Starting dose after break in medication.

[HarrietJW]

I have been unable to get hold of my medication which has resulted in a 3 month break of taking anything for my hypothyroidism. Next week I will be starting levothyroxine + liothyronine. Do you suggest I build up to my previous dose where my bloods were in range (100 T4 10 T3) or start lower?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Important to have optimal vitamin levels

Vitamin levels likely to have crashed dramatically with withdrawal of replacement thyroid hormones

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

If not done recent thyroid and vitamin testing, suggest you test vitamin levels ASAP

If vegetarian you will need to supplement B12 daily, and regularly test iron/ferritin levels 3-4 times year

Perhaps starting on 50mcg levothyroxine plus 5mcg T3 for week or so before increasing levothyroxine to 75mcg…..see how it goes

[HarrietJW in reply to SlowDragon]

I am currently taking an Iron Complex, Zinc, Methyl B complex, Vitamin D and a Thyroid complex.

I had my bloods done which showed

TSH - 86.2 (0.27-4.2)

T4 - 7.5 (12-22)

T3 - 3.3 (3.1 - 6.8)

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies +400

These were done with Medichecks intravenously, I am not sure how much to trust the TSH as I have never heard of it this high and I presume I would feel very sick? I do feel tired and heavy but nothing major.

Please let me know what you think?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to HarrietJW]

TSH is probably true

We see members on here with similar TSH results or higher …

You need to remember to stop taking vitamin B complex a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS as contains biotin. Biotin can falsely affect test results

You can take separate B12 and separate folate in that week

If vegetarian you may need separate B12 daily anyway