Will levothyroxine help do you think ? - Thyroid UK

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Will levothyroxine help do you think ?

Fiaxseed profile image
8 Replies

today my gp tells me I have a problematic thyroid and it needs to closely monitored - hooray!!! I've been waiting long enough to hear that. Here's what happened : April this year tsh 0.008 (range 0.5-5.5) ft3 7.0 ( range 2.7-6.1) ft4 19.4 (range 11.0-22.0)

Then after 3 months on 10 mg of carbimazole:

Tsh 1.4

Ft3 5.1

Ft4 9.2 low

Carbimazole was stopped 8 days ago.

Inflamation seems to be the problem. No antibodies or graves. It just preduces either too much or not enough depending on i Dont know what. The swelling is inflammation. Today based on the above test results and my symptoms she gave me perscription for levothyroxine sodium. At 25 MCG to be taken every other day until next function test in Oct. I would like to think that thyroid hormone will help but I honestly think my poor thyroid has had enough. Would really love to give it a try though.

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Fiaxseed profile image
Fiaxseed
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8 Replies
Treepie profile image
Treepie

It could be that the problem is your pituitary gland but hopefully more knowledgeable folk will respond.

Fiaxseed profile image
Fiaxseed in reply toTreepie

Thank you Treepie. I'm looking Into everything. In particular de Quervains thyroiditis. Pituitary- hadn't thought if that but will look into it. Best regards.

dtate2016 profile image
dtate2016

You are right about the inflammation and the levothyroxin can’t hurt And yes it may very well help - especially at 25 mg every other day. I have heard of people who take thyroid hormone even though they don’t really have a thyroid problem but they are aging and they’re trying to use the hormone to bolster slowing thyroid hormone production. (these are doctors and health gurus - they have decided to do this on their own and not necessarily recommend it to others).

Read all you can about anti-inflammatory diet for thyroid patients - especially those that have Hashimoto’s. Not saying you have Hashimoto’s. But eating a clean diet reducing gluten and dairy and soy certainly may have an effect on / reduce inflammation. Eating more fruits and vegetables and fresh meats as opposed to sausages or cured meats.

You might also try some of the anti-inflammatory herbs such as turmeric Blackseed oil and ginger. Selenium can help stabilize and/or improve thyroid hormone receptors. Highly recommend selenium!

Isabella Wentz has a lot to say about how to keep the thyroid healthy - as do many others who’ve had to deal with unstable thyroids over the years. Lots of folks here may guide you along as well.

please keep us up-to-date with how you were doing.

Fiaxseed profile image
Fiaxseed in reply todtate2016

Fantastic. I've also read that low dose levo can 'give a rest' to the thyroid. And I think mine sure needs it. Will look into all you suggest especially selenium. (Probably why I've been craving Brazil nuts lately. ) thank you very much dtate 2016.

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply toFiaxseed

Low dose levo can also make you worse as your thyroid rests and doesn't produce as much thyroxine itself but the dose isn't enough to supply enough to keep you well. Although you had low TSH your results didn't look like a candidate for carbi - your free T4 was in range and your free T3 barely over. Did you ever have antibodies tested? And were you taking B vitamins at the time of your first test?

Fiaxseed profile image
Fiaxseed in reply toAngel_of_the_North

Ok . levo might make me worse I get that. And yes quite right about the rest. Over 3years (before carbi) ft3 crept up by 1 point after starting off at 6.0. to reach 7.0 at the same time ft4 crept up from 16.9 to 19.4 I agree ft3 was not up much to begin with. Tsh was a bit up and down during that time- 0.020 then 0.028, then 0.008. Even low dose 10mg carbi may have been too much or not really needed at all.

Trans done- negative. Was taking b vits but too low biotin to affect essay.

Fiaxseed profile image
Fiaxseed in reply toAngel_of_the_North

Sorry typo that's trabs

Fiaxseed profile image
Fiaxseed in reply toAngel_of_the_North

Just to brighten picture I should say that 3 years ago I had a tiny goiter without function probs. And thyrotoxicosis came about after iodine contrast ct scan of my belly. I went to emergency with very high blood pressure but ECG was fine. My neck was throbbing swollen and I felt really ill. My keg muscels almost seized up. Back to gp who got thyroid function test- overactive thyroid he said. Prescribed 40mg carbi waiting for specialist appointment. After 3 or 4 weeks. With regards to dosage, it was too much carbi she said my thyroid was coming right by Itself. And she expressed her sorrow for my thyroid. The diagnosis jod basedow phemenon caused by ct scan. Titrated off carbi over a few weeks. End of story I thought. Until now. I suspect my thyroid was damaged 3 years ago (not blaming anyone mind. Just trying to sort it all out before they put me on the operating table.

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