So I've had dodgy blood tests for some years and finally forced the gp to treat me in November 25 levothyroxine 12 weeks later with little or no change I'm put up to 50 levo and given a lecture about high cholesterol and high blood pressure; and a refusal to check my bloods for a further 12 weeks
If my TSH ever drops (it's not very high) will the cholestersol drop or is it a lost cause?
And my bp is very high in the evening, is that connected to anything thyroid?
So you aren't going to really start to feel any benefits from Levo until you are up to a full replacement dose... you are probably only half way there as you have to build up slowly (it's going to take longer as they started you on a child dose 😕)
12 weeks is excessive and they should be testing you after 8 whilst you are building up your dose, have they tested your folate, ferritin, B12 and Vit D as you can be working on these
I supplement with B12 (greater than 2000), methyl folate, iron (floradix) and vit D (118) - the numbers in the brackets are my last blood test level, I'm not sure what folate or ferritin can called on a blood test tho'
I felt very bullied and gaslight talking to the gp; I am struggling to walk and sometimes falling over & I cannot possibly feel this ill with thyroid levels like that - so take statins
I am somewhat overweight at 75kgs, i exercise lightly as i have CFS/ME and I have a fairly poor diet as I have bowel damage and I tolerances but I don't drink or smoke I can't see how statins would help at this point
So you could probably save yourself some expensive pee by dropping you B12 a little as 900 is generally adequate unless you are injecting?
When GP's don't know what they are talking about they generally seem to become pretty bolshe rather than admit they need to research the issue 🙄
Ferritin and folate both show as is on results, if you have online access worth trolling back through your records
You will likely find that once you are on a decent dose of Levo your stomach issues will also improve as things speed up along with your cholesterol levels, absolutely don't take statins, lets see where you are once properly treated
Not unusual to be intolerant of dairy/ gluten and for me nightshades, we all tend to suffer with low stomach acid so using Betaine HCI or apple cider vinegar can help with this
We'll get you there but it is a slow climb so be kind to yourself 🤗
Symptoms of low and high stomach acid are pretty much the same.
Consultant said I had a very fast transit time and I said that's a Symptom not a diagnosis!
Well done, you! lol I would have said that's an observation, not a diagnosis. Amazing how they take their observations and opinions for diagnosis. They think we're all idiots! lol
As you are dairy intolerant you may need lactose free levothyroxine for best results
50mcg is only standard STARTER dose
Get bloods retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.
Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord
Mercury Pharma make 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets
Mercury Pharma also boxed as Eltroxin. Both often listed by company name on pharmacy database - Advanz
Accord only make 50mcg and 100mcg tablets. Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots,
Wockhardt is very well tolerated, but only available in 25mcg tablets. Some people remain on Wockhardt, taking their daily dose as a number of tablets
Lactose free brands - currently Teva or Vencamil only
Teva makes 25mcg, 50mcg, 75mcg and 100mcg
Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine.
Teva is lactose free.But Teva contains mannitol as a filler instead of lactose, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Mannitol seems to upset many people, it changes gut biome
Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet.
So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half
But for some people (usually if lactose intolerant, Teva is by far the best option)
Aristo (currently 100mcg only) is lactose free and mannitol free.
If a patient reports persistent symptoms when switching between different levothyroxine tablet formulations, consider consistently prescribing a specific product known to be well tolerated by the patient.
Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).
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)
I started taking the 50 levothyroxine on 13th, it couldn't have has such a quick response from my blood pressure can it? There must have been something else causing a short term increase or something
Spreadsheet with dates and blood pressure readings morning and night
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T3 very high
What on earth do my results mean?
Blood test results
