I’m hypo after Graves’ disease (2003) currently taking 150mg Levo the last few years.
My June 2020 bloods results below ( pic).
I was feeling very tired and weight gain after complaining to GP he then referred to an Endo who was really understanding and did the relevant bloods to tick others things off.
Results
July 2020 blood at 8:15am ( Levo taken 24 hours before)
- TSH - 0.14 ( no ranges on letter)
- T4 16.0 ( no range on letter)
- Cortisol- 433 nmol ( no range on letter)
- Full blood and Kidney/ Liver normal
- Autoanibody tests show a positive gastric parietal cell autotibody, which is a low
Test specificity test. Pleased to see that more specific intrinsic factor antibody was negative.
- normal B12
- ANA antibody tissue transglutaminase - negative.
The Endo has recommended I take Levo monday - Friday 150mg and Saturday and Sunday 100mg.
None of the above explain my weight gain nor how I feel.
How will lowering my Levo make me feel better and help with weight loss?
Any advice I would be grateful.
Thank you
Written by
yolobrass
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Reducing levothyroxine very slightly might increase conversion of Ft4 to Ft3.....but it may just reduce Ft3 as well....in that case you will need addition of small doses of T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine
Are you vegetarian or vegan
As you have Graves’ disease are you on strictly gluten free diet or tried it?
How will lowering my Levo make me feel better and help with weight loss?
It won't. It will probably make you put more on because your conversion isn't brilliant, but if you lower your levo, your FT3 will drop, too. But, your endo is only looking at your low TSH. That's all he knows about. He doesn't understan FT4/3 levels, and he doesn't care. And he doesn't care how you feel. All that interests him is getting the TSH back up into range. Endos are one huge waste of time and space.
OK, but are you sure it's the same range? If not, you cannot compare the two results unelss you work out the percentages.
But, let's assume that the range is the same.
If you reduce your levo , your TSH may well rise (or, given that you had Grave's, it may not).
But, your FT4 is going to drop.
It is already below mid-range, so even if the higher TSH improves your conversion to perfect, it's never going to give you enough T3 to make you well.
You cannot convert to more T3 than you have T4, if you see what I mean. So, that really is not going to help.
That's a bit like saying, I'm going to make some bread but I haven't got enough flour, but if I reduce the amount of flour I use and turn the oven up higher, it will give me a larger loaf. It won't. It will just give you a small burnt loaf. You see what I mean?
That’s totally makes sense now- thank you I’ve really taken your points on board and have requested the Endo calls me to explain her findings and provide me with the ranges so that I can compare.
I really appreciate you and slow dragon taking time out to help me..
Suggest you email Dionne at Thyroid UK for list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologists who will prescribe T3 ....NHS and Private
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
Meanwhile you could try reducing levothyroxine as outlined ....retest FULL thyroid and vitamin levels in 6 weeks .....making sure to get bloods tested as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24+hours before test
if Ft3 has dropped then go see decent endocrinologist and get prescription for T3 alongside levothyroxine
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