Hi,
I recently got diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism. I have been on 50 of Levo for the last two months. My hormones feel all over the place and have awful anxiety (esp relating to my health) which I have never had a problem with before. When will things settle down and get back to 'normal'?
2 months and things will only just be settling down because it takes about 6 weeks for the Levothyroxine to get around all your cells and make a difference. Will you now have another blood test and then adjust the dose if needed? Anxiety is commonly experienced with thyroid imbalance it seems. Discuss it with your doctor who should be able to suggest some things that might help. Has your anxiety started since taking Levothyroxine or did the anxiety start before you began taking Levothyroxine?
Thank you for replying. I am having a blood test every 3 months at the moment to see how my levels are going and to see if dosage is correct. Anxiety has been before I started taking it but as other symptoms are getting better this one seems to be standing out. Need to be more patient I guess!
You've probably been hypothyroid for Time with a capital T. It just finally got caught. Chances are the 50 mcg dose is not adequate or optimal but testing will show this. Remember, when the body doesn't get enough of what it needs, it takes time to rebuild.
Next time you get blood work done, post the results here.
Hi kg201,
I just wanted to let you know that I felt the same as you when I was first diagnosed 16 months ago. I had started suffering with panic attacks so my GP tested my thyroid thinking I might be overactive but it turned out I was severely under active with a tsh of >80. I was started on 25mcg of levothyroxine and felt much worse initially, I had terrible health anxiety too. I was convinced I was dying as I felt so unwell and I thought I'd never get better. Every pain or new symptom worried me so much. I had some CBT which helped me a lot. I refused antidepressants although I was offered them twice by my GP.
For me it took about 6 months to feel better but everyone is different.
You will definitely start to feel better though so do try to keep positive. You will start to have more and more good days and then the good days will overtake the bad.
Don't be put off reading through the posts here and think that there is no hope, as although it helps to know you're not alone do remember that people tend to post when they feel bad rather than when they feel well.
I have hashimotos so I do have flare ups and I get anxious and on edge due to all the extra hormones being released. I'm still a work in progress trying to find the right dose for me and I, like you feel like my hormones are still not completely balanced but I'm better than I was and a lot the time I feel ok now.
I hope that helps a little 😊 X
That helps a lot. I know my thyroid could be an awful lot worse and am so lucky to have found it early. I find myself getting frustrated with myself as I know I am being irrational but can't stop. I am trying meditation at the moment and it does help a little.
Thank you for sharing and can see a light at the end of the tunnel!
You are very welcome, it's an awful way to feel and hard to explain to someone who hasn't gone through it and I really can sympathise.
I think with anxiety the more you fight against it and try to feel "normal" again the worse it can make you feel if that makes sense. The key is to just accept it for now and not let it stop you going about your normal daily life (easier said than done I know some days!) if you can, look up Dr Claire weekes, she wrote some good books about anxiety and frayed nerves which helped me a lot. There is a good website called anxiety no more and a book of the same name too which I found really helpful x
Dear butterfly1408,
I just wanted to say that I have found your comments on anxiety so helpful. I am struggling with anxiety now, and have been looking through the comments on the topic, trying to get some support. I feel that whenever I am on 100 levo, I get the anxiety symptoms. When I was put on 100 levo first time, the symptoms were so horrible, they cut it to 50. Over months I became very hypo, (on block and replace now), they put it back up to 100.
You are right: the more we pay attention to the anxiety, trying to fix it, the worse it gets. Equally, when anxiety dissolves, I stop noticing and watching for symptoms.
I’m so sorry for the late reply Amade. Thank you for your message and I’m sorry you were suffering with anxiety at the time of writing. It’s so awful when it flares up (which it still does occasionally for me even now) I hope you are feeling better now x
To be on levo for two months but to have a blood test every three months seems quit a long time to me. Usually a blood test is done around 6 weeks when first beginning and 50mcg is a starting dose. Sometimes if not given an increase it can make us feel worse to remain on a starting dose too long.
When your next test is due, make the appointment as early as possible and fast also (you can drink water). Leave around 24 hours between your dose of levo and the test and take it afterwards. This keeps your TSH at a higher level as it varies throughout the day and some doctors only take notice of the TSH and adjust levo when it might not be necessary as they don't refer to the patients to ask how they are feeling and by taking note of the clinical symptoms.
If you've not had B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate tested ask for these to be done as we are usually deficient. Also always get a print-out of your blood tests, with the ranges, for your own records and so you can post if you have a query.
Anxiety is very common in hypo, trust me I have been there. Again, what are your B12, Vit D, ferritin, and iron levels like? These all contribute to your overall wellbeing.
It takes a long time to get the dosage right, I was diagnosed in February. I started on 25mg and have blood tests every two months and then dosage is adjusted each time. I'm on 100mg at the moment but think it will need to go up again when I go back next month for testing. My GP has said it can take about a year before you start feeling normal again and I'm certainly not there yet. Increasing the dosage has to be gradual though, otherwise it's dangerous.
Definetly worth looking at herbs and supplements that can help to reduce anxiety. Some that I use are 5HTP, ashwagandha, inositol and magnesium. Also, many people find exercise such as walking and jogging helps. Anxiety could also be connected to raised cortisol, worth looking into...
I'm optimistic that you will slowly but surely get better.☺
Panic & anxiety are classic thyroid symptoms. If anxiety continues or gets worse after starting levothyroxine, then you could be one of those who do not convert T4->T3 well. Obviously your doc feels no sense of urgency about your treatment, with a test every 3 months. The half-life of T4 is about one week, so having a test every 5 weeks/half-lives would be appropriate so you don't have to suffer in thyroid limbo-land. If your doc is using TSH-only as the guideline, then make sure your TSH gets pulled as low as possible in range so long as you aren't experiencing anxiety from the hormone. Keep in mind that the AACE TSH range is 0.3-3.0; don't let your doc get away with telling you that youare well when your TSH drops below 5. I am on T3+T4, my TSH=0.47, and I feel great!
Anxiety can be a symptom of Hypothyroidism so if you are adequately medicated it should settle down. I do hope so.
Karen
Thank you for all your help. I am 29 and have been anemic since I was 14. I have recently stopped taking iron as I've read it doesn't work well with levothroxine. I know I need to get iron checked in next blood test.
I was slightly inaccurate in how long I've been on it. I took a month and then had a blood test and it was working and now have a 3month prescription and have taken two months. Blood test again in a few weeks.
One more question, now the tips of my nipples have gone white when errect on both sides. I have read this can be due to hormonal changes, does anyone know about this? I am not too concerned it is anything malicious as I saw the breast doc at the hosp for something different 3 weeks ago and had a full exam. Again my anxiousness is not helping this. Has anyone else suffered from this?
Just wanted to say I sympathise totally. I am a few years older than you and diagnosed about 18 months ago. I've gone through periods of feeling well and positive to then find myself with awful anxiety again. It's only health anxiety with Me but with every new pain/symptom find myself frantically googling and diagnosing myself with a life limiting Illness. I don't know why I put myself through it. I've always have a niggling feeling that the dr's are missing something dreadful.
I wish I could offer more advice but it will pass the more your health improves. Take care x
That's pretty much the nail on the head as to how I am. I know that it is a completely crazy way to behave but I just can't get a hold of myself! Can't wait for things to settle, for me this is completely out of character and just want to go back to how I've always been!
Same here.. It's horrible. Once it's in my head it's all I can think about and get a knot it my stomach. I'm not happy unless I've found at least one symptom that points to the worst possible outcome! It's ridiculous and I try talk myself round.
I really hope we both get some peace with it soon.. I don't like this version of me and hope I can my full life back soon!
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