Rather than discussing this in my Cancer thread (since I don't actually have cancer anymore) or in the Hypothyroidism thread (since I don't have a thyroid), I thought I'd start this thread. Every time I have lab work done, they raise my dosage of Levothyroxine and that's starting to concern me, After my thyroid was removed, they started me on 37 mcg of Levothyroxine, I think it was. Then they raised it to 100 mcg, then 137 mcg (or something like that), then 200 mcg, 225 mcg, and now it's going up to 250 mcg. Other than being more tired that I think I should be, I don't feel bad, but I worry that it keeps going up, up, up, up. It also seems strange that they have me take it all at once, in the morning, rather than taking some in the morning, and the rest later, since that would more closely mimic the body's natural production of the hormone. At least, I doubt that a healthy thyroid produces the day's dose in the morning, and then nothing for the rest of the day. It seems to me that the level of thyroid hormone in the body would depend on when during the say the test is administered, yet there are never any instructions to have lab work done at a specific time of day. Were the test to be administered an hour after I take my Levothyroxine, I would think that the circulating hormone would be greater than if the blood were drawn eight hours later.
My tests always come back the same no matter when I have it done. Ive been at 88mcg now for years. My mom who had her thyroid removed was on the same dose as me..88mcg...at least in the last years of her life. Can't recall what she was taking in 1997 when she had it removed.
I had a Thyroidectomy 15 years ago because of Multiple Toxic Nodules and have taken 175 MCG of Levothyroxine every morning since without change.
@Ken Anderson I'm going to guess that, yes, you're right, the Thyroid produces hormone continuously. Being as it regulates metabolism, I'm also guessing that the Thyroid is "told" when and how much to produce, and that may vary considerably over time. For example, I eat only once a day, basically, before retiring for the night. (I know, I know......). So metabolism of food is taking place mainly all at one time. Thus, if I were to take Thyroxine in the morning, much of it would have been eliminated by the time it was needed. No doubt the doctors assume your eating habits are more normal than an extreme, like mine. Awful habit to fall into thinking you can't sleep without a full belly! Frank
@Ken Anderson, my doctor has me on 50 mcg. I may be wrong but I think it's a timed release tablet. I know my Tekturna is. I go tomorrow for blood work to see if my dosage needs adjusting. I feel so much better since I have been taking it that I think my dosage won't need adjusting. If I feel much better, I'll have to take something for it.
@Shirley Martin Wondering what sort of symptoms were they, IOW, you are feeling better in what way? Frank
That would be because my levels are low. Why it takes so much of the stuff to keep my levels up, I don't know.
Mostly feeling tired all the time. Lack of energy. I still don't feel like a young spring pullet but I feel pretty darn good for an old broody hen.
In response to my last blood test, my urologist said he might have to up the dose of Levothyroxine above 250 mcg. Although I am taking far more of it than anyone I have met, he said that it's not unusual for someone to require larger doses. However, it seems that it must not be of dire importance because he's going to wait and see what the results are a year from now. Taking Levothyroxine doesn't bother me because, unlike the statin drugs, I am not getting any side effects from it and, more importantly, I know that I need it because I don't have a thyroid.
Ken, I don't know why you dosage needs increasing. Has the source (lab making the tablets) changed? It might have to do with the equilibrium of thyroid hormones. If you are not seeing an endocrinologist, perhaps you should be. I think a specialist in hormones could give you some answers, or at least explain some avenues of exploration. There is a rather complicated equilibrium process involved with thyroid hormones. You could also try taking your dose at night instead of in the morning. Some people have noticed better absorption if taken at night, perhaps because your stomach is empty for a longer period after dosing. It is a very long-acting med, so that is why they don't check it often. I can't remember for sure, but it seems like it takes two weeks to stabilize.
No, the same lab. That is important because there are differences from one to another. I said "urologist" but, while I am seeing a urologist, that was for the prostate cancer. The doctor that I see for the thyroid cancer is an endocrinologist.