Hello everyone, I placed a repeat prescription in today for my Thyroxine. I currently take 175mcg following a referral to a Consultant who was not afraid to increase my dose without being stifled by “normal” ranges. I have been doing okay on this dose. I have been informed by my doctors surgery that I now need another blood test. My concern is that the doctors will get my results and potentially lower my dose. I have not seen my consultant for 1year and basically I didn’t need to see him again as long as I was feeling well and was discharged. So since that time i have been taking my 175mcg and all is “well”.
So...my question is...what should do if the doctor attempts to lower my dose? Do I ask for another referral? I am going to try and contact the Consultant PA to see if he would write to the surgery and direct them in what to test for and to confirm his rationale based on my previous blood test, for my dose level. Also how often should I be getting my blood checked for my thyroid? Due to how long it to me to get my dose correct and the battle I had to get there, this does cause me anxiety!
Thank you in advance x
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Dotty1340
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If i were you, to be honest i'd be tempted to come over with a severe case of not wanting to go near a clinic due to 'worries about covid', and get your own blood test done privately instead.
In times past i've gone 2 yrs without a GP blood test, by just forgetting to respond to the letter(s!) and sort one out. So possibly if you don't go they may not bother you for a while , although in your case i suppose the high dose might mean they stay on your case, but in the current circumstances they might just let it slide for a while.
You can get a TSH. FT4 and FT3 for less than £30 from one of the postal labs in UK.
Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine at each prescription
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?
Would suggest you get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing privately for yourself
If Ft3 is not over range you’re not over medicated
Just testing TSH is completely inadequate
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
Hi slow dragon, I take a range of vitamin supplements as advised via this site, selenium, vitamin b complex, K2, D3, magnesium. In addition curcumin for my knee joints which works very well!
I am pretty much consistent with my Thyroxine brand which is Teva.
Spoke to the PA of my Consultant who will speak to him to get something in writing for me to take to the doctors so that they test for what I need. Fingers crossed I won’t have a battle but I am not holding my breath!
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
Hi Dotty totally understand your situation same thing happened to me last year I am taking 150 mcg of thyroxine after my thyroidectomy it took me about 4 years to become stable on that. My surgery phoned and said I needed a blood test which I did then a few days later another phone call to say my thyroxine was been reduced I was totally gobsmacked as no one asked me how I was feeling after a distressing conversation with my gp he agree to leave my prescription as it was but I needed to understand the risk of having a really low tsh.I couldn’t believe that they were just going to change my dose without explaining my results or even asking how I was feeling, stick to your guns and tell them that you’re feeling well and don’t want to change.
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