How long after starting levo does TSH begin to fall

[Noelnoel]

I absolutely know it’s different for everyone and I imagine it also depends on how high TSH is so I know it will be only a rough idea

This was his NHS result from October (no FT3) and he started levo about 5 days ago. He also has a Randox report with similar numbers

Very long story but over the last few years it’s varied from 5.5 to 9 something but he’s remained reluctant to start. He’s finally been persuaded that it’s very unlikely to decline without replacement

Thanks

[helvella Administrator]

It also depends upon the dose!

Some impact might be seen within days. But a low dose, such as 25 micrograms, can end up making little difference. This is because whilst that dose adds some T4, the body will respond by reducing TSH, and that means less T4 being made. So the T4 doesn't rise as much as might otherwise have been expected.

[Noelnoel in reply to helvella]

It also depends upon the dose!

Yes of course it does. I’d forgotten about that so thank you for the reminder

I fully expect FT4 to lower, which, for the purposes of getting his dose increased will be good but not if his TSH falls enough to go back into range. I’m convinced she’ll refuse to raise his dose if FT4 stays within range

I suppose we’ll have to cross that bridge as and when

[KrazyKatMT70]

I was hesitant 40 years ago too ! But the body is telling you it needs more thyroid hormone. I’ve been both. Once my TSH was below zero. I had too much , and I was losing weight,and felt warm a lot. They lowered my thyroxine medication. And it’s been too high with a high TSH, which means you need more. You should check for thyroid antibodies. Autoimmune thyroid is when your own body attacks your hormone. When you replace it with thyroxine ,your immune system calms down. I’m surprised they didn’t check that.

I had a significant weight loss dieting, due to my diabetes, and I had to keep lowering my thyroid dose. I went from .137mcg, to .125, and currently .100.

I do have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (autoimmune), but supplementing with thyroxine calms that down. Last time they checked for auto-antibodies I was negative. I weigh myself every day, because thyroid medication depends on your weight with dosage.

But it is certainly nothing to be afraid of. It’s a natural hormone your body requires. It affects your heart rate even, too much it’s faster, not enough it’s too slow. It’s extremely necessary to keep many organs working efficiently ! Please don’t be afraid or hesitant to take it !

[Noelnoel]

Thanks for your thoughtful reply

It’s my husband who’s hesitant but luckily for him I have Hashi and have learnt a lot from this wonderful forum in the six years I’ve been a member. I obviously pass on what I know and also help him make decisions about what to do. He’s started his thyroid replacement now and has addressed his nutrient deficiencies so all that’s left to do is keep a watchful eye to wait to see how his body copes with the changes that will inevitably come

We checked his antibodies with a private test and they were negative but we’ll repeat it at some point because it’s worth knowing if one has an autoimmune condition. However, we also know it won’t change the treatment

[TSH110]

I am a super fast reactor to medicines/chemicals it even showed in my gene report for 23&me so that will be another factor. Despite this advantage, I was kept on a pitifully low dose for far too long (3 months so it hardly dropped at all) but once it was increased more appropriately by the endo it did go down but took a further 6 months. It was 110 to begin with so very overt. It dropped quite dramatically when it went under 10 with the next increase, so it wasn’t a linear matter at all. Hopefully your journey will be less tortuous given the starting point is considerably better than mine was. Don’t be fooled tho, the closer you get to something reasonable the harder it is because you are far more acutely aware of what is still not right. When everything is wrong and your mind is just trying to get from moment to moment there’s not much opportunity or ability to reflect on anything.

[Noelnoel in reply to TSH110]

Thank you for your response. Are you well now?

Hopefully his journey will be less tortuous otherwise I’ll be in for all sorts of:

I told you I didn’t want to take it

You know how much I hate taking tablets

Why did I listen to you

Blah blah. I know he’s doing the right thing so let’s hope getting to optimal is reasonably uneventful

[TSH110 in reply to Noelnoel]

I think I was particularly unlucky so it ought to be much more rapid the starting point is much better than mine was