Hi, My Mum got these results back, she is 80 and has problems with severe wind building up, causing anxiety and relieved by burping and has recently had raised heart beat and shakiness. She is on 75mcg of Levo, Teva and Actavis brands. If these results are acceptable, then, any advice on what might be causing the anxiety and burping. It's pretty severe and causes her a lot of discomfort and wakes her up about 2am in the morning. She also has Essential Thrombocythemia, and had a stent put in about 5 years ago.
TSH levels 1.26 mu/L (range 0.27 - 4.2 mU/L)
FT4 levels 19.6 pmol/L (range 12 - 22 pmol/L)
FT3 levels 4.4 pmol/L (range 3.1 - 6.8 pmol/L)
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gillianc
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Do you have any previous blood test results for her
Has she recently changed brand of 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
Another cause of burping may be food intolerances.
Some years ago I was tested for food intolerances. I was beginning to get arthritis. I knew that my daughter had some problem foods, so thought it would be worth getting myself tested rather than taking medication for the rest of my life.
There were several problem foods, but to start with I cut out the 2 main ones that had been found. After about 2 or 3 months my arthritis had improved, but then I also realised that I hadn't had indigestion and burping for ages. This had plagued me all my life and was much improved.
I won't tell you what my problem foods were as your mother's will be different. However it may be worth getting tested. Many people with thyroid problems find that a gluten free diet is helpful. Is she doing this? You don't need to be coeliac to find that gluten free is useful, so well worth trying. There are plenty of gf foods available these days.
One point to mention is that it takes time for the body to clear itself of any food which it doesn't get on with, so give it time.
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Do these results look ok? 
My Mum's Blood Test Results.
Mum's TSH result, help please
Elderly mum's blood test results back
