I am new here

[Hilda3]

I have been on Thyroxin since April, starting with 25 dosage (am over 65), I had no symptoms but blood test showed T4 normal and TSH 17. After 8 weeks the dose rose to 50mg. Blood test 20/6 showed 3.35. Further blood test on 20/9 showed raised TSH 11.58. GP raised dose to 75mg. After a week of taking higher dose I for a few days I suffered, headaches, muscle cramps at night, restlessness , couldn't concentrate and other symptoms. Decided to drop back down to 50mg. My GP surgery has no Drs who actually listen to you. Am I doing the right thing and can diet affect blood test results.

Thank you

Hilda 3

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Hilda3

Did you have a change of brand of Levo at any time when you increased your dose?

Has there been an improvement since you reduced your dose to 50mcg again?

[Hilda3 in reply to SeasideSusie]

No change in brand with the increased dose.

And yes, back to normal, with no side effects

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Are you taking a Teva brand of Levothyroxine?

Ask GP to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin

If these are too low it can be difficult to raise dose of Levothyroxine

Some people need to raise dose more slowly. Eg only increase to 75mcg alternate days, or even only once every 3 days.

Have you had thyroid antibodies tested?

Muscle cramps is often low magnesium, common if vitamin D is low

[Hilda3 in reply to SlowDragon]

I am taking actavis brand. I do take a Vitamin B supplement and the muscle cramps have stopped now I have lowered the dose. I haven't had my thyroid antibodies tested.

Has anyone else been put on Thyroxin when they have had no symptoms apart from a raised TSH blood test.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hilda3]

Have you had cholesterol tested?

High cholesterol is strongly linked to being hypothyroid

List of hypothyroid symptoms - many more than you might imagine

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

Ask GP to test vitamin D

Or test here via NHS postal kit

vitamindtest.org.uk

What's your resting heart rate?

[Hilda3 in reply to SlowDragon]

Everything else is normal apart from the TSH!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hilda3]

Seems odd

Perhaps get full testing privately to see if different lab gives same results

All blood tests should be after 6-8 weeks on constant unchanging dose

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 you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

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)

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

diogenes .....can you suggest any possible reasons for falsely high TSH?

[Hilda3 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, that's very helpful. Drs do not tell you to fast or not to take thyroxin before test! Will certainly look into private testing as GP surgery only test 3 ,monthly!

[diogenes Remembering in reply to SlowDragon]

May be case of intermittent interference on the TSH test. TSH should be measured by a different method to see if this throws any light on the problem.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Hilda3]

Does your B vitamin supplement contain biotin? If it does it can affect the test results an make them incorrect. You need to stop taking biotin 4-7 days before a blood test. Also TSH will be higher in the morning than the afternoon and lower after eating. What is important to know is your actual thyroid hormone levels (not your TSH so much) with ranges. It is possible to over produce TSH which makes you look underactive when you are not. That needs to be investigated by an endrocrinologist and often involves an MRI. It's very rare to be underactive and have no symptoms at all: no fatigue, no constipation, no dry skin, no hair loss, no low mood

[Hilda3 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thank you, those are my thoughts too, I am going to try again with another GP to get an MRI scan!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hilda3]

Suggest you get full Thyroid and vitamin testing after 6-8 weeks being back just on 50mcg

Remember to stop taking vitamin B complex a week before any blood testing (biotin can falsely affect results of many blood tests)