Should I drop from 100mcg to 75mcg?

[Hashi-hacker]

Hi all,

I have posted a few times with my story. My most recent results are after 6 weeks on 100mcg levo. I only got NHS results this time, no medichecks results although I do regularly monitor all the usual vits and they are where they should be. I follow a gluten, dairy and soya free diet. I supplement selenium, B complex, magnesium, Vit C, DIM, zinc and calcium, and take LDN for Hashi's.

Most recent results:

TSH 0.14 range 0.46 - 5.0 <-- I am below bottom of the range.

T3 1.3 (not free T3) range 0.9 to 2.5 <-- I am about 25% through the range.

For comparison, my previous NHS set of results on 75mcg were:

TSH 1.64 range 0.46 - 5.0

T3 1.1 (not free T3) range 0.9 to 2.5

My thoughts are to drop down to 75mcg and test again in 6 weeks. In the meantime I have also started red light therapy to see if I can improve my T4 to T3 conversion.

Symptom wise, I didn't really see much benefit on 100mcg other than the negative symptom of very itchy skin. No noticeable shift in mood, energy, sleep quality and brain fog. I still have acne along my jawline which started when I started taking levo way back in late July last year.

Thanks!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Unfortunately, without FT4 and FT3 there is really no clue as to where your hormone levels lie, how well you convert, or whether you need to alter your dose.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Personally I would stay on current dose and get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw). This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Many Hashimoto's patients need very low TSH and TSH is extremely unreliable test once on Levothyroxine

Most important are FT3 and FT4

If these are not over range you are not over treated

Low vitamins are EXTREMELY common and tend to lower TSH too

[Hashi-hacker]

Hi, thanks for the reply. I did the correct procedure for the blood draw, earliest possible appointment fasted on no meds. I didn't do Medichecks this time as basically I forgot to order it in time due to the Easter holidays. I am confident that my vitamin levels are good at the moment as it is unlikely that they will have significantly dropped since the last Medichecks test 8 weeks ago as I haven't changed anything supplements or diet wise. I haven't got the most recent T4 as I was told my results when I was in the car and driving and couldn't remember them all - I will get that tomorrow though.

It it likely that I am not a good converter as I have the DI02 single mutation, which is why I've gone onto the red light therapy thepaleomom.com/joovv-red-l...

Being scientific, I should stay on 100mcg and do the red light therapy and test again as then I am testing only one thing. If I drop my dose to 75mcg AND do the red light therapy then I am testing two things so it won't be conclusive. This is the dilemma I'm having and I know that my GP will not have an opinion on this.