Thinking of upping my Levo as a start - Thyroid UK

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Thinking of upping my Levo as a start

Underactiveclare profile image
16 Replies

Good morning. I am currently waiting for dr to decide whether or not to give me b12 shots. They have point blank refused to up my levothyroxine. I believe my level whilst “optimal” is still low. I am thinking of maybe adding another quarter of a tablet to take me from 100 to 125 dose and see if this makes a difference. I would really appreciate your thoughts.

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Underactiveclare
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16 Replies
Underactiveclare profile image
Underactiveclare

if I were to go by weight recommendation it says 176 for my weight of 110kg. Don’t know if it would be a bit risky to jump up by 50 initially?

DippyDame profile image
DippyDame in reply to Underactiveclare

Your levels will only be "optimal" when they leave you symptom free.

It is a very individual thing....not a tick box exercise

You appear to be undermedicated

What symptoms do you have? They are an important part of diagnosis

You have plenty room to add another 25mcg levo....50mcg too big an increase.

Test again after 6 weeks+ on a steady dose

Raising T4 should, by T4 to T3 conversion, increase your T3 level

T3 is the active thyroid hormone and for good health is required by almost every cell in the body in a constant and adequate dose

A gluten free diet often helps with Hashi's/ thyroid autoimmune disease

Underactiveclare profile image
Underactiveclare in reply to DippyDame

Hi Dippy Dame. Thank you for this. I’m not certain how easy it will be to cut a tablet into quarters but I will give it a go. If only we had the support of our gps.

I’ve started gluten free from Monday and kept my dairy free strict too. I definitely have a dairy intolerance.

I definitely do not feel at my optimal level. Let’s see how this goes.

DippyDame profile image
DippyDame in reply to Underactiveclare

You can buy pill cutters on Amazon or at your local chemist

I use this one it works well...tap it quite firmly to cut

Have you optimised vit D, vit B12, folate and ferriting to support thyroid function / T4 to T3 conversion

Good luck....we're all here to help

Pill cutter
Underactiveclare profile image
Underactiveclare in reply to DippyDame

Thank you so much. That’s ordered.

Dr is not open to give me b12 as dr used that word optimal again. I tried the drops but they did not make any difference. So I’m currently working on b12. Im going to get some new vitamin d tablets today and have been taking quite a high dose due to deficiency. I will add my recent nhs bloods before I did Randox ones for thyroid.

Blood results
DippyDame profile image
DippyDame in reply to Underactiveclare

As you know your vit D is miserably low....aim for at least 100nmol/L

We recommend this D + K spray....avoid supermarket-type supplements!

Vitamin D and Vitamin K2 work synergistically with each other to ensure that calcium is directed out of the arteries and into the bones where it helps improve bone density.

Without enough vitamin K2 calcification within the arteries can occur.

Well done...you're getting there!

D3 +K
Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator

You may well find that once you get your B12 levels better that your TSH rises a little which would help with getting an increase in time.

Free T4 (fT4) 16.6 pmol/L (11.9 - 21.6) 48.5%

Free T3 (fT3) 4.68 pmol/L (2.8 - 6.5) 50.8%

It look at the moment like you are converting well which is good news. The weight calculation can be 'off' for some people and is absolutely not a precise science. For instance I never got to the dose predicted for myself, I needed a lower amount. It's a guide only.

See this post on Helvella's blog ref estimated dosing. helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

Its often better to make small adjustments in dose otherwise we risk missing our sweet spot. 25mcgs is really the maximum adjustment but also increases of 12.5mcgs are worthwhile and give the body time to heal.

It sound slike you're taking 100mcg Aristo/Vencamil. You could increase by 12.5mcgs by adding an extra quarter of a tablet every other day.

Underactiveclare profile image
Underactiveclare in reply to Jaydee1507

Hi Jaydee and thank you.

I’m currently looking for b12 supplier so I can self-inject. Not my ideal at all but several drs have said no now so I don’t feel like I have a choice.

I’m taking Accord 100mcg so have quartes one of those to take me to 125mcg. Fingers crossed that I notice a difference.

A few people have noticed my tremors now and I’m obviously fed up of them. More than anything I just want this tiredness to go away so I can have a life again.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Underactiveclare

Underactiveclare

I’m currently looking for b12 supplier so I can self-inject.

Pop over to the Pernicious Anaemia forum here on HealthUnlocked, lots of their members self source B12 from overseas (it's prescription only in the UK or mega expensive at some of these "beauty" type places.

In fact one of our other members popped a post on their the other day:

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

Randox rather stupidly put the whole reference range as "optimal", well we can ignore that, optimal is where you feel well not the whole range.

Underactiveclare profile image
Underactiveclare

This is my list on Amazon this far without b12 taken into consideration. Do I also need to add selenium and magnesium. It looks like this may get expensive.

Amazon list
Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply to Underactiveclare

I'm not seeing a list. Do bare in mind that the B complex's we recommend last for 3 months.

Underactiveclare profile image
Underactiveclare in reply to Jaydee1507

oops. I have added it now. Thank you. Tbh I’d pay anything at this point just to have energy, knees that don’t ache, and a memory.

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply to Underactiveclare

How much D3 do you need to take? From your results you can work out how much to take with this calculator - aiming for 100-150. wildatlantichealth.com/vita...

I havent costed it out but there are products that include K2 along with the D3. I personally like the Better You spray range of D3+K2. Can take it any time and great for absorption.

Overall is not such a cheap initial outlay but the D3 & K2 you have there will last 6 months so per day is not so expensive at all.

Underactiveclare profile image
Underactiveclare in reply to Jaydee1507

I’m currently taking 5000 but can drop to 4000 vitamin D. I was looking at the combined spray too as it is a lot cheaper.

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply to Underactiveclare

I tried the liquids in a bottle with dropper for D3 & K2 but you have to count out 20-30 drops which is awful imo. Amazon sell the Better You sprays in packs of I think 4 which gives a bit of a discount too.

Underactiveclare profile image
Underactiveclare in reply to Jaydee1507

That does sound a bit tedious. I’ll give the spray a try first. Thank you.

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