Increasing my dosage on levothyroxine

[maddiepoopoo]

Hi not been on site for awhile I was diagnosed with hashimoto last October been on levethryroxine for 9 months 50mg an don't feel any better, extreme tiredness, cold, mood swings. I have also got sleep apnea and use a nasal machine, which has taken time to adjust to but getting there , it was diagnosed 13yrs ago but never treated , which caused high blood pressure, heart palpitations and tiredness , well exhaustion. The question is my T3 was 4.3 and T4 were 20 .1 and just had a call from my GP who said there levels were normal but am not convinced, his suggestion I need to do vigorous exercise for 30 mins a day to increase heart rate, which would help with the tiredness , and sleep better, what your ideas or thoughts on this please at my wits end thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

maddiepoopoo

What is the range for your FT4 and FT3?

What is your TSH?

If your FT4 is at the top of the range and FT3 near the bottom of the range with a TSH of 1 or below, then your conversion is poor.

Your GP telling you to do vigorous exercise for 30 minutes a day will deplete the T3 that you have.

[maddiepoopoo in reply to SeasideSusie]

I spoke to my GP today , and he did tell me to do vigorous exercise for 30 mins a day , to cycle, run or get an exercise bike , I have to work out till I am out of breath and it would help me sleep , but I sleep, it's the tiredness , feeling cold and not feeling well , is getting me down .

[StitchFairy in reply to maddiepoopoo]

Your GP is talking rubbish! That FT3 number is low, which is why you feel tired, cold and unwell. Vigorous exercise is not gong to make up for lack of thyroid hormone. You either need an increase in your levothyroxine or to take some T3 as well as the levo.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to maddiepoopoo]

maddiepoopoo

Your GP is totally ignorant about the thyroid then.

As I said, exercise depletes T3.

If you can answer the question about the ranges for your FT4 and FT3 and your TSH level then we can see how well you convert or not. Your results are suggesting poor conversion, we just need to confirm that.

it's the tiredness , feeling cold and not feeling well ,

These are symptoms of hypothyroidism which you will get if you are not optimally medicated.

Listen to your GP and he will make you even more unwell.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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

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

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

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

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

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.

Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range

All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels

NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Also what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)

Sleep apnea is often linked to Hashimoto's

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Ask GP to test vitamins and thyroid antibodies.....or get FULL testing privately