Hi. I am male and live in France. A year or so ago, I was diagnosed as hypo. This was on the basis of TSH at 3.5 (Range 0.270-4.200). I accepted this as I knew nothing about the thyroid at that point. The doctor started me on 25mcg Levo. And thus it continued for the next 9 months or so. At this point I started to do my research and in December '16 was able to request tests for Vit D, Free T3 and T4 and antibodies. TSH had risen to 7.8. Free T4 was at 11.2 (range 9.3-17.0) Free T3 was at 3.1 (range 2.00-4.40) TPO was at 159 (should be inferior to 34) Hashimoto's then..? Visited doctor who upped Levo to 50 mcg. The slightly worrying thing was Vit D3 at 17 (range 30-80) I immediately started high Vit D3 supplementation at 10000 iu and Vit K2. My serum iron was at 0.93 (range 0.33-1.93)
After several weeks on 50mcg Levo, I started to get palpitations. I'd had them before, briefly, several years before, but thought I'd better get a cardiologist appointment just in case. That is arranged for next month (long waiting list). However, I wondered if the palpitations might be connected with the Levo so, I stopped taking it to see. Palpitations continued. Now I was pretty-much up to speed on matters thyroid and decided to order some NDT - Thyro-Gold. I didn't take anything for 6 weeks to clear my system. I then had another blood test so that I could put a 'stick in the sand'. Strangely, my results had hardly changed in that 6 week period from the one I had when the doc upped me to 50mcg Levo. My Vit D3 had doubled to 35, (range 30-80) so that was going in the right direction.
So 3 weeks ago I started on the Thyro-Gold. I was a bit nervous of it, so started on a split dose regime: half a 150mg cap at bedtime for two weeks. After two weeks I began adding the other half in 12 hours later. As I understand it, one cap is equivalent to around 50mcgs of T4, but there is the added T3 to take into account... Anyway, palpitations are continuing. No let-up. My blood pressure is fine, my resting pulse hovers between 60 and 70. I will have to get some more blood tests done when I raise my dose to one and a half caps (if that is advised...). I did wonder about my iron, so started on Ferrous Fumerate yesterday. I'm not entirely sure what I was hoping you guys would tell me, but the palpitations thing has certainly got me confused/worried... Now I'm starting to wonder if NDT is the way to go. Of course, you might say that 3 weeks is too early to tell... Anyone any experience that might mirror mine? Oh, and like most peeps here, I have sussed out that my doctor knows absolutely zilch about treatment for the thyroid. He is another, 'TSH is the answer to everything' guy.
Sorry to have rambled on, but I am so pleased to have found this support group. Would be very grateful to receive any replies/advice you might think appropriate. Thank you. x