Just over a year ago, I was feeling very lethargic, and couldn’t lose weight, I managed to get my daily dosage of levothyroxine upped from 75mcg to 100mcg, and have felt much more energised since. I have also managed to shed about a pound a month going from 170 lbs (12st 2lbs) to 157 lbs (11st 3lbs).
I used to be just over 5’ 3” but following an accident where I fell on my back and crushed 2 vertebrae, I lost about an inch and a half so that I am now 5’ 2”. (doesn’t help the BMI).
I have had bloods done by my GP, and also with Medichecks, and I believe that my GP wants to reduce my dosage.
My results from Medichecks
Type Range May 2020 July 2021
Inflammation 0 – 5 2.09 1.9
Ferritin 13 – 150 214 249
Folate > 2.9 14.17 10.4
B12 25.1 – 165 115 120
Vit D 50 – 200 104 77
TSH 0.27 – 4.2 1.17 0.02
Free T3 3.1 – 6.8 4.43 5.6
Free Thyroxine 12 – 22 17.2 22.6
Thyroglobulin 0 – 115 445 244
Thyroid peroxidase0 – 34 22.5 16.5
Are my ferritin levels a concern, I don’t take iron supplements, have a steak once a week, but eat lots of fruit and veg.
As I don’t wish to feel tired all the time again, should I push to stay on my 100mcg dose, suggest I split the difference and do 100 / 75 every other day, or should I downgrade to 75mcg?
I did have a health check back in December 2020, and my heart age was 3 years under my actual age, my cholesterol 4.61 (2.19 HDL) and my recent blood pressure 119 / 65.
Comments would be appreciated.
Written by
Day-skipper
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I don't understand your blood results. The way you have written them. We need the result and the reference range (bottom - top) next to it, in brackets preferably.
Your readings seem to have a third number in them. It's odd. For example:
Free T3 3.1 – 6.8 4.43 5.6
3.1 is the current result, but what are those 3 sets of numbers following it?
OK, your ferritin is high. I would want to speak to a doctor about why that might be and if it should be looked into. Mine is always low, but that is high.
Your FT3 looks OK and your FT4 is just over range so how do you feel on this?
Your vitamin D needs to be increased. To between 100-120.
I definitely would not go back to 75mcg . .....the other 2 options have pro's and cons.
If you insist on staying at 100.. GP will be very uneasy because of how low TSH is and also because fT4 is over. ( so it won't help your working relationship with GP )
But you currently feel well enough to be active , so loosing weight gradually. and nobody wants to rock the boat if they are currently feeling well.
You could say you understand his concerns, but you'd like to stay at 100 for another 3/6 months to see if TSH is still at that level after you've had longer to settle on same dose ? That way you get to find out whether you continue to feel well on 100 or if you start to feel a little overmedicated in time.
If you suggest 75/100 mcg then the GP will be more comfortable about prescribing.
Your TSH may rise a little bit . which is actually useful, (if you still feel well)
0.0 TSH = less conversion of Levo to T3;
TSH closer to 1= better conversion of T4 to T3.
But you might upset how well you feel now .
You wont know which feels best until you've tried .
In my experience 12.5 mcg reduction is enough to make a difference to how you feel and also to blood results , so whatever you decide , don't let him reduce by 25mcg.
If you do reduce to 75/100 give it at least 8 weeks before you decide how it feels... last time i reduced by 12.5mcg i was sure it was a mistake for the first 5 weeks . but i'm glad i didn't increase it again ,.as after about 8/10 weeks everything gradually improved and i eventually realised i was sleeping much better than i had for years.
I was concerned about low TSH, so looked up loads of research , and found a big long term study which found that the 'risk's to heart and bones associated with low TSH don't start until TSH is below 0.04 ... mine was usually around 0.05 /0,09.. so i 'm not concerned about it.
The risks for TSH 0.04 -0.4 were no greater than the risks for TSH 0.4 to 4 ... and to put that in perspective .. the risks associated with TSH below 0.04 were still lower than the risks associated with TSH above 4 ... and we don't hear many doctors worrying about TSH over 4 do we.. NICE guidelines say it's fine to wait until its over 10 before treating them.
Link to study is in these, (plus other useful stuff)
I have begun taking vitamin D again as an oral spray, so that should improve. I feel good on 100 mcg, and if I can continue to reduce my weight and BMI then I think that is a good situation.
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