Do i follow endo advice or ?

[sbadd]

so bloods done 8 weeks ago

Tsh 3.1 range 0.40 - 4.00

Ft4 17 range 10-20

Ft3 5.1 range 3.5 - 6.5

This was on 100mcg x twice week other days 50mcg

Have just retested on same dose

Tsh 4.83 and T4 16.6 same ranges as above, endo didn't test ft3

Endo has said to stay on same dose and redo bloods in 4-6 weeks, he has now passed me over to my doct as says my t4 is fairly stable now.

I also think i have started perimenopause in last 18 months as a 41 day cycle earlier this year then returned to normal, however im now on day 50 with no period and not pregnant, for a straight 3 weeks after last period i had daily hot flushes, they have now stopped, prior was only having here and there, i think i could do with increase, dont really want to wait another 4 weeks to retest, i do have hashis, thinking of just increasing as endo not seeing me anymore,

[fuchsia-pink]

How do you feel? (other than the peri symptoms)

Your TSH is still relatively high for someone on thyroid meds, but your free T4 is now 66% through range and free T3 was 53.3% (last time) - both of which are quite respectable, but if you don't feel tip-top there's plenty of space to increase dose - maybe 100 mcg x 4 days for a couple of weeks then daily? - without going over range

[sbadd in reply to fuchsia-pink]

I feel ok, but was originally on 75mcg 18 months back, long story why im now here, i think i need to go back to that dose and go from there, i feel if i dont, that i may go further underactive, the first test was after six weeks on that dose and had improved from previous but fast forward 8 weeks its now gone further underactive again.

[fuchsia-pink in reply to sbadd]

Certainly, you're TSH is higher than I would want so I think you should increase your total level of medication. I'm not sure how you were getting to 75 mcg - ie splitting 50 or 100 mcg tablets or getting a 25 mcg tablet - but I'm aware that Teva make a 25 mcg tablet, and lots of people don't get on with Teva [there's a poll that shows just how many in the "polls" section]. Because levo is a storage hormone, you can take 50 mcg one day and 100 another and your body evens it out (in a way that wouldn't work with lio). So I'd recommend slow and steady overall increasing, trying to stay on the same brand of levo if you get on with what you're on, and listening to your body. As other have said, most of us need our TSH to be less than 1. Good luck x

[greygoose]

Well, you're better off without him! He knows nothing about thyroid. Your first set of results above showed that you were under-medicated. The second lot show that you're now even more under-medicated! You're still hypo. TSH should come down to 1 or under. You should be put up to 75 every day.

I imagine that he thinks it looks impressive to give you alternate dosing like that - the more complicated, the more impressive! But he hasn't the wit - nor the education - to see that it's not working. So, if I were you, I'd ask your GP to increase your dose. The problem with putting it up yourself is that you're going to run out of tablets. Unless you buy your own. But, probably best to ask your GP first.

[sbadd in reply to greygoose]

Yes i was originally on 75mcg 18 months back so im thinking thats a good start i can half a 50mcg tablet for now to make up 75mcg but yes i think your right, my gp is pretty good usually gives me what i ask, i think ill do this, yes not impressed with endo as even my cardioligist said the goal is to supress tsh.

[sbadd in reply to greygoose]

Just one more question is it better to take a same dose daily or does it not make any difference taking 100mcg one day and alternating, i personally prefer to take same dose daily as its much easier to remember

[greygoose in reply to sbadd]

Well, it's best if you can take one dose daily. But, it depends on your dose. That might not be possible. Some people do really well on - for example - 75 mcg one day and 100 the next. We're all different.

[sbadd in reply to greygoose]

Ok thanks i think ill ask for 75mcg script when i see doct next as its just easier but in meantime ill cut the 50, diagnosed with hashis in 2006 and always been on the one dose per day up until the endo did the weird alternating thing, thanks for your advice

[greygoose in reply to sbadd]

You're welcome.

[sbadd in reply to greygoose]

So update grey goose since last speaking i have increased to 75mcg daily which has been about week and half, i finally got my period on day 54 so stopped now, im now feeling really tired and exhausted, will continue on the 75mcg till retest in 3 weeks, i was feeling ok until period arrived so im not sure if this is peri or something else, any advice?

[greygoose in reply to sbadd]

All I can suggest is that you carry on with the 75 mcg - which is still a small dose - until the next retest, and probably increase again. It's all a waiting game, I'm afraid.

[sbadd in reply to greygoose]

Thankyou will do

[greygoose in reply to sbadd]

You're welcome.

[sbadd in reply to greygoose]

So i ignored endos advice and upped my dose to 75mcg per day 5 weeks ago, just had retest

Tsh 3.38 range 0.40-4.00

T4 13 range 10-20

T4 has dropped from 16.6

No T3 done

Test was done around 9am but i had coffee that morning 6am, i feel ok and my heart rate resting is now in 80's instead of 99 at rest, my question did i do test too early being only 5 weeks, not sure whats going on any advice? Also last menstrual cycle was 54 days and now on day 38??

[greygoose in reply to sbadd]

5 weeks is a bit too soon to test, yes. Should be six to eight weeks. But, even so, you'll probably still be under-medicated even after eight weeks. 75 mcg is only a small dose.

The coffee might have lowered your TSH. But, it's much too high, anyway. So, that wouldn't make much difference in the greater scheme of things.

[sbadd in reply to greygoose]

Ok thanks saw doct this morning and agreed to stay on 75mcg for another 6 weeks and retest as feeling ok atm

[greygoose in reply to sbadd]

Well, if you're feeling OK, that's what counts.

[shaws]

You need an increase in dose to bring the TSH to 1 or lower. I'd follow greygoose 's advice.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Essential to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 too

As you are under medicated and in need of dose increase in levothyroxine, low vitamin levels are extremely likely

As you have Hashimoto’s are you on strictly gluten free diet...or tried it?

[NWA6]

Just to back up what others say. You’re under-medicated still. Think about it like this. 7 days in a week, your totally weekly Levo is 400mcg. You’re only getting 57mcg per day. That’s a starter dose. You need to increase to 75mcg per day. Retest and increase or stay as you are according to tests and symptoms.

So I would increase 100mcg x 4 days and 50mcg x 3 days (if those are the tablets you have) This takes you to 550mcg weekly which works out at 78mcg daily. If your Endo won’t advice an increase your GP is unlikely to go against that advice do start looking into self sourcing (make another post to ask for PM for sources)

[humanbean]

You might find this link of interest :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...