Since becoming hypothyroid I have suffered from absolutely terrible PMS, to the point where I think it is actually PMDD. In addition to the usual PMS symptoms, for an entire week I hate literally everyone and can't stand being around people. I'm also usually exhausted and can't concentrate on anything. I tend to get depressed too. It really affects my social life as for the week before my period I don't make plans to see anyone as I can't face being around others. It also gets me into trouble at work because I am so irritable with people.
Nearly 4 weeks ago, I added T3 to my levothyroxine. I just started my period and while I did experience some typical PMS symptoms for the past week (dramatically increased appetite, chocolate/junk food cravings, cramps and bloating) my mood has been wonderful, I've been out socially and seen friends in public places and it hasn't bothered me at all to be around people. In fact it has made me feel very happy to be around people! I have been in such a good mood, I'm genuinely amazed!
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Zazbag
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low T3 levels are absolutely responsible for pms. I had zero pms when my T3 levels were at the top end of the range. Once I experimented with adding T3 it went away. I had all those symptoms. Even breaking up with my boyfriend during that time. It would affect my thinking. It was all the low T3 levels causing it.
Thank you for replying! This is such a reassurance to hear. The years I have wasted suffering with these kinds of problems when there was a solution all along. The NHS are criminals!
This is me also, I would describe what I get as pmdd too it is extreme and uncontrollable. It has def got worse with being hypo. I’ve also been given t3 but don’t dare take it as I just feel so ill I can’t bare to get worse.
Don’t worry you won’t persuade me either way I promise, we all have our different paths. The problem I have is Endo wants me to go down from 125 to 100 before adding t3......problem is the change in t4 just sends me crazy if I’m honest!
Don't listen. My endo wanted me to go from 150mcg to 100mcg too, while I agreed I needed to lower the T4 a bit as it was giving me symptoms, everyone on here told me 100mcg would be too low and I agreed with them, so I lowered it to 125mcg, and added in 20mcg. I'm not sure it's the right amount, my private doctor prescribed 5mcg, but I was told 5mcg wouldn't make a difference, so I tried taking more and at 20mcg I feel best. I went up to 25mcg but it was making me angry all the time so I think it was too high, but 20mcg feels amazing.
I've wasted many years feeling awful so I wasn't prepared to waste anymore. I'm not telling you to do what I did but I'm just letting you know that you don't have to listen to your doctor if you don't trust their advice.
What symptoms were you getting from the t4 that made any you were happy to lower it? I don’t know if I’m happy to go from 125 to 100 but maybe it would help. Also did you do a straight swap? Eg did you take 150 one day and then 125 the next with the added t3? I’m so scared to muck about with my system anymore.
On 150mcg I feel like I had a mixture of hypo and hyper symptoms. I felt tense constantly and very reactive/volatile/easily angered. On the plus side I lost a bit of weight because my appetite reduced a bit, my feet were warm for the first time in my life (although maybe too warm, they felt noticeably hot most of the time) and my periods got a lot lighter, but my mood was actually even worse than usual, it was awful, I still had brain fog, I still couldn't recover from exercise, plus I started falling asleep during the day and instead of feeling hypo fatigued I felt just worn out and exhausted constantly, which was actually worse than how I felt on 125mcg.
No I basically lowered from 150mcg to 125mcg for about 5 days, waiting for my liothyronine to arrive in the post. I noticed I felt calmer in those days, less tense, then as soon as it arrived I took 5mcg. I felt a substantial improvement to my mood within a couple of hours. I actually felt this general feeling of serenity and calm and clarity and wellbeing and contentment. A feeling I don't remember feeling in a very long time!
Gosh it’s been a long time since I’ve ever felt calm too. That’s interesting somethings I’m the same like I’m very quick to anger and the irritation I get is terrible. I also get gritty eyes sometimes, my vision feels off and so does my hearing. I also have very light periods and during this time I’m exhausted even more than normal. I did get very hot in the evening but that’s stopped now. I can’t remember things and avoid talking at times as remembering words is an effort. So similar I’ve often felt I have a mixture of hypo and hyper. It’s so confusing.
I tried natural desiccated for seven months but couldn't find a dose to work for me. It was either too little or too much. I have a years prescription for T3. It seems to be a bit much when I try to add it to my usual 88mcg of levo but it depends on the brand because some are more potent than others. I was on generic Levo for ten years but I've been trying different brands of Levo to find the right fit. I think I have to find a Levo at 88mcg that has a lower potency or switch to a brand that's higher in potency but go down to 75mcg.
If I were you I would lower the T4 dose for a few days, see if you notice a difference. If the symptoms that bother you start to ease up then that's an indication you had too much T4 in your system. I would then add in the T3 and see what happens.
If you try some T3 and get worse then you can always stop it and it will clear your system. On the other hand, it may make you better as it has for many.
It would take more than a day or two to feel the benefits though. It wouldn’t be a good idea, IMHO, to try for a couple of days and then say that it’s not working and stop.
You’re really lucky to have been given T3, so many of us aren’t so lucky.
I felt a difference mentally within hours but I agree I think it takes longer to resolve all the symptoms.
I'm not sure if you're saying I'm lucky to get T3 or the OP is, but I had to get mine privately so I'm not as lucky as some! But I do feel very grateful to be in a position to buy it myself and I'm grateful to the people on here for helping me reach this point.
Yes, if only they had let me try t3 when I was on 100 levo. Then all I would have to do would be to add t3. But as they put me up to 125 about a year ago they want me to go back down to 100 before introducing t3. Its that which worries more than trying t3 because it’s such a slow process. At least t3 is fast so I will no quickly if it works or not but if I add changing the t4 dosage at the same time I won’t know what the problem is if I feel bad. Does that make sense?
Thank you, I hope it gives you a bit of reassurance and that you feel comfortable to try it at some point. It could genuinely change your life for the better – it has mine!
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