Prescribed Thyroxine at last!

[Johannab89]

I have finally been prescribed 75mg of Thyroxine after many years struggling with symptoms. My question is how long will it take to feel like my old self from your experiences.

I am booked in for next blood test in 6 weeks.

Serum TSH level 6.41 mIU/L [0.3 - 5.5]; Borderline hypothyroid results (TSH 5-10 mIU/L with low fT4)

Serum free T4 level 9.8 pmol/L [12.0 - 22.0]

[FallingInReverse]

You'll get better more comprehensive answers from others here, but first thought I have is can you start for 4-6 weeks on 50 mcgs, stockpile the little extras for when you need them, and then go up to 75 after that?

Low and slow is the secret to success.

I've read no other posts of yours, but starting at 50 is wise (staying at 50 is no good... so AWESOME you won't have to fight for an increase in 6-8 weeks when it's time.)

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Thats great news. 75mcgs might work for you but starting on a higher dose than 50mcgs can sometimes cause intolerance issues.

Your choice but it might be an idea to begin on 50mcgs for 6-8 weeks and then move up from there.

Are you supplementing low vitamin levels yet and what with? Your active B12 test was very low indeed.

Has GP tested you for coeliac or pernicious anaemia? See these replies to you regarding steps for vitamins.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

It's ideal if you can always get the same brand of levo at every prescription. You can do this by getting GP to write the brand you prefer in the first line of the prescription. Many people find that different brands are not interchangeable.

Always take Levo on an empty stomach an hour away from food or caffeine containing drinks & other meds. Many people find taking it at bedtime works well for them.

Many with autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's benefit from a gluten free diet. A smaller percentage of those also need to remove dairy from their diet to feel well. These are intolerances and will not show up on any blood test.

Recommended blood test protocol: Test at 9am (or as close as possible), fasting, last levo dose 24hrs before the blood draw & no biotin containing supplements for 3-7 days (Biotin can interfere with thyroid blood results as it is used in the testing process).

Testing like this gives consistency in your results and will show stable blood levels of hormone and highest TSH which varies throughout the day. Taking Levo/T3 just prior to blood draw can show a falsely elevated result and your GP/Endo might change your dose incorrectly as a result.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

were vitamin levels retested

4 months ago your ferritin was extremely low

6 months ago very low active B12

Have you been working on improving vitamin levels

Good vitamin levels helps tolerate levothyroxine easier and improves conversion rate of Ft4 to Ft3+

Have you had coeliac blood test yet

[Johannab89]

Thank you for your replies. I am collecting the meds this morning. Thinking if it’s one 75mcg tablet I may have problems dividing it up?

No vitamins were tested but I have started taking vitamin B complex and upped my vit D so will test again soon to see if this has improved.

No further tests offered/requested at the moment. I’m just happy that I’ve got one foot up on the treatment ladder.

[RuthieRuth]

I just came here to echo what's already been said. What do you weigh in kgs? Is 75mcg almost a full replacement dose for you? If so, you may feel amazing in a week or so and then very very overmedicated which is not fun and you'd have to go back to starting from scratch. This is what happened to me when they prescribed me with 100mcg from the start. Not an experience I want to repeat at all! Super irritable, couldn't sleep, couldn't write without feeling like I was about to tear the paper up, food going straight through me. I worked up slowly from 25mcg and currently on 75mcg now and feeling great!

I weigh something like 85kgs so a full replacement dose might be much more BUT I had hypo blood results similar to yours (and it's not autoimmune) and I read in a medical study somewhere that for people like us we dont actually need as much as those who have autoimmune and worse test results to start so I'm taking it 8 weeks at a time and going by how I feel. Might be an idea to do the same

[RuthieRuth]

Also be careful with those 75mcg tablets - are they only made by teva? If so they will contain mannitol which may cause gastric issues (definitely do not agree with me at all)