Hi, I was diagnose with hypothyroidism 31 years ago in Australia, since then I have been taken Levothyroxine (100 mcg) till about a year ago when they detected the levels were too high......So now I do take 100 and 75 mcg on alternative days.
I haven't been feeling great for quite a while now (lethargic, sensitive to cold, body aches.....specially my legs)..........I also was diagnosed with ME 10 years ago which doesn't help.
Any advice on this?.........I will be really grateful.
Maguie
Welcome to the forum MaguiT
So that we may be able to help you can you please post your current test results, along with their reference ranges (these are important as they vary from lab to lab), for TSH, FT4 and FT3. We can't suggest anything unless we see test results.
Do you do your thyroid tests as we advise:
* Book the first appointment of the morning, or with private tests at home no later than 9am. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day.
In fact, 9am is the perfect time, see first graph here, it shows TSH is highest around midnight - 4am (when we can't get a blood draw), then lowers, next high is at 9am then lowers before it starts it's climb again about 9pm:
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
If we are looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, or looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction then we need TSH to be as high as possible.
* Nothing to eat or drink except water before the test - have your evening meal/supper as normal the night before but delay breakfast on the day of the test and drink water only until after the blood draw. Certain foods may lower TSH, caffeine containing drinks affect TSH.
* If taking thyroid hormone replacement, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw. If taking NDT or T3 then last dose should be 8-12 hours before blood draw, split dose and adjust timing the day before if necessary. This avoids measuring hormone levels at their peak after ingestion of hormone replacement. Take your thyroid meds after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.
* If you take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin (B7), leave this off for 3-7 days before any blood test. This is because if Biotin is used in the testing procedure it can give false results (most labs use biotin).
These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with phlebotomists or doctors.
Have you tested key nutrients: Vit D, B12, Folate, Ferritin? If so can you also post those results/ranges.
Do you always get the same brand of Levo, it's best if you do for continuity, sometimes we don't do so well if a brand is changed.
It would be good to see your thyroid panel results. I was falsely diagnosed with ME by the GP who lowered my dose of Levo and then mistook me being bone tired and in pain as fibro. That was then denied by the rheumatologist I saw for the "fibro", who declared me to be hypo. And sure enough, the higher dose of Levo (and now the addition of Lio) completely cured my "ME" (go figure).
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