Dear all, don't shoot me down for asking this question as i know for most people its a NO!
12 weeks ago i went to GP, symptoms - Tired a lot, constipated, light headed occasionally, very hoarse voice, struggle to loose weight.
Original TSH 6.8. Put on 50mcg Levo, then increased to 75mcg 2 weeks ago. (tests shown here are before my increase)
My question is, can I try without Levo as levels aren't too bad? The reason i ask this question is that i do not feel any different since being on meds, no better, no worse, no side effects apart from i have put on 10lbs since being on medication, still eating healthy!
Part of me is thinking perhaps i do need it as even with increase there has been no effects (NOTHING) its as if i'm not taking anything, i presume if the medication was too high i would be feeling something, so maybe it is working? do i just need to give it longer?
Symptoms have not improved at all, if anything i would say they are slightly worse and i'm just a bit fatter?
Now taking Super B Complex (one a day) been taking these for a week.
Thank you in advance
Written by
LadyWard
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You need to increase your dose until your TSH is about 1 and your T4 and T3 are in the the upper third of the ranges. Also your vitamin D could be higher try a vitamin D spay it is easy to absorb into your blood stream. You CRP is high like mine which is about 9 and that is caused by inflammation in your body ... I have tried to reduce mine without success because my thyroid is being attacked by antibodies. You also need B12 because yours is too low. All that can affect how Levothryoxine works in your body. I am sure greygoose will be along to advise you further. Taking Levothyroxine can stop your thyroid from producing thyroxine because your pituitary gland senses there is already thyroxine your system ... you need to give this time to work and you need to continue to increase your dose until you feel well.
Thank you, i shall continue on...and get some vitamin D spray, appreciate your help.
I'm sure like i said, if my body didn't need the Levo it would surely give me bad side effects and as that hasn't happened i guess it must be doing some good
It is early days for you .... you need to give it chance for your body to absorb the levothyroxine it can take up to 6 weeks to get into your system. This disease is horrible and I hope you manage to get your health back. I have been battling this for 12 years and I bounce from being underactive to overactive so I have taken Levothyroxine in the past. Good luck!
Hey Ladyward. You have Hashimotos, you will always have to take Thyriod hormones. The reason you don’t feel better yet is because you’re not on a high enough replacement. But you’re doing the right thing by increasing slowly. Another 4wks and you may have to move up to 100mcg.
Nothing to do with the antibodies. They are secondary to the disease. It's the immune system itself that plays around with your thyroid, causing levels to fluctuate, and it's the level of the FT3 that causes symptoms, or lack of them.
I can only agree with what others have said - the fact that your TSH was above 6 and you tested positive for thyroid antibodies means you'll need to be on life-long thyroid hormone replacement. As others have said, focus on getting your levels right instead of considering going off meds because you are NOT likely to feel better if you do...!
If on T4 only, you need to make sure you convert enough of it to T3. As pointed out, you should get your TSH down to 1 or slightly lower - it's still too high and your free Ts not yet optimal. This would explain why you don't feel better.
Oh gosh! The curse of self doubt.....I know it well!
That will decrease as your knowledge of thyroid issues improves.
You are undermedicated...
TSH, is too high ...aim for 2 , or better still slightly below
FT4 is only 41% through range
FT3 is even lower at 35.9% through range
Both far too low!
After 6 weeks (to let new dose settle) on current dose ask for /do a retest
If numbers haven't improved greatly you will need another increase
Optimise vit B12, vit D, folate and ferritin this will support conversion of the storage hormone T4 to the active hormone T3.
Post the new set of results and members will advise further.
Thyroid treatment is not a quick fix, the body needs time to adjust to each increase. Your symptoms also suggest under medication...it is possible to feel worse before you feel better......so don't stop the levo. Be patient
There shouldn't be a problem taking them together. The spray will be absorbed through the mucous membranes in the oral cavity so can be taken any time.
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