Update to levo increase

[Katy14]

Hi again its 10 weeks since increasing my levo from 75 mcg a day to 75/100 alternate days

Was feeling no better until about a week ago started to feel energy coming back done a few hours each day in garden tidying for winter mood also improving a little feel slightly less anxious

But still feeling breathless at times stairs and walking ect

My symptoms had been horrid fatigue + anxiety

Feel hopefully now that things are improving fatigue and anxiety just hope breathlessness lessens the same way hopefully tabs are now kicking in have nhs thyroid test 2 weeks

Had chest xrays blood tests ecg

Dubutamine stress echo test

Recently

All came back OK so last few months feeling so ill got to be thyroid or anxiety?

Kind regards to you all

Kath

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous post

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

So now you need to retest thyroid and also get vitamin levels tested

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Low vitamin levels common as we get older too

Low iron or ferritin often linked to breathlessness

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 all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

[JAmanda in reply to SlowDragon]

Agree retest as you likely need another increase. Usually people retest after 6-8 weeks and if they still have symptoms it’s a sign you need more meds

[tattybogle in reply to JAmanda]

Personally i'd suggest Katy14 wait a little longer on this dose , since improvements only started to be felt in the last week or so... i have often noticed improvements happen gradually after about 8 -12 weeks and sometimes when i've not been sure if i'm good or not on a dose ,6 months has been a better time scale to look back and see subtle improvements . If you are in too much of a hurry to retest and increase dose, there is a chance you overshoot the sweet spot .

And even of you did then need an increase. but say the next increase takes your TSH lower than the GP is comfortable with, it makes it easier to argue the case with the GP if you'd tried the first dose for longer , you are much more confident its 'not enough' than you could be after just 6-8 weeks.

[Summerlove]

Hi Katy14How are you now? Has the anxiety settled? I have same especially in the morning when waking. I do hope you are feeling better