Have I done the right thing?

[Tracy99]

Hello all, I had my bloods done last week thyroid came back normal again!! As mentioned on here many times, just have felt tired constantly, for the last week after a guidance on here, I upped my levo from 100mg to 125 mg, but after one successful pill splitting in quarters, most turned into powder! So last 5 days I have just cut my tablet down the middle and take my usual 100mg in the morning & the 50mg at night, I honestly feel better but worry I maybe overmedicating? Or is it the placebo effect? I look forward to your response

[Buddy195 Administrator]

To achieve 125mcg Levo, without pill cutting, you could try taking the 100mcg tablet daily, but 50mcg alternate days.

Remember to retest levels 6-8 weeks after you have been on a consistent dose.

[Tracy99 in reply to Buddy195]

Hi buddy, Thanks for replying, I may do that, not sure to tell my GP I have increased my dosage? As I mentioned to her via a telephone appointment 10 days ago, she dismissed my request, so took it into my own hands, just hoping am doing the right thing? But yes I will try it in alternative days

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Tracy99]

I would try 125mcg for 6-8 weeks and then retest levels. I personally prefer to wait full 8 weeks before retesting (as my body takes this long to adjust to new dosage). If you increase too quickly (ie 150mcg daily) you might miss your ‘sweet spot’ where you feel most well.

[Tracy99 in reply to Buddy195]

I'll take that on board, just finished a 3rd night shift and feel lots of energy, a month ago I'd be on my knees!!

[Ellie-Louise in reply to Tracy99]

How are you managing to access your extra? Do you think they will notice prescriptions earlier than you should be getting according to them for your lower dose?

My surgery has started supplying me with only a months worth at a time now, a year or more ago it used to be 3 months worth.

[Tracy99 in reply to Ellie-Louise]

Hi, I received 3 months supply, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it, but yes your correct, my levo will go quicker if I keep taking an extra 50mg, I'll try quarter them from today

[Ellie-Louise in reply to Tracy99]

If it helps and you want to take the 50 every other day, I bought one of those 7 day pill boxes and arranged mine as 1 tab / 2 tabs. (atm I am on 75 per day, but I want it upped back to 100 where I felt better, am plucking up courage to phone doc about it) lol.

These are what I got, perfect size rather than the long things you can get.

amazon.co.uk/dp/B09SP48TJV?...

[Tracy99 in reply to Ellie-Louise]

I've got one, unopened but am going to do that, I just feel am doing wrong increasing my levo, but gp doesn't seem to be bothered, 2 telephone appointments in the last 4 months, I've hardly visited my gp in the last 30 years

[Ellie-Louise in reply to Tracy99]

I increased mine at the end of ‘22 but then a few months ago another doctor noticed and made me drop back. I haven’t been the best and I know it’s down to Levo because exactly the same thing happened to me before when they made me drop the extra.

It’s all making me feel old and I’m not one of those ‘old’ old ladies if you get what I mean. I can’t even believe I said that. Lol

I don’t think you are doing wrong if it makes you feel better, you are doing right.

[Tracy99 in reply to Ellie-Louise]

Hi, I know what you mean, feeling old! I don't think I'll be having another thyroid blood test for another year as I've had 2 in the last month, only because I asked for a full blood count, both came back NORMAL, well I didn't feel normal, so those extra 50 mg does and is making me feel normal, although I won't get carried away and will have to reduce to 25mg as I'll probably run out, I don't want to be arguing with the receptionist, come gp to increase my levo preciption

[Suzi-B in reply to Buddy195]

i’ve always tweaked my thyroid meds that was untill last year i was so ill from a stomach ulcer i stoped al my medication as my stomach could no longer handle anything like medication, once i was cured i restarted my thyroid meds starting at 50mg and gradually working up to 175mg, since then i’ve had no thyroid problems i seem to be cured of any problems, my belief is sometimes u need to go back to the beginning to feel and real benefits of levothyroxine

[Tracy99 in reply to Suzi-B]

That must of been terrible for you! Was you on other meds as well as levo when you had the ulcer? Did your GP prescribe your 175mg dose? I've decided to take an extra 50mg everyother night, as per advice from this forum as I was worried maybe I was pushing the levo too much, but still feel better each day

[topgirl26]

Hi I feel exactly the same, my tests always come back normal the doctors wont listen hope you feel better soon

[Tracy99]

The word normal isn't normal if you don't feel normal? Thank you 😊

[topgirl26 in reply to Tracy99]

I totally agree

[tattybogle]

increasing by 50mcg a day is rather asking for trouble ..... and even though you feel quite good now , a few days / week is too soon to know how you will feel on that dose when it's settled in ....it would be a better idea to increase by no more than 25mcg / day and stick to that for 6-8 wks , then retest TSH / fT4 / FT3 privately to see where you are and then asses how you feel on 125mcg at that point .

don't make any judgement about how a new dose feels until you've been on it at least 6 wks ... in my experience symptoms can go all over the place during the first 5 wks of altering doses.

if splitting pills in 4 is is to much of a faff .. then take 50 every other day to give 125mcg dose...

personally i now only adjust up or down by 12.5mcg / day .. as in my experience even 25mcg can often turn out be 'a step too far' .

i didn't always used to be so cautious with my dose adjustments ... in the past i have increased by 50mcg/day, and when trying a reduced dose i've only given it 2/3 wks before deciding 'it's not enough' and putting it back up , but time and experience has taught me that we do really need to wait at least 6 wks to have any idea of what a new dose will feel like , and also that 12.5mcg is enough to make a difference to symptoms and bloods .

and to some degree i've always 'adjusted it myself and asked 'permission' later' (after GP has seen a blood test on the new dose ~ if results are in range and you feel better they then don't have grounds to insist you to go back to previous dose).

So i'm not saying you're wrong to adjust it yourself .. just that your 50mcg increase is a bit 'bull in a china shop' ☕🍷🐂🍸

[Tracy99 in reply to tattybogle]

Hi,Thanks for replying, I guess your correct regarding the increase in dosage, I a little bit of china shop, but these last 12 months after being diagnosed with prostate cancer ( on the mend now) I have felt so exhausted, just a glimmer of light these last couple of weeks taking wee bit more levo, I've felt invigorated! But same time I didn't worried I may go a step too far?I am 17 pluse stone, aged 61 male, works 4 night shifts and 2 off, maybe am trying too hard and hoping to get better fast! But yes your right like others to suggest I should take the extra 50mg every other day,

Thanks 😊

[tattybogle in reply to Tracy99]

Slowly Slowly Catchee Monkee

pragmatically , it also leads to building trust with GP.... if you increase by 50mcg and TSH drops through the floor and fT4 is over the top , even if you feel ok, they will panic at any discussion of self adjusting and feel they shouldn't trust your opinion as you don't know what your doing , don't know the dangers etc etc ..... but if you adjust more carefully and can keep results more or less in range , they will hopefully learn that they can trust your judgement somewhat , then it becomes easier to try and have rational discussions about symptoms / different doses in future , and how it might be ok to allow an individual to be slightly outside of the range if needed , in order to feel well.

[Tracy99]

I have been told!! And I will adhere, thanks for your inputt

[serenfach]

In an emergency as it only works once, your pills fell from the bathroom cabinet into the sink full of water, did'nt they.

[Tracy99 in reply to serenfach]

Lol very good 👍