Where to start?

[MissPorcine]

I've been taking levothyroxine for the past 30 years and my dose has recently been increased to a wopping 225mg after my tsh results were low. Interestingly my results on 200 mg 6 months ago showed I was being overmedicated. For the last few years I have felt increasingly rubbish...in a nutshell old before my time! I thought the aches and pains were due to menopause so I took HRT but the symptoms persist. Time to look at my thyroid medication! A friend drew my attention to the book Stop the Thyroid Madness and told me she has substituted half her dose of levothyroxine with dedicated natural thyroid and feels like a new woman.I really need to find out am I actually producing enough or any T3. If not how much of my levothyroxine should I be replacing. I think I need a blood test done privately but dont know where to go. I'm based in Yorkshire. Can anyone recommend a clinician/clinic ...also a book that's a bit less daunting than the one I'm reading.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

my dose has recently been increased to a wopping 225mg after my tsh results were low. Interestingly my results on 200 mg 6 months ago showed I was being overmedicated.

If TSH was low that suggests you might have needed dose reduction

you needed FULL thyroid and vitamin testing BEFORE changing dose

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)

what brand of levothyroxine are you taking

What vitamin supplements are you taking

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Lower vitamin levels more common as we get older

For good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone) we must maintain GOOD vitamin levels

Post all about what time of day to test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal

[MissPorcine in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for all this really helpful info. The brand of levo I'm taking is 200mg accord levothyroxine plus 25mg Teva levothyroxine. I take this first thing in the morning. Literally started taking a multivitamin a few days ago for the first time in my life...Centrum Women 50+ (last thing at night) knowing I need good vitamin intake for T3 conversion....but also reading conflicting info that certain minerals can inhibit absorption

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MissPorcine]

We never recommend multivitamins on here

Most contain iodine not recommended for anyone on levothyroxine

And inadequate level of vitamin supplement for anyone who is deficient

Never supplement iron without testing first

Suggest you stop multivitamins and get vitamin levels tested

[MissPorcine in reply to SlowDragon]

Okay, thank you. I will.

[Jazzw]

my dose has recently been increased to a wopping 225mg after my tsh results were low.

That would be strange. What was your actual TSH result? Did you mean to write, “After my TSH result was high?”

[Tina_Maria]

Is your GP testing anything apart from the TSH? Dosing by TSH is not really good, as you do not know what your actual levels of T4 and T3 (which is the actual active thyroid hormone) are. You may be on a whopping dose, but if you have absorption issues, your T4 and T3 may still be low.

I would suggest to get a private thyroid test done (Monitor my health offer a thyroid test for £28.80 with a 10% discount when you enter THYROIDUK10), then you can see what your actual hormone levels are. If they are quite low despite your high dose, you could ask to be put on liquid thyroxine, which is much easier absorbed.

Your thyroid hormones will also not work, if your nutrients are not in a good place (and just in range is no good, they need to be optimal for it all to work). As SlowDragon has mentioned, multivitamins are no good, as there are too many things in there, iodine not recommended for thyroid patients and the iron prevents the absorption of other nutrients. Besides, multivits usually use cheap ingredients that are not easily absorbed , so it is wasteful. In addition, you do not want to supplement with something you do not need either?

I would get iron, folate, Vit B12 and Vit D tested (some companies offer a combined thyroid and nutrient test, please check the ThyroidUK website) and then you see where you are and can make a plan on how to tackle the deficits.