more blood results help

[NicoleHam]

hi again, I’ve had further bloods taken after starting levothyroxine in July 2023. The doctor refused to do full bloods so only did TSH & vitamin D.

They started me on 100mg of levothyroxine and I also took all the suggested supplements After 8 weeks I didn’t feel much better so increased to 150mg. I started to get headaches & bad mood swings so reduced it back to 100mgs. The symptoms persisted so I lowered to 50mgs and that seems to be a good dose for me. I feel well in myself and don’t seem to be experiencing the issues I was except for dry scalp and dandruff. I have been on 50 for about 3/4 weeks.

My results were

Serum TSH 3.70 (0.27 - 4.2)

Vitamin D 86nmol/l 30.00-200

I am also now pregnant, very early days so just wanted your advice on whether you think these are in good ranges or if I should be pushing the doctor for anything else to be done. They don’t know about my dose changes because it took too long to speak to anyone who actually understood so did it all off my own back. I also continue to take B12, folate, vitamin D, iron and magnesium.

Thank you

Nicole

[Charlie-Farley]

Hi Nicole

You may need to see an endo. Was your doctor aware of you dropping 50 ug in one go ? That is a big drop and it is far better to drop or increase in smaller increments. Don’t do anything hasty now and just get yourself booked back in with a doctor in the first instance.

Your dose will need to be sufficient for you and baby. They can advise or refer you for more tailored advice.

Did you reduce you levothyroxine with guidance from doctor? If they agreed to a 50ug increase and decrease you may be better seeing another doctor anyway. Are they aware of your pregnancy?

How much do you weigh? Guideline (and that is only a guideline not gospel) dose (when not pregnant) is 1.6ug per kg body weight.

Depending on answers to above. Need to speak to doctor, another doctor and/or get a referral. It’s good you are asking the question early so you can get your ducks in a row. 😊👍

SlowDragon , RedApple . Having never been pregnant I’m just tagging in. 😊👍

[SlowDragon Administrator]

They started me on 100mg of levothyroxine and I also took all the suggested supplements After 8 weeks I didn’t feel much better so increased to 150mg. I started to get headaches & bad mood swings so reduced it back to 100mgs. The symptoms persisted so I lowered to 50mgs and that seems to be a good dose for me. I feel well in myself and don’t seem to be experiencing the issues I was except for dry scalp and dandruff. I have been on 50 for about 3/4 weeks.

My results were

Serum TSH 3.70 (0.27 - 4.2)

Vitamin D 86nmol/l 30.00-200

So you need immediate 25mcg dose increase in Levo …..and probably increase again to 100mcg after 2 weeks

Get vitamin testing asap

[NicoleHam in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for your responses. I decreased my levo myself. I did ask the doctor when I wasn’t feeling the effects and she upped it to 150mgs. It takes such a long time to get an appointment that I judged it myself based on my symptoms. The prescription is still at 150 even though I only take 100 could increase without advice. I will make a doctors appointment but think I’ve lost all faith in their knowledge so just judged it on how I was feeling. Now I’m pregnant I hope they’ll refer me.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to NicoleHam]

Your recent result is after being on only 50mcg ?

How much do you weigh in kilo

Essential to test B12, folate and ferritin

Pregnancy guidelines

thyroiduk.org/having-a-baby/

NICE guidelines that if hypothyroid or subclinical you should see endocrinologist BEFORE TTC

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hypo...

See pages 7&8

btf-thyroid.org/Handlers/Do...

Also here - dose increase in levothyroxine as soon as pregnancy test confirms conception

cuh.nhs.uk/patient-informat...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Low ferritin, low thyroid levels and miscarriage

preventmiscarriage.com/iron...

Low iron and hypothyroid

endocrineweb.com/news/thyro...

Folate and B12 and Neural tube defects and autism

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[NicoleHam in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes these blood results are from taking 50mgs for the last 8 weeks.

Had a positive pregnancy test on Saturday.

I weigh about 108kg. Like i said I felt awful on a higher dose which is why I came down to 50.

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to NicoleHam]

So looking at your weight you were probably under medicated on 150mcg

How long did you stay on 150mcg

Do you have results from 6-8 weeks on 150mcg

Which brand of levothyroxine have you got

[NicoleHam in reply to SlowDragon]

I was on 100 for the first 8 weeks, started in July 2023. I didn’t feel this was enough so mid September I asked my doctor for an increase to 150 which she reluctantly did because I didn’t have any bloods. After 8-12 weeks I started getting headaches and my mood swings were horrendous so I started to lower the dose. 50mgs at a time which helped how I was feeling.

I’ve had a nightmare getting bloods, I was ill, then they lost my results and finally 6 months later I have results. I posted about those results back in July and have only just had these so don’t tell the full picture. It’ll take another month to get a doctors appointment and then it takes a month to get bloods booked in so the whole process is drawn out and even then it’s not managed. No one looks at your results I’m just told no further action required. Because I’ve been feeling ok I thought all was well.

The brand is mercury pharma.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to NicoleHam]

I was on 100 for the first 8 weeks, started in July 2023. I didn’t feel this was enough so mid September I asked my doctor for an increase to 150

In an ideal world you should only have increased by 25mcg

Thyroid hormones have to increase SLOWLY

[NicoleHam in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok I’ll contact my doctor tomorrow but they don’t know what they’re talking about so very difficult to get through to them or trust what they say. I’ll push for a referral. Now that I’m pregnant and only taking 50 would you suggest I increase it to 100? I can only increase by 50 at a time because it’s all I have.

Thank you for your advice!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to NicoleHam]

Yes increase to 100mcg

Get full iron panel including ferritin

B12 and folate

Test privately if GP won’t

I would include TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 even though ideally you would wait until 6-8 weeks before testing

But adequate thyroid hormones are ESSENTIAL for baby’s development for first 3-4 months after conception

When you need to increase, cut 50mcg in half

Use pill cutter or sharp craft scalpel

[SovietSong]

Have you thought of doing a private blood test from home?It will give full thyroid panel of TSH,T3 and T4.Most GPs only test TSH and T4.It’s recommended that TSH be under 1.Your starting dose was 100mcg?Most people start on 25 or 50.Increasing/decreasing dosage by 50mg also not a good idea.Increments of 25 or 12.5 better.Others on here will be able to advise better on dosage during pregnancy.

[Bearo]

I hope your GP knows you are pregnant. Special care should be taken with your thyroid at this time and waiting weeks for anything to happen is not acceptable.

Wishing you all the best.