TSH suppression : Hoping for advice. Thyroxine... - Thyroid UK

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TSH suppression

Sailing14 profile image
13 Replies

Hoping for advice. Thyroxine reduction due to hunger even after substantial meal. Now taking 75/100 alternate days down from 100 a day at Endocrinologist advice. Day 9 and was a bit better this morning but aches in body and hunger returned.

I have tried reduction prior to Christmas but went back up as I felt a batch was causing aches (aches only started after first reduction). Now back to trialing 75/100.

TSH 0.03 Nov 22 T4 16.3 Nov 22 T3 4.9 Nov 22 Vitamins and folate all normal at this time too. Blood test taken before tablet at 9 am.

I am sure it will take time to balance out (8 weeks) but not sure why I have aches and pains intermittently.

Thanks

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Sailing14
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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done 10-12 weeks after any dose reduction in levothyroxine

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you have autoimmune thyroid disease

Are you on gluten free diet or dairy free diet

thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test 

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

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

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you know you have high thyroid antibodies already and you can get GP to test vitamins 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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65 

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies) 

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here 

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

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery 

Sailing14 profile image
Sailing14 in reply to SlowDragon

Thanks. I take Accord brand. I have never known the cause of my thyroid condition as it was never confirmed to me but had RA in 2004 due to hyperthyroid. I had a private antibody test in February 22 which was normal. I am not on gluten free or dairy free.

Regenallotment profile image
Regenallotment

Have you recently had or could you be coming down with a bug? Flu? Sometimes the body is busy fighting off inflammation and the autoimmune response is raised causing us to be more inflamed. You are doing the right thing with testing. Are there any other improvements you could make with diet/supplements/vitamins/rest?

Sailing14 profile image
Sailing14 in reply to Regenallotment

Thank you for your response. I have possible long covid. I try to eat well, including vegetables, protein etc and take vitamin D at present.

Regenallotment profile image
Regenallotment in reply to Sailing14

There you go, take it easy, have a read up on autoimmune/post viral diet/wellbeing suggestions. Sleep as long as you need to sleep. Test your vitamins privately and regularly. Keep it simple don’t overdo it on masses of supplements. Focus on quality whole foods. (I’ve been listening to Eric Baclavage in the car today), on his podcast he interviewed Oz Garcia who had covid with pneumonia and has been very sick, he has a book out on Amazon about recovery. Allow yourself time and compassion to recover. Sending you virtual hugs and best wishes 🌱🦋🌱

Regenallotment profile image
Regenallotment in reply to Sailing14

oh and … covid, I was soooo hungry in recovery. Upping good fats and salt, plenty of protein makes me feel more sated than carby meals that are traditionally considered to be more filling. Dropping sugar is initially horrendous as you crave it and have headaches but 3 days or so and you won’t miss it. 🤗

hunger even after substantial meal.

Have you been checked for diabetes?

Sailing14 profile image
Sailing14 in reply to

Yes. The reading was higher in the range but within normal levels. Taken end November 22.

in reply to Sailing14

Hmmm. I'd be inclined to investigate that before lowering levo any further.

Can you add the ranges to those thyroid results you posted please?

pennyannie profile image
pennyannie

Hello again :

You might like to read again my reply to your first post as it covers most of what you are asking about today and I don't know how to cut and paste it to bring it all up again.

Regenallotment profile image
Regenallotment in reply to pennyannie

Here is pennyannie ’s reply she’s referring to healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

pennyannie profile image
pennyannie in reply to Regenallotment

Thank you so much :

Anthea55 profile image
Anthea55

Ah - 'the hungries'. This reminds me of an excellent book, "The Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism" by Kenneth R. Blanchard. He recommends taking levo with food.

He's writing about patients who gain weight on levo. 'These patients often report food cravings. It occurred to me that these cravings may be related to T4 coming into direct contact with the walls of the stomach. I had such patients take their T4 with food, and most of them reported that "The hungries are gone"..... He says that the cravings go away in almost every case. He says that a few require more T4 because of the reduced absorption due to mixing with food, but this effect is surprisingly uncommon.

Here's a link to Dr Myhill's website where she recommends taking thyroid hormones with food and quotes Dr Blanchard.

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Thyroid...

I have taken my meds with food for several years ever since Dr Peatfield suggested it to me. I find it's much simpler planning your day - none of this leaving hours between food and pills. I know it's not the usual suggestion, but it works for me. There have been discussions about this before on here and there are others who take meds this way.

All I can suggest is that you might try taking with food and see if it helps.

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