This is the second year am constantly deficient. I was taking 800iu as per the GP s advice after I took some high dosage because of deficiency, but I cannot recall how many iu I was taking. Obviously it didn’t help as I am again deficient even with maintenance dose.
Vitamins are continuously dropping because you are under medicated and only on starter dose levothyroxine
When hypothyroid we have low stomach acid and this leads to low vitamin levels
With Hashimoto’s Common to need at least 2000-3000iu daily vitamin D as maintenance dose, and at least 5000-6000iu daily when trying to increase vitamin D levels
Very clear with such high TSH that you need further 25mcg increase....retest again in 6-8 weeks
At 100mcg I got thyrotoxicosis. So I don’t think I need further increase, and I cannot risk it. I was fine with 100mcg while pregnant, but also didn’t have symptoms at all while pregnant. I was previously taking 50mcg, but was for short time as shortly after I got pregnant. So I am a bit confused. Since the thyrotoxicosis I feel absolutely horrible and I feel that I have no support at all within NHS.
You possibly had a temporary Hashimoto’s flare, this is where the thyroid cells break down releasing large amounts of thyroid hormones. Not true hyperthyroidism or even over medication...but a very temporary hyperthyroid flare
After each flare, the thyroid is more compromised and less able to produce hormones....thyroid is dying off bit by bit...common to need to increase dose upwards over time
Essential to have optimal vitamin levels too
Your current results show you are very hypothyroid
B12 too low
Vitamin D absolutely dire
You need to test iron and ferritin
Folate too
Likely looking at gluten intolerance, certainly poor gut function
Has nothing to do with how good (or not) your diet is. Low stomach acid due to being hypothyroid causes poor nutrient levels
Not sure what was that, but lasted quite long and ended up in A&E twice.
I am planning AIP ASAP.
I have a medicheck at home to check all other nutrients, but I was thinking to do it once I was back and not before I left (Idk why).
Might be funny, but I had a gastroscopy, and have oesophagitis (I read that this might be the cause of the palpitations I experience - I am just aware of my heart beats - not elevated HR), and gastritis( I have seen a little hole on the screen). I’ve been prescribed omeprazole and something else to help to heal my esophagus.
I don’t know what dosage of B12 to take. What do you recommend?
Only add one supplement at a time and then wait 10 days to see any reaction good or bad before adding another
Clearly most important is dire vitamin D
Suggest you get Vitamin D mouth spray by Better you - they do one that includes vitamin K2 mk7
Trying 3000-5000iu Vitamin D per day and retest in 8 weeks
Supplementing magnesium is important too
Popular choice is calm vitality magnesium powder. Must be four hours away from levothyroxine. Best taken afternoon or evening. Good for improving constipation. Best to start on low dose as too much can cause diarrhoea!
Links about magnesium and vitamin K2 Mk7 supplements when taking vitamin D
Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial. This will improve low B12 and keep all B vitamins in balance
Igennus Super B is good quality and cheap vitamin B complex. Contains folate. Full dose is two tablets per day. Many/most people may only need one tablet per day. Certainly only start on one per day (or even half tablet per day for first couple of weeks)
Or Thorne Basic B or jarrow B-right are other options that contain folate, but both are large capsules
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
Thank you so much for your replies. I will take my time and read all the links provided. I was taking some B complex form Holland and Barrett, and magnesium too also same brand. But I will look the ones you have recommended.
Also, I read the symptoms for low stomach acid and I have most of the symptoms. Specially one which I thought is related to something else and have been on a few gynaecologists and tried to be treated, but never disappeared after each treatment. 🤦♀️
You have been soo helpful! You have no idea! Thank you so much! I will add vitamin D, and do also the medicheck pack which I have at home, and you also recommended it.
Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking?
Has the brand changed since you increased dose from 50mcg levothyroxine
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. Teva contains mannitol as a filler, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half
Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).
Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime
No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.
Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away
(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)
You need ferritin and folate tested
The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many patients need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 is in top third of range and FT3 at least half way through range
NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.
Haven´t those guidelines been changed? I recently read (I think it was here) that the new guidelines recommend going straight on a maintenance dose of levo (1.6 mcg/kg of body weight) rather than slowly titrating it (unless patient is elderly or has heart disease).
I take almus atm. I take 50mcg + 25mcg , very weird. As now I take two different brands to make the 75mcg. 🙈
Many info I didn’t know here.
I was reading on some Facebook group where are people from US that a lot of them experienced heart palpitations with levothyroxine, and thought that maybe I can find someone to prescribe armor instead of levo as for them made a huge difference ☹️ I don’t feel it helps me at all.☹️
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