Why feel better first after an increase?

[Emits]

Why is it that I feel better a week after an increase and then worse again?

What can I do about it?

Latest results

Tsh * 0.16 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.2

FREE THYROXINE 18.4 pmol/l 12.0 - 22.0

FREE T3 4.1 pmol/L 3.1 -6.1

[greygoose]

You can't do anything about it. That's the natural order of things. And, feeling worse just means you need another increase. When you get to a dose where you don't feel worse again, then you will be on the right dose.

[Emits in reply to greygoose]

Ok, so it's normal then thank you.

I was foolish enough to go for a run when I felt good and since the day after that I'm Just rubbish again. Do you think there's a chance that I'll restore my ft3 levels? I've been on this dose for 2 weeks and ran 3 days ago.

For every other increase I've had I was feeling best a week after the increase and then downhill again. This makes me not very optimistic...

[greygoose in reply to Emits]

Well, you will restore it to what it was eventually, but I would say it's too low, anyway, to have a reaction like that. Perhaps you're not converting very well.

[Emits in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for your help! Do you mean that you don't think it's because I ran that I feel worse?

[greygoose in reply to Emits]

Oh, most definitely you feel worse because you ran. But the fact that running makes your feel worse, means that you're not on your optimal dose, yet.

[Emits in reply to greygoose]

Oh, ok then I understand. Thank you so very much for helping. Won't do any running until I have good levels.

[greygoose in reply to Emits]

You're welcome.

[blondpalomino in reply to Emits]

Hi emits,

It normally takes 6 - 8 weeks for the dose to settle down,so it may improve again in a few weeks.You should have another blood test then.

I seemed to have the same problem when I was altering doses,improving quickly, then I became really tired again.I've been on the same dose now for a couple of months and the tiredness has gradually improved again.

[miglet54]

There looks to be room for improvement. T4 could be higher, t3 low, suggesting poor conversion. TSH could be lower too, apparently we feel better at 1 or below. Do you take thyroxine on empty stomach, alone and with a glass of water. No food for at least an hour. How are your vitamin levels, vit d, feretin, folate and b12 all need to be OPTIMAL, not just in range.

When you go for your thyroid test you must fast overnight and get the earliest appointment surgery has to offer, TSH is lowest first thing in the morning. You may take your throxine afterwards. Good luck, I hope your feeling better soon.

[SilverAvocado]

Currently your dose is too low. The rule of thumb is that your freeT3 should be in the top third, so for you that's over 5. It may take several increases to raise it, as that number can be slippery

Generally I find resting helps a lot. One big blow out like going for a run can knock you out for days or even weeks, whereas if you take it easy and get plenty of rest you may feel close to 'normal' while moving aroune doing more everyday things.

[Hidden]

I found that to be the normal way of things with levothyroxine. You increase the dose and feel better for a while. You stop taking it and you feel better for a while. You never find the "correct" dose if you are one of those for whom levo is entirely the wrong product.

Happened to me for 8 years, up and down nearly as often as the proverbial yo-yo, until I started on NDT after abandoning the NHS as being totally ignorant about the matter. I would now never let another levo pills past my lips.