Should I increase my levo?

[jsy_girl]

So, I haven't been on here a while, I became broadly happy with my dose (150mcg levo sunday, 125mcg levo rest of week, 25mcg T3 daily split as 10, 10, 5 at 7am, 1.30pm, 8.30pm).

I never really understood whether my blood results equated with me being any more well or not, they seem to fluctuate and the TSH is suppressed. Never really sure whether I should be concerned with that or not.

Now, I have PCOS which means I have insulin resistance, and my diet has been terrible lately - lots of carbs and sugar, so my weight has crept up (I am now c. 92.5kg) ie now around 6kg/1 stone heavier than when I came onto the dose above. I don't feel as well, but I know that's partly because of my diet but I am also wondering should I increase my levo dose, maybe to 150mcg 4 days a week (vs 1 day now). Thing is, how do I measure this?

I haven't got test results since my weight went up, so I guess this is my next step (and not to increase it before then).

I think my ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate levels are the best they've been - so that might help my dosing be more effective than it would otherwise be.

Any thoughts welcome

[GlowCoach Administrator]

Apparently people feel well when both their FT3 & FT4 are 60-70% of their ranges. Yours are much lower than that at the momentnso raising to 150mcgs 7 days a week would be an improvement and will also raise your FT3 closer to where it should be.

I find I crave carbs and sugar when undermedicated.

Ferritin would be better at 90-100 so continue to work on that for better results.

[jsy_girl in reply to GlowCoach]

Yes , i only got to this level of ferritin through supplementation and i think youre only meant to supplement for 6 months. so i need to go back to the GP and check in before continuing.

Interesting re craving carbs and sugar when undermedicated!

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to jsy_girl]

Your GP will tell you that level is fine when there is actually still room for improvement. Just try eating chicken livers weekly or chicken liver pate. If you stop working on it you're likely to slip back.

[Lotika]

Hello

“How do I measure this” is exactly the question, isn’t it? If you sort diet at the same time as a levo increase, you will have two variables, so it needs to be one or the other… I find that when I go on a diet improvement mission, I get better with taking my vits, which of course already adds another variable, and then I start thinking that my turmeric tablet is the answer, when it’s probably a placebo (don’t care, still take it!)

Obvs mis Jan is the time for diet fixes; everyone’s at it, there’ll be a shortage of kale in the supermarkets.

I also find it so hard to keep testing consistent, particularly where the NHS is involved. Agreed that I can’t seem to draw too many straight lines between dosage, test results and how I feel, although I do have one (admittedly drawn faintly in pencil) which is that too much T4 is a bad thing for me; I suspect my body hasn’t a clue what it is supposed to do with it. But others here like a good level of both, so who knows!

Personally, I’d go with test now, fix diet a bit, change nothing else and see what happens when you next test… and move from there. Fixing diet is so dull, isn’t it? I notice I seem better if I avoid foods that are connected with inflammation - sugar, particularly. But life really does seem to get in the way…

Xx

[jsy_girl in reply to Lotika]

Hi Lotika

how you doing!!?

I really vibe with what you're saying!!! It is so hard. Your words have soothed me. I think I will do exactly as you say.

I am really at breaking point with my weight gain so I know i have to get on top of my gluttony (the frustrating thing is i see people around me eating worse and they are stick thin!! how is this fair?!). I know i feel a million times better when I limit carb and sugar to like half a sweet potato with lunch and two apples with dinner or something dull - my body loves protein and fat and not a lot else. But i am sad to say goodbye to pizza and cupcakes. but hey ho!

I am letting myself go wild until the new year and then i shall fight the other customers for the kale. *remembers making kale crisps before, and is not excited at this prospect*

[Lotika in reply to jsy_girl]

Thanks, I’m ok; currently on 50 T4 and 15 T3 (10 am, 5 around 1 ish) which I intend to push up to 20… but have to get through an endo appointment in Jan first and don’t want to scare him off with a low TSH, so I find the politics of maintaining my NHS prescription gets in my way! My endo is prescribing 112.5 T4 and 2 x 5 T3 but I’m no worse for dropping all that T4 oddly. Like I said, I think the body’s clueless with the stuff!

Pizza is probably my favourite food, I really hear you, but wow, it messes with me! I think it’s an inflammatory concoction, between the gluten, tomatoes, cheese, processed meats, chillies! But so so good! And I do find eating well so darned time consuming. And if it isn’t time consuming, it’s expensive and/or socially awkward! Nightmare. Anyway. I also mean to give myself a good speaking to in the new year and get my proverbial in gear regarding food, so at least we know we’re in it together!

[arTistapple in reply to Lotika]

Just read your bio Lotika. Your levo needs have been low and even your T3 needs have not been hugely high - so far. This highlights for me, the very wide and distinctly varying needs of individual patients. That individuality that the medics certainly don’t get, or choose to ignore! Something I have only recently come to see and understand. I have virtually totally comprehended that I am no better on 100 mcg and very ill on an increase. A category of errors with T3 both helped and hindered because I had c..ked it up self medicating. Just comparing your notes with my reality, to help me think through my treatment and my own medical prejudices. I hope you don’t mind. Mine seems quite a small dose of T4 (compared to many others, although yours is lower) and as far as I can tell I do need T4. Major heart symptoms improved on it before I became stuck with what sounds the same major problem as you - muscles. I know myself this is a major manifestation (amongst others) of my particular brand of hypothyroidism. The heart too is a muscle - right? Look Lotika I am basically thinking out loud to further my knowledge and using your experience. Your bio has been very good for me to read. Thank you so much for writing it. It’s highlighted my own bias which needed airing.

[jsy_girl in reply to Lotika]

I know exactly what you mean. It’s a veritable minefield. My endo gave me a right talking to with my low TSH but now he’s done it every time he just says “ but we discussed the risks and you have accepted it, preferring to feel better each day instead”

Sometimes I wonder though if I didn’t feel same on Levo but that seems way too much effort to now try titrating back to Levo only. My only worry is when I become senile. Who will manage this balancing act of deception and manipulation then?

[arTistapple]

Oh goodness it’s blooming hard jsy-girl. Your post set off something for me in my attempt to understand. I have written a long post to Lotika. This was not to hijack your post. Your post just hit a chord for me that Lotika also helped me think things through! Thank you.

[jsy_girl in reply to arTistapple]

no problem at all!

[eeng]

I have always found it much easier to lose weight in the first half of the year. As soon as the evenings start to draw in again, and especially once September arrives, I crave anything with calories, especially peanuts, raisins and chocolate. According to Google I'm not the only one. It's as though my body is preparing to hibernate. So you may find it easier to lose weight after Christmas. Good luck!

[jsy_girl in reply to eeng]

thanks you’re so right. I was so excited to get eating healthy but physically couldn’t until Christmas was out of the way and I’d eaten my body weight in Christmas pudding. I’ve been on the new regime for 5 days and whilst it’s annoying I already feel better! Fingers crossed it helps. Maybe I just need to do dieting in a cyclical fashion. 8 months healthy, 4 months eat what I like. At least then I know I still get a chance to eat my guilty pleasures!