Hi please can I have advice
So after having my tsh tested in October (yea I know tsh isn’t enough) my tsh was 3.33 I asked for a 25mcg increase which I was given, I was up all night and couldn’t sleep so I took 100 one day and 125 the next.
So had my repeat blood test and results are
Tsh 4.58 (0.27-4.20)
Ft4 19 (11-22)
So I’ve had a text from the gp saying she’s increasing me to 150 but she didn’t know I was taking the extra 25 on alternative days.
My ft4 is good right?
What shall I do?
Your TSH is quite high for the dose of Levo and FT4 that you have. Are you sure to take it on its own, on an empty stomach, 1 hour before food & caffeine containing drinks?
Free T4 (fT4) 19 pmol/L (11 - 22) 72.7%
I'm getting a bit lost in the story and numbers of your recent history so what dose were you on for this blood result?
What supplements do you take?
What are your reent vitamin results for ferritin, folate, B12 & D3?
hi I haven’t had any vitamins tested, I usually have my cup of tea 10-15 mins after I know that I shouldn’t but as in a rush in the mornings I do. I don’t think I should go up to taking the 150 I don’t know what to do maybe have to get a medichecks
Try taking your Levo at a different time. Well away from coffee, tea, meals and other meds. Bedtime dosing suits a lot of people.
But shall I stick to the 125? She’s giving me new prescription of 150 but I’m sure that’s going to be to much
Well the most important result is missing, FT3, you have a high TSH, highish although in range FT4 and no FT3 result. So no way to know how well you are converting FT4 into FT3. How do you feel on these results?
You could try 137.5mcg a day, by alternating 150 and 125mcg a day, if you dont want to take 150mcg, you'll need a pill cutter.
But changing your time of day you take it and avoiding hot drinks etc could make a huge difference to your TSH, which in time will mean your doctor will probably reduce your dose anyway. As you know many doctors dose by TSH only, which is flawed.
You dont want your FT4 to go over range. Or you could stop having tea so soon after taking Levo, stick to your 125mcg and retest in 6-8 weeks. Improving vitamin levels will help as Levo needs optimal nutrients to work properly.
I would suggest that you switch taking Levo to night time if you really cant leave any more than 10-15 mins before drinking tea.
Levo is a very fussy hormone and clearly isn't enjoying the company of your cup of tea.
It needs to be taken alone on an empty stomach 1 hour before tea, coffee, almost anything else. The result will be that you never get well or stabilise your blood results.
Suggest you change how and when you take Levo and retest in 6-8 privately to include vitamins.
How much do you weigh in kilos? W can do a guestimate as to how much Levo you might need.
82kgs
I’ve done a medichecks before so I will do another one in 6 weeks
But what do I do about dose? She has stopped my 25 and put me up to 150 I think it will be to much
The very approximate calc 82 x 1.6 = 131 (guide for final dose)
Link to Helvellas blog discussing dose estimation: helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...
Perhaps you should confess to your GP that you've been drinking tea soon after taking your Levo?
With FT4 at 72% you have room for more but that result wont be an accurate reflection of your absorption without tea.
Also, do you leave 24 hours between last Levo dose and blood test?
Perhaps you should confess to your GP that you've been drinking tea soon after taking your Levo?
And the GP would say 'what difference does that make'?
No, if she always drinks tea so soon after, every single day, then the best thing is to adjust the dose to the level of absorption she has with the tea. Which is more or less what she's asking.
Pinkbarbie20 You're taking 100/125 mcg, but your doctor thinks you're taking 125 mcg daily, is that correct? And she wants to put you up to 150? Given your FT4 level that would probably take you over-range, which is not good. The question is: with such a high FT4, why is your TSH so high and rising? The answer probably is that you're not converting very well - which has nothing to do with the tea! But, your need FT4 and FT3 tested at the same time to tell how well you convert. Which, I think you said, you're going to do? Good.
In the meantime, what should you take? Is she giving you 150 mcg pills? Or different values? Is it possible to split the 150 mcg in a way that allows you to stay on 100/125 for the meantime?
And how do you feel on that dose, anyway?
I feel great so much better on the 125, I’m trying to get hold of dr now and plan to stay on 125 but take every day and then get a medichecks test done it 6-8 weeks with vitamins
That sounds like a good plan. And keep drinking the tea! If you cut that out, it could alter your absorption and thus your levels. 
I was on 100 this time last year and tsh crept up and I was feeling rubbish so it went up to 3.33 and dr gave me 25mcg but I took the extra 25 every other day and then I’ve had my retest last week and tsh is nearly 5 so gp upped it again but to me my ft4 is good. If I go up on levo ft4 will go to high
I would be tempted to accept the higher prescription so that you have some Levo in reserve. You could tell the GP you want to split the dose morning and evening and request the prescription is split into pill sizes that are useful to you, like 100 + 25 +25.
I do this. The GP gives me a prescription for 100mcg but I’ve requested it as 4x25 so I can take three days of 75 and four days of 100. (This does have the disadvantage of an increased intake of excipients !) Athena advantage is I am building a reserve in case my dose gets lowered (again).
I rang this morning and am going to stay on the 125 and stay on it every day and no food or drink for at least an hour have repeat bloods in a couple months but I will get a medichecks
You'll really know where you are then. Its a nuisance I know but worth it.
Could always try bed time dosing which personally I find works for me.
Advice please
advice please
advice please
Advice on my results please
Advice please!!
