Diagnosed with hypothyroidism 12 days ago, I have started on 50 mcg of levothyroxine. I have been suffering with brain fog for weeks before that, it took the doctors a while to diagnose hypothyroidism as I had the Coronavirus quite bad and they put it down to post viral fatigue at first.
The brain fog/blurred vision is driving me mad, just wondering if anyone can tell me when it might start to get better? It seems to be getting worse after nearly 2 weeks on Levothyroxine. Has anyone else had a similar experience?
Thanks
Mike
Written by
Mike_79
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
You will feel better when you are optimally medicated. At the moment you are only on a "starter" dose, so have your bloods re-checked after 6-8 weeks and see if you need an increase in levo. It's likely to be a long drawn out process, so you will need to be patient ...
Ideally, you should have full blood testing - not just TSH and, if you're lucky free T4. Most GPs won't do all the tests you need, so you may need to get private tests done. You will see lots of tests on the forum about this. Ideally you need: TSH, free T4 (the inactive thyroid hormone); free T (the active thyroid hormone), thyroid antibodies and key nutrients - ferritin, folate, vit B12 and D. Your thyroid meds will wok best when your key nutrients are nice and high.
Try and have as early a blood test as you can in the morning, with a gap of 24 hours from taking your levo.
And to make your levo work properly, don't eat or drink anything (other than water) one hour before / 2 hours after taking your levo. Good luck!
Thanks for your response, there is some interesting info there. I am happy to have found this website to gather information and find support. There seems to be a lot of contradictions from various sources on google, which can make an already confusing situation worse. I am reading to get up to speed and understand the illness more. I was diagnosed with a vitamin D deficiency also, so as you said, when I start to return to normal levels with that, it may make a difference with the Levo, which gives me more hope as I move forward.
There's a lot of helpful information and articles on the main Thyroid UK site as well thyroiduk.org.uk/ but I hang out on here mostly as there's a lot of very knowledgeable folks and you can ask questions all you want, and make some friends too.
Most of us leave 1 hour before and 1 hour after our Levo before we eat or drink anything. So take it first thing when you wake up with a glass of water and then wait an hour for breakfast. I could not live my life waiting 2 hours after the dose.
Hi Mike
It sounds like you’ve had a tough time- it is a starting dose and just to be aware anything to do with hormones takes time to settle. I only started on Levo in early January and initially got very frustrated as I expected that medication should kick in quickly like other ‘tablets’ antibiotics, paracetamol etc but this is a very different treatment. It’s a hormone so...
I was told that it takes time, possibly weeks or months for the endocrine system to re balance- believe me, I was so depressed about that as I felt shocking- and like most of us had done for a very long time before getting diagnosis and treatment.
However, what I will say is I did feel worse before getting better initially (I’ve seen others comment on that on here as well as when having a dose increase) then I’d have a good day, then felt off again, then two better days . And so it continued until a few weeks in I thought actually, I’m starting to feel my symptoms slip. You WILL get there. For some it’s quicker than others so hang in there!
I’m sure there’ll be others more scientific/ experienced along to help soon re bloods, advice on vits and getting thyroid re tested in a few weeks etc with a view to an increase.
Yeah, I know I am being naive with it all and expecting miracles straight away, and the more I look into the more I realise there is no quick fix. I really appreciate your message though as it gives me hope, reading about your ups and downs makes me more positive that things will hopefully get better. I agree though, so bloody frustrating, just want to get a clear mind and full energy and get back to work and normal.
Are you back to normal, what levo dosage are you on now ?
Thanks a lot for your message, it has given me some light to head to.
You are very welcome! I am in same journey, as many in here. Was increased to 75 8 weeks ago and felt an even bigger difference. All going well then had a recent ‘dip’. I see a private GP (he was only one who understood the symptoms not obsessed with TSH) and I had bloods done and review last week with a small 12mcg increase. So, like you, I’m to be patient now and sit it out. Honestly, I really did get back to ‘normal’ but I have Hashimoto’s so it can fluctuate. I suspect my thyroid not producing very little at moment so the 12mcg is a trial. Like you, no immediate difference but only a week in. It’s just a waiting game. Keep the faith x
'keep the faith', you're right, it's easy to bust out the pity party, but definitely better to keep to the positives I'm sure.
I'm not sure about my doctor to be honest, i know its difficult with the virus at the moment. Seems like they just chuck you the pills and say see you in six weeks for a blood test, I wonder now, how many people it is that simple for? I'm lucky that I will do my own research and find my own path, but it seems like such a complex illness with little support. They don't tell you it could go on for months. When I go for my next blood test I will be much more knowledgeable though and can speak face to face, so may have a different view.
Yes, it was tricky for me also as you don’t feel the doctors are up to speed.
My journey (sorry, it’s a bit selfish to bang on about me when I’m responding to your issue but it shows what many of us are up against):
I had 25 initially & the doctor seemed very worried about even giving that, even though I was that poorly I had to be off work; the next GP (a locum) increased to 50 two weeks later as I went back having realised (from research) that I’d not even been given starting dose. Then my GP wouldn’t increase as my TSH was ‘in range’- I had been off work 8 weeks at this point. I don’t take time off.
I then paid to see an amazing private GP who referred to a private Endo- and she said she might take me off it- felt I had post viral fatigue and it was likely female hormones etc then so back to the private GP who said he would give an increase and I am only prepared to see him now.
However, re your medication- it is a positive that the blood tests highlighted this and the doctor decided on a starting dose. It bodes well. I had abnormal bloods over 12 months without any Levo prescribed.
You’re right- you have to go in with the knowledge and research. If you don’t mind me asking, what was your TSH/ T4 when doc decided to medicate?
It's no worries, it is good to read your story, I know we are all different, but it is good to have some comparisons and find out about other peoples ups and downs.
I feel for you though, sounds like they all gave you the run around. I am the same as you, very unusual to miss work through illness. But, there is no chance I could work at the minute. When I get better I will certainly value my health a lot more, you take it for granted and charge on without really thinking about it.
Are you back working now?
I have requested my blood test from doctors, so will let you know when I receive them. I am interested to find out myself, as I am slowly getting my head around different terminology and results. I was the same as you, they initially diagnosed post viral fatigue, which as you know has similar symptoms to hypo. So I'm wondering how bad my hypo is, and could it be mixed with PVF.
Yes, I went back to work in Feb- was just getting into my stride. 8 weeks off, but like you, I literally could not have been there. I also think/ agree that there was some PVF- I’d felt very ill in run up to Xmas and thought it was viral. Apparently, it can trigger thyroiditis, but as I’d had a climbing TSH previously, I think the virus triggered the sudden onset of quite debilitating symptoms. Like you, I’d been pushing through on Adrenalin for a long time.
And ditto to that re valuing your health more. We totally take it for granted. I agree!
Be good to hear about your levels when you get them. I suspect your TSH above 10 if they were happy to prescribe Levo.
I was borderline hypo (it makes me smile- there was nothing borderline about it), at 5.9 at highest on blood test. But some can still feel unwell around 2. In the USA the threshold for meds is 3, I read somewhere. Sounds more like it to me.
Glad you're back at work, that must be a big victory when the day comes.
One of my daughters had a virus around Christmas. It was nasty, it seemed similar to Coronavirus, it really got on her chest and wiped her out for a few weeks,.she is 14 and can always fend things off quickly, so it must have been nasty.
As you say it seems like a virus has been the trigger for us both and tipped us over the edge. My levels:
TSH - 181 mu/ l 0.57 -3.6
T4 - 3.5 pmol/ l 7.9 - 14
Vit D - 29 nmol/ l >50
All the other levels such as B12 seem well in range, so hopefully don't have to worry about them to much.
Makes me wonder how long it has taken for my T4 and vit D to get so low?
I noticed I was starting to put weight on through the winter and was feeling quite tired sometimes, but I go through spats where I don't sleep that well. I am a machine driver for a rail company so can do funny shifts. I am 41 and was doing 60 odd hours a week and travelling/ staying in hotels. I just put tiredness down to work and winter.
I think I am on the mend, but probably got to a low place so its taking some coming back from.
My last symptom was constipation, the levo seemed to sort that quickly, deffo a win.
I started to get ringing in my ears, that is better than it was, but still happening.
At the end of the virus I was always thirsty, I just couldn't get comfortable at night to sleep, was always waking up with a desert dry throat. That is much better, not sure whether thats the levo or recovering from virus, it's a win either way.
Puffy eyes, don't look healthy at all
Can hear heart in ears when I stand up, that seems worse since I started on levo. But I have started doing more walking since hypo diagnosis. I read not to push to much with PVF, but have read that exercise is ok for hypothyroidism, just trying to listen to my body really, and do a sensible amount. Definitely lifts my mood getting out for a bit.
I can get achy legs, but not as bad as some people on here by what I've read.
Can get anxious/depressed, but have always put that down to situations rather than hypo.
The worst thing for me is the fatigue and brain fog. I try to push through the fatigue a bit ( hopefully doing the right thing) in the hope of building metabolism or at least keeping to a level. It's the brain fog that is most debilitating for me; i struggle to focus on things properly, and I have good eye sight generally, it's been like looking through someone else's eyes the last couple of months. Concentration levels are very poor ( God knows how long I have been writing this message for, just taken me 10 mins just to sort the typos😂)
Ha ha re typos! It’s a nightmare, isn’t it? I’m always going back in to re edit! Hate to get my punctuation wrong, even though it’s anon. 😂🤣
Yes to all of this- your symptoms are so much like mine were. All of them! And constipation (which seems so minor until you actually have it) was the first to get sorted!
It’s a tricky one with CFS/ PVF, isn’t it? What exercise and how much to do? I used to run a lot and gym until the onset of hypo really impacted on this. It was annoying as exercise had offset anxiety/ depression/ low mood symptoms. Like you, I now have to work within my limits and am doing the walking instead. I dream of being back in my trainers but know truthfully, I’m just not quite at that level. I’d hoped to be building up in the gym a bit first, but home workouts are not the same for me.
Your TSH, is that 10? That’s high. No wonder you have been feeling terrible along with the very low Vit D. It needs looking at. Did the GP pick up on this and advise/ prescribe supplements? Mine was 15 and fortunately the private doctor issued mega doses for 7 weeks to bring up my levels. It really, really made a difference. I was really surprised at how much difference. I loved my ‘taking vit D day’ as I only had it once per week at 30000 units but I felt on air the next day!
I’m only on maintenance doses now and I believe GPs in my area won’t prescribe. 🤷🏼♀️ Words fail me. My NHS GP told me this. Anyway, on here I was recommended to get Better You Vit D spray with K2 etc for absorption. Three sprays making a daily dose of 3000 and as it’s absorbed into the blood stream so can be had alongside the Levo. My last bloods 2 weeks ago showed I’m at 75 (upper range given as 200) so it shows how difficult it is as hypo to absorb. I’m under 50% through range and I believe from here that we should be in the upper third on vits.
I sympathise with the brain fog- how are things today? It is a brilliant analogy to say ‘looking through someone else’s eyes’. That made so much sense to me looking back to how I was. I still have ‘spongey’ days, but at the moment it’s so hard to separate out what is happening to how our bodies and minds are reacting.
Thank you for asking after me- I’m doing ok 👌I had a couple of blip days last week, but feeling so much better this week. I’ve kind of learnt to say to myself ‘I know what this is; it will get better.’ And it does! Have you had your antibodies checked, by the way?
Yeah, the levo does seem to knock some symptoms out really quickly, i had a lump in my throat and a sore throat regularly as well before levo, that has cleared pretty much.
Another big one that I forgot yesterday is feeling the cold more than others, I have been a cold person for years and i wonder how much this will change when I get back to health. I get so cold in my core, it take me ages to get warm sometimes, and have had cold hands and feet for years, but thought that was maybe Raynauds.
Well I hope you get your trainers back on soon. I'm a bit of a crag rat, I was in the lake District or Yorkshire Dales climbing fells whenever I got the chance, it'll be good to get back to that.
I think it's a typo from my results email for the TSH level, I think it should be:
1.81 with a range of (0.57 -3.6)
My problem seems to be the FT4 level:
3.5 with a range of (7.9 - 14)
Hopefully the levo will get this up into range and that I am a good converter to convert to FT3. I haven't had antibodies test, I will quiz my doctor about this. After reading some more, I'm thinking that you need this test to find out what caused the hypothyroidism ?
Brain fog not getting any better, seems to be getting worse, but wondering whether the physical side is getting a bit better so the mental side stands out more? I've probably pushed a bit hard earlier on on the week. You got me thinking with what you said yesterday:
" it’s so hard to separate out what is happening to how our bodies and minds are reacting"
Very cryptic and thought provoking 🤓😂 but definitely don't know whether I am Arthur or Martha some days 😂 You're right though, it's only when you sit down and slump that you realise how bad you are. That's why I try and push through as I feel more normal at the time, trouble is I usually pay for it afterwards.
Your Vit D was low eh, are you a vampire?😂 Pleased to hear you level is on the up, sounds like it makes a massive difference. I got prescribed only 1600 iu a day from doctors, I've got some supplements to add to that, I've read 4000 per day is ok, so aiming for that. I have some of the spray dropping through the letter box today-thank you - that will make life easier and I didn't realise the spray is more easily absorbed for us. Suppose a pretty dire winter hasn't helped the vit D intake, I spent the winter working in Manchester, pretty much rained every day. I was throwing down some vit D tablets from Aldi - not religiously - but quite often. Suppose you get what you pay for with vitamins though and as you say we might not be absorbing much.
Was actually going to ask about the chills and feeling deeply cold- it was one of my most difficult to cope with symptoms so thought it was interesting you’d not mentioned in the previous post. I can feel when I’m feeling hypo as this comes back in. It’s one of the first things. And yes, Manchester will do that for you! Maybe that’s my issue as this is where I live 🤣😂. Or maybe I am actually a vampire 🧛♀️
Talking of vampires, I noticed I was getting very pale as well (not my usual colouring) and others were commenting on it. Was this another symptom? (For you, not of my being a vampire 😂)
It’s good you are away from work. Meant to say, when I did go back I only did part time so when I’d started to feel tired, I could get back home. It helped. It’s unrealistic to go from being off then back to full power. I couldn’t have done it otherwise. I hope work will allow you a phased return when you are feeling better.
Great news re the Vit D spray! Fingers crossed this will start to help make a difference. I was truly surprised by how it made me feel. I initially tried the cheap ones like you after the doctor’s prescription finished, so was glad to get some advice on here. I also have the triple magnesium and B Complex.
I’ve not seen those ranges before for bloods! But I’m no ‘blood’ expert like some on here. Hopefully, someone will be able to give advice on those. Either way, the FT4 is really low on those ranges.
It’s doubly frustrating to feel this way when you’re used to being active, isn’t it? Let’s hope you’re back in the Dales for mid summer 🤞 As you said about the winter and long hours, weight gain which is almost imperceptible, feeling cold because it’s winter etc. Being underpowered, but pushing through. Imagine the impact that had on your adrenals? Then the virus. It’s going to take time, isn’t it? I’m with you on the not taking your health for granted though. I still don’t feel like I have confidence in my health yet but it’s relatively early days here as well.
So many on here mention being ill for years before diagnosis. I think it’s only in hindsight you can see how it erodes your health. You get so used to feeling rubbish that it starts to feel normal.
Let’s hope for some glimmers of feeling ok or at least ok-ish this weekend. It’ll be a start. And it’s great to hear some physical symptoms improving if only in small steps. 🙌
Mike, it might get better with thyroid hormone replacement or it might be something else, such as the effects of COVID-19 on your brain, about which clinicians are only beginning to fathom the various details.
Speaking as someone with brain injury who had prayed for the correction of hypothyroidism to fix the brain fog and fatigue, there is exponentially more to understand about how the body works than anyone here, or at a physician's practice, could ever know. Keep asking questions. You have to be your own advocate and be firm in seeking help. Doctors are frequently in a hurry and typically forget 90% of what they learned at university.
If you happen to have been born with a genetic proclivity to over-convert levothyroxine to Reverse T3, the more your LT4 dose is increased, the worse the brain fog. You'll have to try to take notes every day, just a little something on your calendar or in a notebook, so that if something changes in how you feel, you have a trail of breadcrumbs to suggest what might have led to it. Sometimes people only feel better on natural desiccated thyroid hormone, or, heaven forbid, T3 only. The practice presumes everyone comes with standard genetics and prescribes a weight-based dose of LT4, making adjustments every six weeks according to criteria that may vary according to the physician's preference.
Do take on an empty stomach (and you can try taking it before bed) and avoid anything, even coffee, within 30 minutes. If you habitually ingest a significant amount of fiber in your diet, this could dilute the effect of the LT4, and your physician should be informed.
Good luck on the journey of recovering from COVID-19 and getting your hypothyroidism treated.
Definitely a worry coming from Covid and heading into this, don't know whether I am on my feet or my head at the minute. Seems as though the hypothyroidism has been coming a while though, I noticed weight gain and fatigue through the winter, but just put it down to not being as active and working a lot of hours. Seems like the virus just wipes me out and finally tipped the balance and put it in the spot light. I have been down the rabbit hole and looked into people who can't convert T4 into T3 and natural remedies, worrying now as the NHS has stopped giving out T3 medication because of cost. I am hoping I will gel with the levo in time though.
Thank you for the info, and I will start to write a diary to log symptoms for future reference.
Great post, Rocky Path, except "avoid anything, even coffee, within 30 minutes" isn't quite right
Tea, coffee, calcium, iron and vitamin D need about 4 hours either side, not 30 minutes, as they interfere with thyroid hormones. Personally I would also try to leave at least an hour, preferably 2, before eating anything much.
One thing you can take with thyroxine is vitamin C. On advice of friends who have done some research on this, large doses of Vit C (as long as it doesn't give you the runs!) protects from infection and improves recovery or resistance from C-19.
Mike_79 , how much vitamin D are you taking? Doctors seldom prescribe enough. And are you also taking vitamin K2(7) and magnesium with it? K2 helps direct excess calcium away from the blood into the bones and magnesium helps turn it into the active form. I think that's the right way around - both are needed anyway.
I have been prescribed 1600 iu per day of vit D from the doctor, but I've read that it's safe to take up to 4000 iu per day, so I've also got a supplement to hopefully top me up quicker if that's possible? I will look into the K2 though, thank you.
I'll get back to you on that, I am waiting for my doctor's surgery to email me a request form. Apparently have to fill this in and then they will send me my results.
With doctor's prescription and extra supplements I am aiming for around 4000 iu a day. After reading more posts this morning I might invest in some vit D in spray form as it Is absorbed better?
I have also got magnesium and K2(7)
The other vitamins on my blood test were well in range.
I was diagnosed 3years ago. I did feel very poorly when I started on levothyroxine, but it did pass, Eventually
The first thing I did was research hypothyroidism and found this wonderfully informative site.
Patience is key, it will take a while to sort medication. Keep a diary on how you feel and what you eat, it helped me enormously because certain foods trigger my anxiety, brain fog and general wellbeing... I alternate throughout each day having keto meals and paleo meals.
I also have a medicheck ultra vit blood test once or twice a year and post the results on this forum, then members help interpret results.... This has been invaluable to me.
More light at the end of the tunnel from your message, thanks Geegee. I am learning patience - slowly - and getting to grips on what I'm up against. You're right, this site is brilliant. It has made the situation better being able to speak with people who have been through or are going through the same situation, it has certainly lifted my mood, which is a good start. I think I eat a fairly balanced diet, but will definitely look into your suggestions.
Thanks again and I hope you are well at the moment.
Hello Mike. I am sorry to hear you’ve had the virus. I started levothyroxine about 18 months ago and it’s been very hard to deal with side effects. I still get dizziness and brain fog, however, last September I could barely walk and my fatigue was very bad. I started doing yoga every morning and my brain fog has definitely improved a lot. I still go through phases with the dizziness. It’s very hard work but it makes a big difference. I think tai chi and or qigong is also very good and I do some of that too. There are lots of online classes and I recommend Dru Yoga because it is movement based with less emphasis on trying to stretch into poses which is difficult when you are struggling. I also did blood tests for my vitamin and micronutrient levels and I take a variety on advice from people on this site. Hope you are feeling better soon.
I have had a bit of a look on youtube at yoga before, but always been more into finding a hill to climb somewhere or a nice walk, since getting my diagnosis I have been pushing myself into being more active and think this helps, but can soon end up exhausted, which is frustrating. I will start with the yoga, as over the last couple of months I have been spending far to much time sitting and starting to feel a bit like the tin man. Sure yoga will be good for that and if it clears the cloud from my mind a bit then it will be a big win.
Sounds like you have had such a rough road, I hope you continue to improve and tha ks for the message.
My point is that yoga and qigong work on all your organs and meridians and are designed to directly benefit your mental, spiritual and emotional wellbeing. 😀
Hi Mike, sorry you’ve had such a. bad time with covid. I get terrible symptoms with hypothyroid but l’m probably very foolish as l’m not on Levo as l don’t feel ill all the time, people on here are much more knowledgable than me and will give you great advice about that. What l wanted to say was, several years ago l was so ill, brain fog, vomiting, nausea, terrible migrains and aching all over most of the time. It was a long route to find out l was hypothyroid but also ....chronically low in vit d...very bottom of scale (l found all this out via a naturopath, not my doc as he had wanted me on meds for all the separate symptoms!) l started reading about vit d and starting taking a vit d3 with k2, l can’t tell you what diff it’s made getting my levels up, l’m still battling the hypothyroid but migraines no where near as bad and although still have times feeling nauseas l no longer spend all day vomiting. I have no body aches at all now! I take 4000iu a day now and try get some time in the sun, lm very pale skinned and burn easily so most of my life l’ve sunblocked all over (used to be the advice) and kept out of the sun. Anyway, l can’t comment on other things but l do know you can’t possible feel or be well if your vit d is running on empty. Two good books l read are, The vitamin D solution/Michael Horlick and The Vitamin D Cure/James E Dowd. I hope you start to feel a lot better soon.
Hi Holly, hope you don’t mind me chipping in, I found it interesting to hear someone else mention migraines related to hypothyroidism. I’m glad you have found vit d helpful. I too have migraine with vomiting for three days each time, it’s like a detox! I thought you might be interested to know I have read recently that vit b2 in particular is well known to help migraine. It was news to me despite all the research I’ve done, I find I go in circles a lot of the time. Anyway just thought it might help you too. I have used vit b complex 100’s, plus extra spaced out doses of vit b2 and vit b12, so I have a max of 300mg of both each day. You can take more safely but I read that you can only absorb a small amount at a time so it’s better to space it out through the day and take on an empty stomach. So far after three weeks, I feel better all round energy wise and no migraine! 🤞🏻
Hi, Thankyou, yes l totally agree, l do take a multi b complex liquid form too. Although l can’t say l feel well, l sleep badly and do wake up with a headache but at one time the vomiting was so bad l was put on a drip in hospital for severe dehydration and felt like my head was going to explode, it was terrible. Strangely my b12 was very high, despite me rarely eating red meat. Our bodies are so complex and it trial and error for us to balance our individual needs but it’s amazing how our bodies can start to heal with the right nutrients. I get loads of really good info on here and also watching Dr Eric Berg on YouTube as he has incredible insight into human functioning nutrition. I really your migrains and vomiting stay away as it sounds like you’re now on the right track to healing.
Thank you, I hope so and I’ll check out Eric also. I know what you mean about sleeping badly it’s so difficult. I’ve blamed too many pillows, not enough pillows and the wrong pillows before but actually it’s my body....or is it my neck? Anyway here’s hoping I am on the right path.
I think you are right about adrenals. I read that the vit b2 was good for adrenal hormone production, which might be why I’ve felt some improvement. That and trying to observe stress levels in general. I’m sure I’ve had some improvement with my sleep since taking meds at bedtime, which I once thought was madness, but seems to have made a difference to the side effects...
Yes it really does make sense as b vits and also magnesium both have a calming affect on the body to help you relax so it makes sense to have them bef bed to help sleep better.
Hi Holly, I'm starting to realise how important the vitamin D is. My blood test came back with a deficiency and I am now taking 1600 hundred iu a day now as well as the levo. Sounds like another waiting game though as I have been reading it takes a a long while to absorb enough to get to normal levels. Definitely something else positive to look to though, thank you.
Sorry you've had such a bad ruse with it all, I hope you have found what works for you.
Well good luck Mike, when lmwas really bad, l started off taking 12,000iua day vit d/k2 but of course you must find what works for you. I take quite a few supplements now and eat super well with the aim of mostly low carb keto. Good luck, lm sure with all the incredible knowledge and advice shared on this site you’ll find something that will help you get well.
I was diagnosed in March and also had a vit D deficiency. I started on 50mcg if levo and 1000iu of vit D. After a six week blood test I went up to 75. I’ve been on that dose now for nearly four weeks. My brain fog on diagnosis was shocking but it’s definitely improving. I still have my moments and it’s a long old road to recovery, but I can feel a difference. I expect you’ll start to increase your dose and with each increase hopefully the fog will further clear and the vit D will make a significant difference. I also think diet helps but this is the beginning for me too. This group has been a real godsend. Keep strong and hopefully you’ll start to feel an improvement too.
I’d say I had an initial improvement within two weeks of my initial levo dose but then felt a slight decline. When I went up to 75 I felt better again within a week. Pretty positive I’ll need to go up again to find my ideal dose and also have my T3 checked (thanks to advice here) but my head is definitely a bit more clear so I’d be hopeful yours will be too. Xx
Yes, that seems to be the usual pattern on starting levo, or increasing. First no apparent effect, then improvement, then stable for a while, then a slow decline. The decline (for me it would start after about 4-5 weeks). That simply means your body is adjusting to the present dose and will soon need more.
Good news you are in the mend, hopefully I will be following you soon. Brain fog is so bloody frustrating, trying to explain it to someone who hasn't had it is difficult, you can go away feeling like a fraud, I feel like I'm living in someone else's body at the minute. I've requested the blood results from my doctors, I'll be interested to know my vit D level (I've just been reading posts from your vitamin D question). Fast realising the importance of it. Thanks Cat xx
It really is. I would be thinking I needed to do something, walk into a room and wonder why I went in there!!! Or forget my point mid sentence. We all do that of course, but we are more extreme! It’s still early days yet for you but hopefully you’ll start to feel the levo working a bit soon. If it helps It took me just over two and a half weeks to feel a very very slight improvement, nothing I could pinpoint. By week four I could tell I was a bit different, a bit more chirpy and more energy. Very slightly less achy and less brain fog. But felt my improvement had tailed off a bit by week five. So at my next blood test I had a 25 mcg increase. I felt the difference within a week. I was most definitely calmer. I didn’t have half the palpitations I previously did for example. By week three I knew the increase was helping. I still have some horrid symptoms don’t get me wrong but it’ll take time. Week four in of the new dose and I’m starting to get those symptoms back in the early evening that had started to calm down despite an overall improvement including brain fog 🙄. Not so much day times oddly enough. As I had this with my 50 mcg I know it means I need another increase. And I hope my dr will back me, but i’m not convinced. So although I feel better than I was, without a doubt, it’s a process, and not a quick one. I wanted to up myself to 100 mcg as you may well want to do if you don’t feel any benefit yet but they told me on here not to and I understand why now. You think you’re nearly there and it goes backwards a bit then you think you’re on the mend again and it goes backwards a bit ... you get my drift here 😋.
People would say to me ah at least you know what you’ve got now so you can get better and quite frankly I wanted to murder them! I didn’t want to have this diagnosis in the first place thanks! So I’d just smile and nod rolling my eyes in my thoughts! But it’s true. Now we know, as rubbish as it is, we can try to fix it. The fab people on here can explain your blood tests when you get them to see what’s going on. God only knows I didn’t understand a word of mine at first!! And probably still don’t. But even within two months I’m getting much better at learning what I need to achieve to work towards recovery. And you will too. What I fear most is my dr being unhelpful and knowing how much I may need to fight to get help, especially reading everyone’s stories too. My advice would be to learn as much as you can and at your next blood test tell your dr what levels you are aiming for and hopefully s/he will help you. Knowledge is power and all that. At least that’s my game plan in a couple of weeks time! 😂 We’ll see. Go by how you feel too not just your test results. I was told here I may be a poor converter so I’m waiting to see what else I need to do, like check my T3. 50mcg isn’t much. Like they say it’s a start. If your vitamin levels are low I doubt you’ll feel much benefit of the thyroxine alone. Because I started both together I can’t say which made the most difference but together they are a godsend. We have a long way to go and yes I’m impatient 😂 but you’ll get there one blood test at a time. That’s what is keeping me going. Whether we’ll need other drugs for our T3 is the next step I guess. I’ve just bought a food intolerance test. Some people don’t believe in them I know but if it shows any intolerance I’ll cut them out and see. Anything and everything is worth it to feel good again!! Good luck at your next blood test and remember what they said about an early appointment without any levo. I didn’t know that. If you go up to 75 mcg be careful they don’t swap your brand as not all brands make the same dose and it’s not good to chop and change unless they make you feel ill. I take a 50 and a 25 as the Boots own brand don’t do a 75! I hope you start to feel better soon. You’ve really been through it with the virus as well. X
Thanks for all the info Cat, I really appreciate it. You are a few steps ahead so it really helps to have someone to compare to, I know we are different and what works for you could be different for me, but definitely interesting to see a timeline.
I feel your pain with the friends thing, pretty much just neck the pills and back to work next week sort of attitude, I was a bit the same until I looked into hypothyroidism more to be honest 🙄 I worked a lot and just cracked on through whatever I had. There is not a lot of work in me at the minute though. I work as a machine driver, and with my vision struggling to focus properly and my concentration levels suffering, I think i would be pretty shit at it at the mo😂
I really hope you get an increase in a couple of weeks and that is the game changer for you and you get back closer to normal.
My friends mum takes 150 mcg levo and says she is in a good place, apparently it took her around 3 months to get there. She is around 70 in age
I noticed at the start of the virus outbreak that the people who'd had it worse were the elderly in care homes, BAMs, and those who worked shifts or lived in the heart of cities. These groups all lack sufficient sunshine exposure to raise Vitamin D. I suspected low vitamin D was a major risk factor.
Look into Magnesium deficiency symptoms as well... because we need magnesium to make vitamin D work... Magnesium Glycinate is good for many, or transdermal Magnesium by Better You is great to combat muscle aches. B complex vitamins (Igennus are a very good brand) will improve cognition and nerves... especially if you use the most bioavailable forms of the B vitamins which are more expensive, but far better for Hypos who have compromised vitamin absorption. Some of the B vitamins along with some minerals like iron, zinc, magnesium and selenium are essential to help us convert t4 (Levo) into its active form - t3.
My husband initially took a lot of convincing that vitamin and mineral supplements would benefit him... He is blessed with being quite fit and loves his varied and healthy diet, but he still gets asthma (and had suffered from many chest infections in the past). However, even he is now recognising that he needed more vitamin D (he uses a spray form), mineral electrolytes, vitamin C and he rubs Magnesium gel on his back and legs after exercising. He's recommending these to his work colleagues and friends... especially right now.
It certainly makes sense, I work as a machine operator, so I am behind glass most if the time. I worked in an overcast Manchester all winter and when I was out of the machine, I was wrapped up with a hard hat on. I did a lot of walking at and after work and at weekends to keep my fitness level up, but obviously not with enough sunshine to keep it topped up. I'd say Coronavirus did hit me fairly hard and maybe things could have been different if my vit D level was topped up. Ive had my fair share of bugs in my time, but nothing that I couldn't shake off quickly as I eat lots of fruit and veg and always keep well hydrated. I was ill with the virus for weeks, I would start to feel better and then it would come and hit me again and then I think I ended up with pneumonia as a finale.
So, I'm unsure now whether it's virus recovery, vit D deficiency or hypothyroidism that is affecting me or a mixture of them all. Just got to keep on with the supplements, medication and healthy eating and hope for the best at the moment. I am still trying to keep active and go for walks, but tire easily. It is so strange though, going from the man I was before to what I am now in the space of weeks.
This sounds a lot like the 'umbrella illness' of ME / CFS which, fortunately, is now recognised by the NHS as being a physical and neurological response to some kind of extreme physical or mental trauma (viral illness is one of the triggers). Hypothyroidism, hypoadrenalism and pituitary issues can all occur and there are some good websites to help you out. Dr Sarah Myhill is arguably the most recognised and qualified practitioner in the UK and her website is really good. There are some London clinics like Optimal Health that do free (initial) consultations and you can subscribe to their free videos. If you are having difficulties adjusting to your Levo, some adrenal support would probably be beneficial. I found that supporting my adrenals would benefit conversion to t3, so it's really a win:win. Make sure you do as much to mitigate stressful triggers as these could hold back recovery.... take it easy.. and pace yourself. I recommend watching some classic tv shows.
I also recommend taking electrolytes after walks (zero tablets are good or you can get some mineral mix + ascorbic acid from Dr Myhill's shop online). D ribose is a very quickly absorbed form of sugar that will bring you back from the brink of an energy crash.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
High T3 ERFA Thyroid and Brain Fog
When will it get better? 
Terrible fatigue and brain fog
Overmedicated extreme brain fog
Aristo- aching joints and brain fog
