My TSH was 0.23...... dr said drop dose

[Santricoclou]

So I dropped the dose by 75 mcg per week and very quickly within 2 weeks the muscle stiffness and pain returned. Very fatigued. Our range is 0.4-4. I felt very well on 125 mcg each day for the past year. This has destabilized me considerably. Any advice. I was experiencing low neutrophils of 1.2 and thought reducing the dose may address this but feel miserable now.

[LivingWithHT]

Unfortunately, doctors almost always go by TSH and don’t bother looking at FT4 and FT3.

You can have a TSH below 1 and still be hypo or not optimally medicated. If you felt better on a higher dose then don’t drop it, just stay on it and increase/decrease according to your symptoms. If your doctor refuses to test FT4, FT3, thyroid antibodies and vitamin/mineral levels (D, B12, folate, ferritin, iron, etc ) then you’re better off getting tested at private labs or clinics. Also, dropping the dose by almost half of what you were on is very dangerous and risky, a truly educated doctor should know this and never suggest that you reduce your dosage that fast.

[Santricoclou in reply to LivingWithHT]

It was just 75 mcg per week. Not drastic but noticable. I get a sore butt when I feel low haha and then the hips get sore. I will stay on 125 mcg daily every day. It took me 18 months to figure out my dose.

[LivingWithHT in reply to Santricoclou]

Why drop by 75mcg per week, did the doctor specify that? Do you mean you were decreasing your daily dosage until you got to a decrease of 75mcg per week? If so, that is still drastic. The decrease should happen slower than that, over a longer period of time, so as not to upset the balance of your hormones so suddenly.

I admit my brain initially registered that you dropped the dose by 75mcg per day, sorry 😄.

Any way, it’s good that you’re listening to your body and being honest with how you feel :).

[Santricoclou in reply to LivingWithHT]

For me it's that brittle my thyroid control. Sounds mad but I do notice the difference every time a doctor says my tsh is too low. Its happened 2 or 3 times and same symptoms. Many thanks for your feedback

[LivingWithHT in reply to Santricoclou]

That’s very normal. The body is very sensitive to the effect of thyroid hormones and whether your thyroid gland is functioning optimally or not.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Never ever agree to reduction in dose based solely on TSH

If Ft3 is not over range you weren’t over medicated

Low vitamin levels are extremely common on levothyroxine. Low vitamins make conversion of Ft4 to Ft3 much worse. Leads to high Ft4 and low Ft3

Low vitamin levels also tend to lower TSH

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. 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

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

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)

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

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

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

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

[HashiFedUp]

0.23 was probably perfect! That’s what I need my result to be for me to feel well. Increase back up perhaps.

[Dogonit]

If I am overmedicated with all the associated symptoms I now drop my dose by just 25mg on only one day in a week. Currently I am adjusting by 25mg for just one day every 2 weeks. A very small change in levo makes a huge difference to me.