Ive upped to 100mcg of levothyroxine from 75mcg im on week 3 gettinh chest neck and arm pains and finding breathing difficult.....

[sezzy]

Not sure if it side effect or too much levo my pulse is the same my temp is the same as before . Still feel cold so im not sure . Any ideas ?? Im under instructions of Dr Skinner. Missed my levo this morning.

[Moggie]

Have you got any 25mcg tablets, if so you could try taking 87.5mcg's by cutting one in half for a week or so to see how you go. Maybe a 25% increase in meds was just a bit to much after only 3 weeks and you need to take it slower.

Moggie x

[sezzy in reply to Moggie]

Im thinking i might just swap to ndt ive been on levo for over two years only ever seemed to cause more symptoms , getting fed up.

I have some nature throid 1/2 tablets any ideas on swapping to that .

[Moggie in reply to sezzy]

Sorry I have never used NDT as I am a veggie. Ask another question on it and see what response you get.

Moggie x

[sezzy in reply to Moggie]

Thanks moggie x

[roslin in reply to sezzy]

very roughly 1/2 nature throid is equvalent to 40mcg T4 but that is if you convert normally. you may want to give it a go, it will give you very little T3- 4.5mcg, which is probably too little for most people to have an effect. I know that Dr skinner wanted most people to start on thyroxine, I think he was thinking of he cost and the difficulty for us to take a drug not accepted by most other drs, but it is difficult to imagine that he would have not recommended an increase or T3 if that is what you need. 3 weeks is still quite early to have a final effect but I would increase 25mcg T4, or 1/2 grain nature throid and see for another couple of weeks.

roslin

[sezzy in reply to roslin]

Thanks for you help.

[sezzy in reply to roslin]

I was on 75mg my t4 was 19 my t3 was 4. Hesaid 100mcg for four weeks 125mcg for 4 and 150mcg for four but im week three into 100mcg and chest pain /difficulty getting a breathe im finding difficult im taking gaviscon but not helping pulse fine and temp still low.

[Jackie]

Hi Sezzy, I would have a new blood test, TSH, T4 and free T3. Then you may be able to decide what is happening.Then look at the other related issues.

Cold and similar symptoms are often Diabetes, autoimmune and hormonal. Make sure that has been tested, annually. usually one of the first tests an Endo requests.

Jackie

[moatie]

Hi Sezzy, this sounds just like what I had - my arm and elbow then my wrist was affected, my breathing was terrible had a lung xray but all came back clear. I was on t4 and t3 but have stopped the t4 and just using t3 now and I'm fine now no breathing problems or pain. I spent years trying to get the t4 treatment to work up and down dosing - just seemed to me like the t4 builds up in my system and I'm fine for a short time then the malaise starts then I grind to a halt. If you can I would really recommend that you talk to Dr Skinner about trying t3 - the switch over for me was rough but by that time I had been struggling on the t4 for 2 years. I'd never go back to t4, I've even managed to start working out again - something I hadn't managed to do properly for 10 years. I hope you start to feel better soon xxx

[Rose2408]

Hi there not sure about your history & only new to this site...when I had same symptoms it turned out to be my calcium & Vit D very low. Since upped the dose & in normal range symptoms stopped...just a thought. Good luck

[sezzy in reply to Rose2408]

My vitamin d was 38mnol or 17 ng or something like that . Doctor said it wasnt low??? Thanks for reply

[Rose2408]

From what I gather from docs & testing results it shld be greater than 49 umol/L (if thats international? which i think it is?!) to do its job & help with calcuim levels...(mine was *34 at the time) also it has a follow on effect with all sorts, I had no idea calcium & Vit d was so important...the doc also then checked blood pressure using different technic & found my blood pressure was low but my actual heart rate was v high pumping like a scared rabbit! I'm now on beta-blocker medication (minax) to stop the heart rate going so hard & Vit d & calcium & it's all good now...not sure if its the same for everyone but sounded exactly like me!! What condition do you have?

[sezzy in reply to Rose2408]

I have hypothyroidism never had any antibodies done, I take b12 as was really low on my active b12 test. X

[Rose2408 in reply to sezzy]

I noticed someone else spoke about using t3 instead...new studies seem positive about a mix of t3 & t4....I'm going to sus that out & give it a go too... I also had a terrible time switching from t4 to t3 a while back it was horrid but now I'm back on t4 only & I absolutely preferred being on t3 so I'm going to try the ratio 5:1