should i take extra levo for a few days while i have the flu

[annamae26]

i read that when you're sick thyroid hormone doesn t absorb the same and since im on 50 levo m-f and 75 on s-s i wonder if i should take 75 instead of 50 for a couple of days. thank you for reading my email--mary ann

[Barb135]

I recently had the flu as well, and didn't change a thing with my thyroid med.  Felt cr@ppy, but expected that with the flu and as soon as I got over it, I was back to normal.  My TSH stays in the "basement" all the time, so we don't even look at that anymore as long as FT3 and FT4 are good.

[Smilerdeb]

Usually the body responds to the flu symptoms in regards to the thyroid ...weeks later as others have said,
With a T4 med, its not what is taken straight away but what is taken (dose) weekly over a 6 week period.
If I am under stress or have the flu...my TSH goes up but my FT3 and FT4 remain the same. I usually see it through by staying on the same dose and once the flu subsides, the TSH comes back down.
Last time I had the flu...my TSH went from 2.3 to over 7.0 in 2 weeks yet I stayed on the same dose of T4 med and the TSH came back down a few weeks later.
Hope that helps.

[annamae26]

well i was just looking for it and can t find anything. i think it was something about when you are sick your body uses more thyroid hormone i will keep looking and get it to you. so- i put my ole 50 out for tonite to take i guess i won t take the 75...thanks for responding..

[LazyMoose]

I would like to see that info.

But either way, by the time your T4 Levo starts to change your hormone levels, your cold will be gone. Its not an 'instant results' med because its hormone replacement, not really technically medicine.