After eventually being prescribed 50mg levothyroxine in December and being told to have bloods taken again in 6-8 weeks I was told I had to wait another 6 weeks for more bloods to be done as they weren’t happy to increase dose.
I am, and was then, still really struggling with symptoms ... fatigue, painful joints and muscles, cold, dry skin and so on.
I’ve had bloods come back and my doctor has agreed that she will increase my dose by 25mg every other day and then test again in 6-8weeks ...
My dilemma is that I’m taking, and happy on accord 50mg but they don’t do a 25mg tablet ... my gp has said to “just speak with the pharmacy and they’ll sort you out “ but I’m not really sure if I want a brand change or a mix of brands or is that ok ??? To be fair I was hoping that she’d give me and extra 25mg a day but I suppose the fact she’s agreed to do anything I should be grateful 🤷🏻♀️
Most recent bloods showed
TSH 5.01 range 0.3-5.6
FT4 9 range 6.3-14
2nd feb results
TSH 3.84 range 0.3-5.6
(They wouldn’t test anything else as TSH wasn’t over 5🤷🏻♀️)
5th November
TSH 13.31 range 0.3-5.6
FT4 5.2 range 6.3-14
I also have hashimotos confirmed ...
Any advice gratefully received before I head to the pharmacy (located at my doctors surgery) to pick up meds tomorrow
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Joanne1633
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Your under medicated and yes likely to need 25mcg dose increase in levothyroxine
Ask GP for 50mcg tablets prescribed
Initially cut in half (25mcg) and take alternate days
Retest at 6 weeks
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.
Also EXTREMELY important to regularly test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially as you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed
Previous post shows low vitamin levels
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested
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
Thank you so much for helping ... I do appreciate the help you give as I’m just a newbie and I am taking all the advice you offer on board slowly but surely 😊
Ok so ...
Perfect.. I wanted to stay on accord and did tell my doctor but I wanted confirmation that was ok to split in half 👍🏻
Docs happy to retest at 6 weeks (I changed my doctor after my initial disaster at the surgery with a very unhelpful doc... this one does seem to want to help and listed so I want to keep her on board ) 👍🏻
Unfortunately they, as a surgery just refuse to do anything other than TSH ... this is really frustrating but when I’m next due I’m going to do a medichecks full panel and pay for the results myself 👍🏻
I’m taking vitamin D3 2000’s off of my own back as docs said my vitamin d was acceptable 🤷🏻♀️
I’m also taking selenium
Vitamins were last tested September 2020
I do take my Levo every morning about 5.30am and only with water and wait at least an hour before anything else food or drink wise.
I always have bloods taken first appt in the morning, about 7.30am and before food or drink and obviously no levo till after blood draw.
Suggest you now add vitamin B complex as well to improve low B12 and folate
supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) may be beneficial. This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too
Igennus Super B is good quality and cheap vitamin B complex. Contains folate. Full dose is two tablets per day. Many/most people may only need one tablet per day. Certainly only start on one per day (or even half tablet per day for first couple of weeks)
Or Thorne Basic B is another option that contain folate, but is large capsule
IMPORTANT If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
With B12 result below 500, recommended to be taking a B12 supplement as well as a B Complex (to balance all the B vitamins) initially for first 2-4 months, then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
Ah thank you, I will order vitamin b complex today that’s great help 👍🏻
The one thing I haven’t done yet is the coeliac test but I will get that ordered straight away as I’m hoping that even if it’s negative going gluten free may help significantly with my pain ... by late afternoon I can barely walk I’m in so much pain ... the doctor had given me a 10 day dose on naproxen to help (and it did) but I’m not wanting to mask it with inflammatory pain relievers if I can do it by other means ... ie getting my vitamins sorted and if necessary gluten free
I’ve just ordered the Igennus super b which I’d coming tomorrow ... I’ll take it after breakfast each day ... is it ok that I’m taking the vitamin d and selenium with water before bed ? Sorry for so many questions
Sorry to ask again for your help but my pharmacy, which is located at the doctors surgery, wouldn’t give me the additional tablets to cut in half and said they need to clarify with the doctor 🙈🤷🏻♀️ doctor said to clarify with the pharmacy 🙈🤷🏻♀️ do you think trying to push for an increase of 25mg everyday so that I could take 100 every other day and 50 every other day is too much ? I really don’t want to be given a mix of brands and then have problems as I’m sure my doctor will then drop me back to 50. It took a little persuasion to get the small increase she’s offered 🙈
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Should I increase T3 or Levo ? 
Should i supplement vitamins?
I was ready to battle . . . 
