I posted a few days ago explaining I got diagnosed with hypo around 4 weeks ago, I finally got in touch with gp to raise my dose, currently on 50mg levo because I felt like I was getting worse not better, he booked me in straight away to do blood tests and also stated he would do a thyroid peroxidase abs test which I am assuming is antibodies?? I got a phone call a few hour later from gp saying my levels have risen it could just be my body rebelling and to stick with it over the weekend but if it gets worse to ring the surgery on Monday? I was just wondering is it normal for my levels to change that rapidly in 4 weeks? As I do not feel any better, I have started getting a painful lump feeling in my throat with a sore feeling, also shaking and not feeling great as I start eating and after eaten, and still loosing weight, along with all the symptoms I still had previously, also the thyroid peroxidase results never came bk with the rest of the results and gp did not mention them?
My first test results was tsh..47 and free t4 8.7 so a big jump in 4 weeks?
Written by
Laura2207
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
It was done at 10:30 but I did have my last dose at 6:30am that morning because he rang me at 9:30 and asked me to come in, so I wasn't expecting a test, I didnt have anything to eat or drink either except water.He hasn't done any other tests just same as last time, he did say he was doing the thyroid peroxidase but I have logged in to see my results and they never came bk, im just wondering if they refused to do them?
He just said my results are looking better, im probably feeling how I am because my body is rebelling and just to ring them if it gets worse and said bye?
He didn't say anything about increasing my dose or anything, just said its doing ok and if I get worse to ring them on Monday? I was more confused than I was before he rang me, I didnt get chance to question anything or ask anything as he seemed in a rush, I just feel like keep ringing them and going over the same things they are going to get fed up of me and just brush me off everytime, silly I know but I feel like I'm being a nuisance, these are the only tests he did
In general, people who are hypothyroid and untreated tend to have high TSH and low levels of Free T4 and Free T3. If they start thyroid hormones (like Levo) their Free T4 and Free T3 would be expected to rise and their TSH would be expected to drop. But that isn't what happens, at least in the early days.
When this person who is hypothyroid gets treated with Levothyroxine an early effect is that it can reduce the output of their own thyroid.
Doctors and new patients assume that giving a patient Levo will "top up" an ailing thyroid and increase Free T4 and Free T3, but it doesn't. Levo actually replaces what your thyroid produces. Since Levo is usually started well below the final dose the patient will need then their TSH actually rises, and their Free T4 and Free T3 might drop. But eventually the Levo taken will supply sufficient T4 to replace the production of the ailing thyroid, and then further raises will take the T4 level higher than it was before treatment started - and then TSH will drop and Free T4 and Free T3 should rise.
Testing should be done about every 6 - 8 weeks or so, and treatment dose should be raised as appropriate until TSH has reduced to a level the doctor is happy with (which often isn't the same as the level the patient is happy with).
My tsh level was 47, 4 weeks ago and is now 8.7, im just wondering now slow dragon has mentioned about taking last dose 24hr before blood test could of affected it the way it has in such short amount of time as I wasn't expecting to be called in so soon! It has taken me a few days to get in touch with gp and I was in the process of trying to get him to do more tests like slow dragon advised, but he hasn't seemed to have done all revenant tests, another has not come back and I basically just got dismissed to ring if it gets worse, no information about booking in again for more tests in a few weeks or anything, im at a loss on what to do next, with everything going off with the virus etc aswel I don't want to seem pushy with them either
There is no way that I know of to predict how quickly TSH will change when people start taking replacement thyroid hormones. TSH doesn't stay the same all day it has a circadian rhythm. This is important to understand and make use of, since doctors rely on TSH to dose their patients with Levo.
The following link explains the circadian rhythms of TSH, Free T4 and Free T3.
Your doctor probably did a test too early. Most of us think that we've reached "equilibrium" for a particular dose after 6 - 8 weeks. Some people say it takes even longer.
I think that after 4 weeks on Levo, with a starting TSH of 47 that your doctor should have raised your dose though. 50mcg per day is just a starting dose, and you could expect to end up on anything from 100 - 250mcg Levo per day depending on your response to it.
Taking your levothyroxine four hours before the blood test will have a small effect on the fT4 result but not enough to worry about especially at this early stage. It will take several months before you feel better although your blood test results will show changes earlier. It will be interesting to see your TPO antibody level as sometimes thyroid output can be very erratic during the early stages of hypothyroidism.
I'm going to wait till Monday and speak to gp to raise my levo again but will also wait to see if I get my antibody results back on Monday also, if not then I will get the private test done and post them
TSH changes at different rates in different people, so I shouldn't worry if the drop in level you have experienced in just a few weeks seems large. My partner found his levels dropped in a similar way to yours on diagnosis. Taking levo within a few hours of a thyroid test is not to be recommended, as it can cause a spike in the FT4 level 2-4 hours after taking it. Antibody tests can take longer to process than standard blood tests, so I would imagine the results will be available soon. Just get your levels checked 6-8 weeks after any change of dosage, until both levels and dosage are stable. This is how hypothyroidism is managed, so your GP should be doing this automatically, and if not, ring up to make those appointments.
My bloods where done on Friday and I got results bk same day does that mean I could possibly see results for my antibody tests on my record on Monday? With surgery's being shut over the weekend?
I may have to go down the route of private for all the other tests but will wait and see if I fo get the results bk from the antibody test, I just hope it all sorts out soon and I get to feeling better soon, its having a impact on day to day life as I am the sole carer of my mum and causing problems in my relationship also, as both me and my partner are worried. I'm 32 and he is 35 we was supposed to be starting our own little family this year and more things to do etc and now he's worried that I we are not going to be able to leave a normal life we both have questions I don't have the answers to and seeing me go from being so active and happy to unhappy and can't do anything in the matter of a few weeks is scaring and worrying him also its just gotten so stressful for us both which doesn't help the situation either
Which brand of levo are you taking? Some people have bad reactions to Teva. If you are feeling worse that might be the reason, or it may be that you need the dose increase.
I hope things get better for you soon, but do post again if you are still struggling.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Confused
Confused
Confused 
confused
