Newly on T3 and air hunger

[hobbycat]

As of early July I started taking 20mcg of T3 (split in doses @ 07.00 and 18.00). Prior to this I was on 125mcg. The intro of T3 has been amazing. It has shifted many of my hypo symptoms - particularly my cognitive issues and my energy and mood has increased and is back to where I also thought it should be. And I feel gloriously normal on many counts.

However, I have a new symptom. I am experiencing this very unnerving feeling of not getting enough oxygen. My breaths are good and clear but its just like the air that I take in doesn't have enough oxygen in it. Of course that's not the case as the air works perfectly well for everyone else (!) - its like its another sort of conversion issue. If I'm honest I have had a hint of this for the last few years just through the night but I have only realise that retrospectively. But now, since starting T3 it has increased. I first started noticing at about 21.00/22.00 in the evening and I am very conscious of it when I'm trying to get to sleep. And it seems to be very slowly becoming more present and happens at different points in the day. What is curious is that when I work hard on my bike I don't experience any breathlessness.

Does anyone have any ideas on what might be going on for me ? With everything else seeming to improve I'm perplexed.

(Completed the petitions & booked to see my MP).

[Clutter]

Hobbycat,

Are you taking 20mcg T3 instead of 125mcg Levothyroxine?

[hobbycat in reply to Clutter]

Hi Clutter, oops, sorry of the omission, I'm still on 100mcg T4 and 20mcg T3.

[Clutter in reply to hobbycat]

Hobbycat,

Okay, your dose is equivalent to 160mcg T4 but but FT3 could have built up and if it is over range that can cause breathlessness and air hunger. Perhaps you could have your thyroid levels, especially FT3, checked.

[hobbycat in reply to Clutter]

Gosh - that's so interesting. I am due blood tests in a week or two so that's something I'll look out for. If I have accumulated FT3 do you have a view on whether I'd be better off reducing my T3 or T4 ?

[Clutter in reply to hobbycat]

Hobbycat,

If FT3 is too high reduce T3 dose.

[Rmichelle in reply to hobbycat]

Hello i am very new here. I have hyperthyroidism and i am breathless/air hunger aswell, but only diagonosed on monday so still waiting to see endoc. Its horrible isnt it. Best wishes. Hope you dont mind me jumping in.

[Kiwidel]

Hi, for me air hunger was a symptom of low iron. Have you had your ferritin / iron levels checked?

[SarahLou30 in reply to Kiwidel]

Hi there, I have had horrible air hunger (even bad at rest) for almost six months and I just found out my ferritin is only 8. How much iron did you take to help increase your levels? And how long did it take before your air hunger went away after starting supplemental iron?

[Kiwidel in reply to SarahLou30]

Hi, I was prescribed ferrous fumerate by the doctor and was told to take it for 3 months but the symptoms improved after a few weeks.