Advice on new blood results

[Travelling922]

Hi all,

I decided to bite the bullet 6 weeks ago and start self treating with Levothyroxine. I was and still am at a loss with my GP.

I started at 50mcg 23/8/20 as I must admit I was a bit worried I was making the wrong decision and didnt want to make myself ill. After 2 weeks all was fine so I upped my dose to 75mcg.

After 2 weeks on 75mcg the restless legs i've suffered with for years disappeared and haven't come back since. I'm generally feeling a lot better in myself. A lot less emotional and finding it a lot easier to concentrate.

I'm still not feeling totally right so my question is do I have room to increase my dose to 100mcg? Or should I wait a while longer and repeat bloods again? Technically i've only been on 75mcg for approx 4/5weeks.

Thanks xx

[Lalatoot]

With the above results you have room for another increase. It takes a while for the full benefits of any increase to be felt which is why 8 weeks is suggested.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Travelling922

I started at 50mcg 23/9/20 as I must admit I was a bit worried I was making the wrong decision and didnt want to make myself ill. After 2 weeks all was fine so I upped my dose to 75mcg.

Technically i've only been on 75mcg for approx 4/5weeks.

If you started 50mcg Levo on 23/9/20 (September), and you say you increased to 75mcg two weeks from then which is 7th October (yesterday). Have you got your dates mixed up because according to that you can't have been on 75mcg for 4-5 weeks.

You should wait 6-8 weeks from when you increased to test and see if you need another increase. It can take that long for the full effects of an increase in dose to be felt and levels stabilise.

[Travelling922 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Sorry yes I have I mean't 23/08/20

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Travelling922]

OK, so you increased to 75mcg on 6th September, so 18th October - 1st November would the target time to retest to see how your levels have settled and whether you need an increase.

Your levels are already pretty good. The aim of a treated Hypo patient on Levo only, generally, is for TSH to be 1 or below (which you've achieved) with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their reference ranges. Your FT4 is 69% through range (if that result is 18.9, it's blurred so I'm not sure) and your FT3 is 64.05% through range. If they are still the same when tested at the suggested time then I think a 25mcg increase would be too much and I'd only increase by 12.5mcg if you feel the need.

How are your nutrient levels now - Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin?

[Travelling922 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Great-Thanks! I'll re-test in November and see how I'm feeling/how bloods are looking then.

Vit D, B12 , Folate and Ferritin are all fine. Very happy with my active b12 results. I've got my nhs consult appt for an endoscopy at the end of the month. I'm conscious that until any gastro problems are ruled out I cant blame all my symptoms on thyroid issues.

[JAmanda]

I agree with others that if your levels remain like that they'd be pretty good and that you're likely see more symptom improvements over the coming weeks. I'd stick as you are for a few weeks then retest.

[myfanwy1945]

I had very low Vitamin D. I found that after I started taking Vitamin D3 the Levothyroxine worked properly.