Upped my dose from 50 to 100. Not feeling so hot.

[Heart7481]

I guess my TSH was 14 last test. So he upped my dose to 100. The first few days were intense I felt like I was on speed. It was horrible. That has calmed down but now 5 days into my new dose I get random chest pains and random sharp pain in arms and neck and restless legs. Is this something that will go away or should i call the doctor on Monday? Thank you for advice

[Marz]

Hi and Welcome ! How do you take your medication ? Do you have Hashimotos ? What dose were you taking before the dose was increased ?

Are you taking any other medication ?

Have you been tested for B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD ?

Sorry about the questions but it is so difficult to suggest something when there is little information ... happy to help

[Heart7481 in reply to Marz]

Hi I'm taking the tablet form. I went from 50 to 100 last week. I dont know if I have hashimoto's I was never tested. I dont know what my levels for B-12 and others are the Specialist! has labeled me a hypochondriac so I try to avoid the office as much as possible. However I do take a prenatal supplement bc we are wanting to get pregnant at some point. I only took 50mg today and feeling better. I may try bouncing back and forth between 50 and 100? Idk?

[Marz in reply to Heart7481]

It is important to know if you have Hashimotos - as it is auto-immune - and there are things you can do to help yourself. Also it can be the cause of LOW nutrients due to poor absorption - so the testing of B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD is very important and results need to be optimal so the thyroid hormones you are taking work well in your body.

What does your pre-natal supplement contain ? Does it contain Iron ? - if so that can block the uptake of your thyroid hormone.

[Heart7481 in reply to Marz]

Is there a test for hashimoto's? My dad has no natural thyroid hormones left in him at all. His thyroid just died on it's own. The doctors were amazed that he was still alive. Last year i tested with a TSH 4 and a few weeks ago I'm now at TSH 14. Its like my thyroid is attacking itself. At least that's how I feel. I tried taking iodine to see if it helps and I had a really bad reaction my throat swelled up and I felt popping in it? So I stopped.

[Marz in reply to Heart7481]

Yes you need anti-bodies testing - Anti-TPO & Anti -Tg. The NHS only do the first. Sounds as if your Dad had Hashi's too. With Hashimotos you will have results that go up and down. Do not forget to test the vitamins and minerals.

Does your pre-natal supplement contain iron ?? - Never take iodine without testing first and not good to take if you have Hashimotos I have read ...

[Heart7481 in reply to Marz]

Yes it does have iron and iodine. I can find some online with out iodine and iron. Should I switch? And I will ask for tests next time I go in 6 weeks. Last year I did all the research with the hashi-diet like gluten free and avoiding goitergens. I just got lazy again and went back to my unhealthy ways. I guess it's time to get back on this....

[Marz in reply to Heart7481]

My advice from reading here would be to switch. Iron blocks the uptake of thyroid meds . Diet is key to your wellbeing ...

[Heart7481 in reply to Marz]

Thank you for the help! 😊

[jimh111]

You should speak to your doctor now. It may be nothing to do with your thyroid.

[Heart7481 in reply to jimh111]

Thanks I'm definitely watching it.

[beh1]

An increase of 50 mcg is rather a lot in one go. I know my body couldn’t handle that big an increase. It’s more usual to have an increase of 25 mcg then retest after 6-8 weeks followed by another increase if necessary. Personally, I would lower the dose to 75mcg over the weekend and see how you feel. It may well resolve some of your issues. Obviously chest pains shouldn’t be ignored, and if you are concerned pop into your walk in centre.

[Heart7481 in reply to beh1]

Ya this is what my GP recommended she even prescribed the dose then the same day I get a call from the "specialist " saying he wants to up to 100. I told him what my gp wanted to do and he said well you make the choice who you want to handle this I am a specialist you know. He's pretty much an a** no empathy skills at all. So I went ahead and tried the 100mcg. Thinking he knew what he was doing and ended up with that reaction. This morning I only took half a tab so 50mcg snd I'm feeling fine. I don't know what to do. I want to just call my gp and let her take over but the specialist handles my biopsies of the nodules on my thyroid. I just dont know...

[beh1 in reply to Heart7481]

Why not try alternating 50/100 for a couple of weeks to let your body adjust, then try the increase to 100 again. Unless you have an imminent specialist’s appointment he need never know you’ve eased yourself up.

[Heart7481 in reply to beh1]

Yesterday I took half tab in the morning and half tab in the evening. I was up later that I would have liked but I had no pains or discomfort. So I'm going to try that again today. Hopefully it works. Will all the med still be absorbed this way?

[beh1 in reply to Heart7481]

As long as you’re taking them away from food and supplements.

[Heart7481]

Thanks! I have all those vits here at home and have been taking them. Not consistently but now I will have to stick to it better. The above reply explains why the high dose increase. Which now I'm kinda pissed that this is the right way to do it and the specialist ignored that. Thank you for the reply

[humanbean]

Restless legs can be caused by low iron and or ferritin (iron stores). If your iron is low then it would not be surprising to discover that other nutrient levels are low. It is common in hypothyroidism.

If you decide to take 75mcg Levo every day, or alternate 50mcg and 100mcg which amounts to the same thing, that is your choice. You don't have to tell your doctors everything you do. But of course, if you start being economical with the truth you have to be very careful you remember what you have said and who you've said it to!

[Heart7481 in reply to humanbean]

I hate that we have to even consider lying to our doctors. Its ridiculous. And sad.

[Heart7481]

I definitely need to better my diet. I've been overdoing the sugar and caffeine because I would get so tired! Hopefully this new dose will help.

[Heart7481]

Yesterday I took half tab in the morning and half tab in the evening. I was up later that I would have liked but I had no pains or discomfort. So I'm going to try that again today. Hopefully it works. Will all the med still be absorbed this way? Another question I had: when I started my levo one year ago my tsh was 4. I tested this last week and it was 14. Why is it going up so significantly especially when I was taking the levo?

[Heart7481]

Ok thanks

[Heart7481]

Ok I did the 50 mg in morning 50 at night for a awhile completely dropped caffeine and I'm trying my best to be gluten free. I also got a good B vit supplement and taking D and fish oil and a few others. And I'm feeling much better! I can finally take my 100mcg in the morning with no adverse affects! Thanks for everyone's help! I just have one more question: if I drank any type of caffeine I would get super tired and be done for the day, does this mean i might have adrenal fatigue? Thanks again for the helpful input! Muh appreciated!