So I've been suffering with swelling and pins and needles recently and my dr has said it must be my thyroid
He's reduced levo from 100mcg to 75mcg.
My t4 has gone from 13 to 11. The edema is worse now..
However my testerone has gone from normal 0.8... range 0.3-1.9 to 2.5!!!
Does anyone know why this has happened. I'm so tired now on the reduced levo. My edema is worse than ever.
All vitamins are in range btw and optimal.
Levo is now 75mcg
T4 is 20mcg
Tsh in both tests were 0.01
Levo is now 75mcg
T4 is 20mcg
Levo and T4 are the same thing. Did you mean T3 is now 20 mcg?
Tsh 0.01
T4 11 (range 9- 19) 20.00%
T3 ( 4.5) (range 3 to 7) 37.50%
Are these the results that the GP based the reduction on dose on? You were under-medicated, not over with those results! Stupid doctor only looking at the TSH and not understanding what it means.
Always ask him to justify his decision to reduce. And, if you're not satisfied with his explanation - or if he refuses/can't give one - refuse to reduce. He's not there to dictate to you, he's there to advise you, and you are not obliged to take his advice. Your dosing should be mutal agreement. Far too few doctors understand that!
Thanks so much for your response. Do you have any drs who can help me privately. I'm so miserable and so low ATM.
Sorry yes t3 is 20mcg and t4 is now 75mcg
Previous post
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Is GP aware you take T3
If not you need to tell them
Sorry you are suffering so. Never ceases to amaze me how we have to fight for our essential medications!
Re pins and needles, check your b12 numbers. You could be low in range which can cause pins and needles. I think I've taken Jarrow b12 supplements in the post when I couldn't easily access the b12 injections any more.
Let us know if you can persuade your GP to reinstate your dose. You can point out that TSH is virtually undectable in people who take NDT. And point out you are not over medicated as your T3 and T4 are clearly not over range, which they would be if you were over medicated.
If the GP won't help, there's always self sourcing of medication, which is not easy or cheap, but many of us are forced into this sadly.
Good luck x
Sometimes, actually oftentimes when hypo the body holds onto fluid, this can press on the nerves and cause tingling, pins and needles. I have hypo, PA, Ehlers Danlos and Fibro,
I have pins and needles in my hands and feet pretty much all the time and I've never gotten to the cause as all my conditions overlap. Pins and needles are a classic low B12 symptom. Its worth getting B12 levels checked out.
I would argue you are undermedicated and your GP has no business reducing your dose until other avenues have been explored.
Hi, I'm on a levothyroxine 100mcg and liothyronine 20mcg and my tsh rarely moves from 0.01, I had the conversation with my gp last week when he decided I must be overmedicated. Luckily I have an endo who although first told me the tsh is the most accurate, has learnt from treating me that its not, ive had many different doses and the tsh is always 0.01.
She has put this info in my notes so my gp doesn't change my dose.
I do private blood tests to monitor my hashimotos antibodies and keep a record
Of every result as proof that the tsh is a inaccurate was to dose.
Good luck.
I have a similar issue. The pharmacist at the practice said I was over medicated and should reduce my levo because of my almost nonexistent TSH reading. I had to wait three weeks for a GP appt and went armed with loads of print offs from this forum to prove TSH was irrelevant really. I also took my paid for T3 test from Superdrug (which their doctor had also highlighted my TSH too!) and after talking to him and explaining the whole thing he agreed to leave my dose as it was and in future I was only to have the test yearly and he would review it, not the pharmacist. I hope this works, but I will see when the year is up (I rather suspect the pharmacist will be on to me again!). Keep up the good work, everyone on the forum. It is a great comfort to know someone understands all these things we have thrown at us!!!
I read out blood tests from 2018 to 2022 to my endocrinologist when she said the Tsh is all we need to test your thyroid. Most 0.01, no matter what dose i was on and there were many changes in that time, 2 grains ,1 grain, 1.5 grains of NDT and levothyroxine and liothyronine combination. After that she's added, don't dose by tsh.I've kept all of my blood tests for reference.
hopefully this link below and the links within will help you - self advocacy requires a lot of reading. Take a deep breath and take your time , it all seems foreign at first but the language and concepts become familiar with repeated exposure. Pinned posts on this forum and Thyroid UK website both have lots of useful information.
Please help ..why are my levels dropping and I'm feeling awful again :( 
Conversion improved massively - adding more T4 and removing some T3
Could T3 be the cause of my shakes?
