Does levo stop working

[Tradoc]

Just a random query. Still not doing good since Feb even on combo treatment. Bloods are ok apart from being off t3 recently due to cost . Have had every test under the sun. Just wondering can levo stop working after 20 years taking it even if endo is happy with bloods

[greygoose]

I really don't think so. It's a hormone, not a drug. But, there could be changes in your body that mean you react to it differently. Maybe your conversion has got worse - although I imagine your conversion has never been good, and that's why you've been taking T3. If you need that T3, and you stop taking it, it's doubtful that levo only will take up the slack.

What are these bloods that the endo is happy about? Does he just test - or just look at - the TSH, like most of them? Just because the TSH is good for an endo, it doesn't mean that your FT3 is good enough for you.

[Tradoc in reply to greygoose]

The last results he saw in may were TSH 0.29 (0.29-4.2)

FREE T3 5.27 (3.1-6.8)

FREE THYROXINE 15 (12-22)

I had another test done 2 weeks ago at my gp cause I'm feeling so rotten my tsh was up to 10:45 and ft4 was 16;35 but I handiy had my T3 for about a week. I'm taking 100mcg levo and 5mcg T3 now about 10 days.

[greygoose in reply to Tradoc]

Well, your TSH can still just about be counted as 'in-range', so that would please an endo. The other two are about mid-range, but that is usually rather low for a high. Were you taking T3 when those labs were done?

[Tradoc in reply to greygoose]

The first ones yeah. I was on a trial of t3 5mcg twice a day which didn't make me feel any better,and 75mcg levo

[greygoose in reply to Tradoc]

OK, so you obviously needed that T3, because your TSH has shot right up without it. But, you were slightly under-medicated. And, your endo started you on too high a dose of T3, should have been 5 mcg one a day to start with, for at least a couple of weeks.

So, the fault is probably not with the levo, it's just the fact that you can't convert it very well.

[Tradoc in reply to greygoose]

I've upped my levo to 100mcg and I'm on 1x5mcg now about 10 days . should I continue.

[greygoose in reply to Tradoc]

Oh yes. You need that T3.

If you feel you need to, you can increase your T3 by 5 mcg now.

[Tradoc in reply to greygoose]

Would I move up more if I'm still fatigued and have sore joints and muscles?

[greygoose in reply to Tradoc]

T3? No, only 5 mcg at a time. But, you can go up by 5 mcg every two weeks.

[Tradoc in reply to greygoose]

Do I take less levo if I up the T3?

[greygoose in reply to Tradoc]

Not necessarily, no. Depends how you feel. Some need their FT4 high. Others need it low. But don't ever automatically reduce your levo just becaquse you increase your T3. It's all trial and error finding the right doses of each.