Started 25mg levo and worsening breast pain

[Mew7]

Just a question. Dr started me on 25mg daily levo on friday (I know too low, see last posts)

I am starting to feel a little better (to my surprise), awake a little later and my ear pain in night has mostly stopped (first time in years I've not had any)

But since Friday my breast pain has worsened. I've been checked resently buly breast clinic, have multiple cysts but all OK, nothing to be done. Have some pain before, but with levothyroxin it has been much worse than before - mostly at night. The pain is in the breast with cysts, not the normal one.

Have started vit d, B, c and made my self some liver pate at weekend. so I think vitimin all covered. (I eat greens everyday too)

Any ideas why my breast pain is increasing?

Does it suggest checking any other hormones?

Is it likely to subside once body gets used to Levothyroxine?

Thank you

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

Sorry you didn't get any replies, this is extremely busy forum

Make sure to get bloods retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase in Levothyroxine

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 dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood 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)

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable. Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription. Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet.

No other medication at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap. Some like calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away

(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)

Ask endocrinologist to check your oestrogen and progesterone levels

[Mew7 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. I don't have an endo. But would the Dr do those tests? Or should I source myself.

Thanks again.

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to Mew7]

Sorry I thought you said in previous post you are being referred....can take month and months to see endo on NHS

[humanbean]

There may have been a change in the levels of your Free T3 as well as your Free T4. It could have risen or dropped, there is no way to tell at this early stage.

Symptoms in hypothyroidism are usually caused by low Free T3.

Unfortunately, doctors don't test Free T3. The NHS keeps on insisting that Free T3 is too variable and isn't important. And yet TSH varies much more than Free T3.

When you get your TSH to a good place you should then test TSH, Free T4 and Free T3 all in one test. Then you can find out whether or not you convert from T4 to T3 well enough for good health.

But with a dose of only 25mcg per day, you are likely to have some way to go before it is worth checking for conversion issues.

I have a sneaky suspicion, but can't prove it, that I've read suggestions that various female cystic problems - breast cysts, PCOS, and possibly endometriosis - are all caused by or affected by high levels of oestrogen and also insulin resistance (IR).

IR can be managed with a low carb, high fat diet. I don't know anything about oestrogen levels.

[Mew7 in reply to humanbean]

In my 20s I was told I had pcos, but nothing followed up on it.

I've had breast cysts since my early 30s, regular visitor to breast clinic.

In the last few years I've noticed, I think, sugar issues and started measuring spikes and dips outside normal ranges in blood glucose with a cheap blood monitor (although Dr didn't think was an issue despite symptoms of headaches / complete exhaustion that seemed to run alongside it)

I guess would be good to check my oestrogen progesterone based on all that.

What happens if it is too high, can anything be done to help (will the Dr actually care?)

Thank you xx

[humanbean in reply to Mew7]

Sorry, I can't help on the subject of sex hormones. I don't know anything about them.