply to Lornac78]

The odds are, he's only tested the TSH, and that is low. But, a TSH on its own doesn't tell him anything much. You are only over-medicated if your FT3 is over-range, and I don't suppose he's tested that!

[Hidden]

I'm fighting the same battle at the moment! I reluctantly went along with having a reduction, which, just as expected, made me feel worse, and caused a couple of potentially serious symptoms. All because of a TSH of 0.01, with T3 and T4 in range!

Hopefully, with the advice and encouragement received in response to my post here today, I will be able to get what is needed, TSH or no TSH.

[cein]

Thats what happened to myself , GP reduced my dose after 23 years of being on 150mcg down to 75mcg without even a blood test .

Since he did this ... I have really battled with so much pain , no energy and life in general

If you felt well dont let them reduce your dose without a full explanation .

I have changed my Medical Practice and my new GP has increaded my dose to 100 mcg and a blood test to follow in 6 weeks.

[Lornac78]

Just seen GP, my tshwas 0.06 but t3 was 17, she said in normal range, I said I appreciate the tsh indicates I'm getting enough but I'd have expected the others to be much much higher if you're saying I'm being over medicated. She said given my symptoms she was happy to out me back to 150mcg. Just a shame it had to be pointed out 6 weeks half a stone and many tears shed later x thanks for all the advice x

[Lornac78]

Must have been t4 as that would be normal range at 17