Advice needed

[PassionFruit-xxx]

I have been on 75 Levo Mercury Pharma, now for almost a year ( September) recently I’ve noticed I’m losing so much hair after washing it & also gaining weight, particularly to the bust area, I had a Dr appointment on Thursday, where I finally managed to talk her into getting my T3, T4 tested, she’s also testing my cortisol levels as well, she then took my blood pressure …which is the first time since being diagnosed with Hashimitos, it was super high so she’s asked me to test my self twice a day for a few days, she said I might have to have blood pressure tablets, which I’m not keen on. Do you think they should increase my Levo dose first to see if that makes a difference, hopefully the blood test will maybe give her some indication as to what’s going on.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I’m quite anxious now.

[helvella Administrator]

I think the first thing you should do is read up on how to take your own blood pressure. There are some good videos (and some rubbish ones).

There are many things that need to be done right to get a consistent and reliable result! Including not talking or being talked to, correctly positioning the cuff, keeping your arm comfortably at the right height.

Also, every so often, check your right arm. Usually left and right are very similar, but some issues can cause them to differ. I suggest once a week - which is more often than needed but easy to remember.

Try doing it several times in succession. The more you do it, the less it tends to change because you get used to doing it and relax.

[PassionFruit-xxx in reply to helvella]

Thank you for your reply Helvella, I have done it today, this evening, left arm, sitting comfortably with my arm resting nicely on the table & no talking, well I was on my own so that wasn’t hard, but my heart is definitely pumping because I’m dreading what I’m about to see & yes it was high. Starting tomorrow I will do early morning before eating & evening time, hopefully I will calm down, but do you think my Levo may need raising, & also I’m having blood tests done on Tuesday early morning will that give any signs of high blood pressure, I suppose it depends on what the t3 & t4 are doing maybe!

[helvella Administrator in reply to PassionFruit-xxx]

You might need a dose change - but my approach is to get this blood pressure information before making any other changes. Then, if you change your dose and see your blood pressure change at the same time, you have a bit of evidence to work with.

If a doctor tries to do my blood pressure, I can feel it going up immediately, before they get the cuff on me. I'm too aware of white coat hypertension!

They never do blood pressure at a phlebotomy appointment for me! But these things do vary.

[PassionFruit-xxx in reply to helvella]

Ok thank you for your advice & I get what you mean by white coat hypertension, I even scare myself 😂, in fact you have put me at ease thank you. I will post my blood test results once I get them back & hopefully someone will be able to point me in the right direction.

Have a great weekend.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Request full iron panel test too

It possible to have High ferritin and low iron

Obviously essential to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together

[PassionFruit-xxx in reply to SlowDragon]

hi Slow Dragon

I’m down to have TSH, T4, T3 & cortisol blood test, I did ask for iron as well but was told that I had a normal full blood count in March & iron blood test is not clinically indicated, what ever that means.