Just joined forum.Have been under active for 18years.Currently taking 50 and 75 on alternative days. Since last year.previously on 50 no problems Experienced last week of over active symptoms had to have ECG and blood test.Felt terrible.
Blood results are conflicting
TSH 12.5
T4. 14
Last year the same thing happened.
Took 6 blood tests to bring the levels down.
So confused now to take 25 daily till next blood test next week.
Felt better coming down to 25 because the Dr was going to put me up 75 daily.
Other bloods all within range.
The thing was different I was on antibiotics.Could this have caused it
Is it because of my age over 70 that this happening.
Appreciate any help
Thank you
Written by
Cwetch
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Do you know the reference intervals (ranges)? Especially for FT4. That varies so much that 14 could be near the bottom by one RI and the top by another.
But a TSH of 12.5 is definitely high. And I'd expect you to have a dose increase - not reduction.
Age does have an effect but we don't see massive changes just because someone has reached a particular age. Just very slow changes over many years - or maybe a bit faster if something else has changed.
When New Formulation Teva was launched, it was the **ONLY** lactose-free levothyroxine tablet on the UK market.
Some people have found the product to be the best levothyroxine they have ever taken. For them.
Changing it from mannitol to lactose would have removed that option from many.
(Now we also have Aristo levothyroxine/Vencamil which is a second lactose-free formulation.)
The way I view it is that we need a variety so that people have another option if one product does not suit them. Even if that option is not tolerated by a significant number of people.
And we need the ability to express what we want, reject what we do not tolerate, ask for alternative formulations, without being made to feel bad about it! In general, none of us know whether we will tolerate a particular product until we try it. (Unless we have a definite known intolerance of an excipient.)
The numbers in brackets are the reference interval (range).
If not, you are going to have to find out. How did you get the results? If over the phone, then ask for them to be printed out. We often find they do not includes the RIs when reading them out but they are usually there when printed.
When very hypothyroid it can be difficult to increase dose levothyroxine
You may need to increase levothyroxine in smaller steps so only add 12.5mcg alongside 50mcg initially…..cut 25mcg in half…..or even only add 1/4 of 25mcg
Wait 6 weeks….then increase again
Many people find different brands of levothyroxine are not interchangeable- you may need to always get same brand of levothyroxine at each prescription
Which brand do you normally take for 50mcg
and/or
Try split the dose …..eg taking 25mcg waking and 50mcg at bedtime (or vice versa)
Began to feel hyper last Wednesday but had been experiencing sweats and racing a week before. Stopped meds on Monday started to feel better took 25 Tuesday before blood test and ECG blood results came back yesterday been on 25 since feel calmer than before
Hi not taking any vitamins I will definitely request next blood next week .I usually have a blood test every 3 months.Last one February longest time since feeling so unwell.
BEFORE booking any consultation you need FULL thyroid and vitamin testing
Get GP to test vitamin levels now
Essential to have OPTIMAL vitamin levels
Most thyroid patients need to supplement vitamin D, magnesium and vitamin B complex continuously, some also need separate B12, especially initially…..and some need iron
Test first before starting any vitamin supplements
Also need thyroid antibodies tested for autoimmune thyroid disease (hashimoto’s) if not has antibodies tested before
At the moment you’re very hypothyroid and not on high enough dose levothyroxine
Likely to take a few small increases in levothyroxine to get levels up
FT4: 14 pmol/l (Range 9 - 19)
Ft4 only 50.00% through range
Approx how much to you weigh in kilo
Test thyroid levels 6-8 weeks after getting levothyroxine to 75mcg daily
Or if struggling to tolerate increasing to 75mcg …..after 6-8 weeks at 62.6mcg daily
Most people when adequately treated will have Ft3 at least 50-60% through range and often need Ft4 nearer 70-80% through range
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s
Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.
Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease
20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis
In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options and money off codes
Your advice was so valuable can't thank you enough. Now on 100 instead of 50 and 75 every other day.Due to have a round of VitB12 injections 5 in all plus to start taking folic.VitD has not come back in my results yet.
I requested the extra blood test as you advised thank goodness I did.Feeling a lot better and more energy.
It is a shame the T3 was not tested. With those results I can bet your T3 is low. When my T3 gets low, I get all sorts of unpleasant symptoms, including a racing heart, sweats and cramp. With your TSH so high, they really should have done a T3 test and that would give a much clearer picture of what is going on. You and I are of an age where we hate to challenge the medical profession, but I have learned not fighting gets me more ill.
I find visualising Mrs Thatcher and what she would say helps, especially the tone of voice. Good luck, and sending you a cwtsh.
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