Low carb and over medicated?

[sja11]

I’ve been trying a low carb diet for the last 8 weeks and have lost about 6kilos but I’ve started feeling slightly shaky/anxious with more rapid mood swings, exhaustion and the odd palpitation. I’m waiting on the results of my blood test, but has anyone else noticed this on low carb? Could I now be over medicated? Will I go back to being under medicated if I start eating lots of carbs again?

[Lalatoot]

I think you might be undermedicated! The symptoms of under and over medication can be the same.

We need carbs/calories to convert T4 to T3 so if your diet has been too restrictive on the calories you may have reduced your FT3 level resulting in symptoms.

Only blood tests can tell.

[greygoose in reply to Lalatoot]

Exactly what I was going to say!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Very common for conversion of Ft4 to Ft3 to reduce if on very low carb diet

Low Ft3 and/or high Ft4 can cause anxiety

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested. Also EXTREMELY important to regularly test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially as you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Can see in previous posts you have had very low vitamin levels

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?

As you have Hashimoto’s....Are you also on strictly gluten free diet?

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last third or quarter of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

[sja11 in reply to SlowDragon]

I’m on 125mg Levothyroxine same brand every time. Taking vitD and K spray, dark chocolate, B complex plus gluten free unless I fall off the wagon. Now having two days a week less than 30gms of carb. Rest of the week below 120gms. Generally eating something every 3-4 hours high fat, fruit, veg, fish, meat and nuts. Feeling the cold but then it is cold and I’ve lost body fat.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to sja11]

Come back with new post once you get results

[CapnM in reply to sja11]

whats the thing with the dark chocolate? ta

[sja11 in reply to CapnM]

It’s a nice way to take magnesium, also other vitamins and minerals

[CapnM in reply to sja11]

thanks awesome, I did convert to dark chocolate last year and love it now over any other chocolate. I have even better reason now.