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68 year old Male needs thyroid advice

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brian68294
brian68294

Hi, am new to this site. Glad i found it, please can anyone advise me.

Am Hypothyroid have been for 16 years. I take 175 mg of levothyroxine every morning. Also take couple of blood pressure tablets. On the whole I feel ok generally. Went for routine blood test (new doctor) who told me to take 200mg levothyroxine day and come back in 6 months.As i said i feel ok and am hesitant to up my doseage at my age. My TSH level 7.52 and free T4 13.5 Looking back at previous blood tests I see that my TSH levels have fluctuated. Is this normal when on steady doseage of thyroxine? Here are some previous results:

2009 TSH 2.11

2010 TSH 0.99

2011 TSH 3.11

2012 TSH 2.94

2013 TSH 7.56 (old doctor did nothing)

2013 TSH 5.64

2014 TSH 4.24

As you can see it has been high before but come back down. What is normal TSH anyway? My T4 level is usually between 12 and 15 which i think is normal ! Do you think i should up the dose or see if it goes down anyway?Maybe I could stick with my 175 mg dose,but take a night. I hear from this site it could be more effective that way. Thanks for reading.

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • mvwaugh
    mvwaugh brian68294

    Posted

    I think your T4 levels look good and TSH fluctuates quite a bit during the day.  It is probably a little high but if you feel okay I would stick with the 175mcgms.  I have been told not to take my medication in the day before being  tested. They don't tell you this though.   
    • brian68294
      brian68294 mvwaugh

      Posted

      Thanks for reply. Didnt know that about not taking tablets on day before test. I normally leave them off the morning of the blood test. Might just try taking my tablets at night instead. Have read on this forum that you should not take tablets with other tablets or vitamins. I was never told this. Normally take all my tablets and vitamins together in morning before breakfast. Could this be making them less effective? Thanks again
  • teresam19
    teresam19 brian68294

    Posted

    I try not to look at my levels as I don't want to bogged down with numbers.  I have been on 150mcg for a quite a while now and generally feel okay. Started taking mine at night a few weeks ago and no longer feel disorientated and weak as my thyroid is already functioning the way it is meant to.

    I was never told not take my medication the day before being tested (something to ask my doctor).  I was overdosed at 200mcg for over 2 years which resulted in me getting an irregular heartbeat - had been able to walk for hours before without any problems. 

    What works for one person might not work for someone else - will definitely get myself tested again soon.

    • brian68294
      brian68294 teresam19

      Posted

      Thank you. I know what you mean about being bogged down by numbers. I only started looking at results when doctor put my doseage up and i felt fine! Will try taking at night and see how i get on. Good Luck to you. Hope you feel well.
  • Jill6969
    Jill6969 brian68294

    Posted

    Hi Brian - They seem obsessed with blood tests in this country and have forgotten to ask how we actually feel. If you feel ok then stay with the 175 mcg. Dont take your levo before your blood test (they never tell you this) and ask for an early morning appointment. It doesnt really matter what time you take it daily but you should make sure its an hour away from any dairy products or coffee. These affect how well the meds are absorbed.
  • teresam19
    teresam19 brian68294

    Posted

    I am getting in touch with my doctor to clarify the situation: not taking levo before the test and about taking it at night, to see what he makes of it all.  I have been on thyroxine for over 25 years and have always taken levo before the test.  One time I didn't (to test the result) and my levels went up.  I will wait to hear what my doctor says before I change what I do, as doctors seem to have varied opinions about what we should be doing.
  • Jill6969
    Jill6969 brian68294

    Posted

    The real trouble with doctors is that they are GP's - thats GENERAL practitioners - they know a little about a variety of illnesses. They are not specialists - and most of our endocrinogolists specialise in diabetes. If you study the thyroid and how it works you can know more than your doctor. My GP didnt even know that a good level of vit B12 is essential for a healthy thyroid.
  • ann69548
    ann69548 brian68294

    Posted

    Hi Brian ,all I would say is don't take your thyroxine with other medication,and don't eat or drink anything with milk in for at least 30mins after taking it,gives med time to get into blood stream,I take mine every morning and find that ok,
  • MikeD2
    MikeD2 brian68294

    Posted

    I had my thyroid removed and still only need 135mcgms so I can never understand why some people need more. Just proves how different we all are. Before my thyroid was removed my TSH went up to 66, and another lady on the forum is seeing 73 and neither of us see symptoms with this. As you have already said try separating your heart pills from your thyroxine, I believe we have to all know our own bodies reactions, 200mcgms seems a lot to take. I have also been diagnosed as bipolar type 2, and this means that with me medications often work completely differently to everyone else, so again know your own body, go with your own instinct. It takes 6-8 weeks before a change in thyroid medication can be checked, which indicates to me that there is no hurry to alter the level, wait for a few more blood tests, and find your own T4 range, not the labs average.
  • Scazzoh
    Scazzoh brian68294

    Posted

    Hi Brian, another factor is the brand of thyroxine you take, as it can differ in effect between brands, even though they are theoretically all the same. A pharmacist told me that. Always make sure you get the same brand and ask your pharmacist to provide whatever brand you prefer - they are obliged to do this apparently (don't quote me on that one!). Your 'normal' TSH is what it was before you became 'hypo' and as we are not routinely tested for TSH levels, no one knows what that level is. The levels set by labs are arbitrary. 
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