Week 6 on 150 mcg levo

Hey everyone,

I am trying to stay as patient as possible, but today I have hit too many symptoms and need to rant, and need your advice, please...

If you look at my previous post, it states my bloods on Levo for 4 weeks. Some of my symptoms went away, but I got a bunch of new hypo ones too (and they seem to be getting worse day by day now):

Light sleep, can't get up early in the morning the last 10 days

Pins needles, water retention (weight stay same, but it seems I get a lot of water I see now cellulite even on my forearms)

Stiff legs and now arms and neck

Feels like I'm getting choked sometimes by my thyroid

My right legs is vibrating (always a sign of hormonal imbalance for me)

BBT temps are down now, between 36.2 - 36.4 now, this is within 10 days before ovulation

Indigestion...betaine hcl is helping still a bit, but anytime I eat protein, it sits there. Some days my bowel movements are a few times a day, and some none!

Hot sweats woke me up at night few times

Nails are splitting and are a bit brittle, can see vertical lines on them

Pains in my hands and wrists at night sometimes

What is better: I'm not spaced out, have more stable energy (but can't exercise), moods are alright, flat, but stable, I don't cry anymore (unless today, when I feel really bad) , pulse still 66 (not sure that's good or not), falling asleep, minimum anxiety, feeling more like myself , skin seems moist at most times

What I did was, according to Helvellas table, added some t4, which averages to 6.25 more a day (so instead of 150 I take now 156.25) for almost a week. Could it be that because my tsh drops to supressed, my symptoms again get worse before getting a bit better ? Seems to be always the case with me. I also work on my ferritin (taking liquid ferrous furamate) every day, all my b vits, 8000 vit D (level 119, in a range up to 125).

I know you advised me to wait, but it seems my symptoms are getting a bit worse and worse? My ft3 was never that low for me (32% of range tested at 4 weeks).

I will get my levels tested this Wednesday as I'm curious of what's happening at this given moment.

Need a hug x thank you!

[diogenes Remembering]

There is a fundamental problem that the medical thyroid profession don't seem to realise. That is, that too much T4 can actually inhibit T3 production from it, so that paradoxically more FT4 means less FT3. The body has reached the limits of its ability to convert and can do no more and goes into reverse by lowering T3 production and increasing reverse T3 instead to get rid of what it thinks of as a toxin. You may've found that the increased T4 does not increase the FT3 and may even lower it. There is a balance on T4 only that is best, neither suppressing T3 production nor being inadequate for achieving a suitable FT3. But now we encounter another problem. Suppose you can't convert T4 adequately at any dose. In which case you will never achieve an adequate FT3 except by taking some T3 direct as well. This may be the dilemma you have fallen into.

[Hidden in reply to diogenes]

Thank you so much - I have feared this scenario would it be correct to say that tsh going down further can inhibit conversion? I do have t3 tablets at home. My dilemma is: should I keep working on my conversion further at 150 mcg or should I lower dose and add t3? I wouldn't know how much to add/subtract to be honest...

From my notes it seems that 2.75 NT was too much for me (104 mcg T4 and 24.5 T3) or now 150-155 mcg T4. Have to find some middle ground here. I wonder if 125 much T4 and 10 mcg T4 might be better based on these calculations.

[Hidden in reply to diogenes]

Also, at 3 weeks my ft3 was at 3.0 (range 2.89-4.88) with ft4 15.1 (9-19), tsh was 0.2... So my conversion seems to be low ? I think my endo thinks increasing t4 a bit might increase t3...I am at loss again my tsh doesn't want to recover from being supressed after couple of years of NDT...

[diogenes Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Yes, your FT4/FT3 ratio is about 5/1 clearly indicating inadequate conversion. I'd say you are a candidate for direct T3 dosage (with or without accompanying T4). And you are right about TSH. After a long time suppressed it will stay so, whatever you do.

[Hidden in reply to diogenes]

Thank you Diogenes. My ratio has improved to 4.5:1 once ft4 has gone up a bit, but it's still far off.

I think it's time I start to lower t4 and add t3 into the mix.

[jgelliss in reply to diogenes]

I am wondering if by adding low dose T3/NDT with T4 would that cause someone to need a bit more T4 since it's helping to convert T4 to T3 ?

[Hidden in reply to jgelliss]

I am not sure, as my storage t4 is almost over range so it looks like I have so much on back up and then t4 is high anyway...good question. I had something similar to hypoglycemic attack today. Dizzy, shaky, sweaty palms, cold feet and unbelievably hungry all day. Feeling really weak and in bed. I wonder if my ft3 suddenly went high? I experienced some diarrhoea with it twice.

[jgelliss in reply to Hidden]

In my personal experiences when I'm having high FT4's at 1.6 I experience more sweating I become heat intolerant I gain weight I have more aches and pain head aches and become more irritable . It can happen with high T3 too . That's why it's so important to test the FT4 FT3 TSH . It helps to balance ones thyroid meds to a better position .

[Hidden in reply to jgelliss]

Absolutely, thank you - I will be testing the full panel tomorrow. Something definitely isn't right. I checked my sugar and that is fine...

[Hidden in reply to jgelliss]

I started to have anxiety, pulse up, very warm, jittery, dizzy spells , even worse this morning. Reduced Levo to 137.5, but this will take time now blood results tomorrow ...

[jgelliss in reply to Hidden]

Great .That will give you a clear picture to the reason your experiencing your symptoms . You will know if your FT4's are on the high side to reduce to the next increment dose .

Good Luck .

[Hidden in reply to jgelliss]

Thank you! My dream would be to see conversion so well that it sent me to an overdose maybe one day!

[jgelliss in reply to Hidden]

Conversion is a bit tricky . Personally I don't convert well . I need to add some NDT for my T3 mix for conversion purposes . Vitamin "D" helps with conversions and Selenium if you can take it . I can't . I get many symptoms like itching skin breakouts and I get edgy hair loss . Some do great with it and have no problems . It happens to me regardless what brand I use .

[Hidden in reply to jgelliss]

I used to convert so well 5 years ago, both levels Ft3 Ft4 were always at the same level...I suspect I might also have to throw a little t3 to the mix again, but labwork will tell tomorrow. Taking vit D, it's high in range, selenium I need to test, been taking it since December and it reduced my antibodies by 40%, but now they're coming back up have you ever tested selenium levels? I know someone who had to stop as she became toxic.

[jgelliss in reply to Hidden]

I never tested with Selenium . I just felt sick from it . I guess I didn't need it . That was the way my body responded .

[Hidden in reply to jgelliss]

Yeah it must be it, I can't say my conversion is great considering the amount if selenium and vit D I'm taking, still also working on ferritin, but before, my ferritin was lowish and my conversion really good...so I don't know . All I know is when diagnosed my ft3 was 40% of the range, a now it's 32% so this needs addressing at some point