Anyone recognise these symptoms?

[Johndillon]

Im hypothyroid (autoimmune) and have been on levo for about 1.5 years gradually trying to get right dose. I don't have my results here but last test was a TSH of about 5 (it had gone up) and mid range t4 and slightly lower range t3. As a result Ive crept my dose up from 100mg to 112.5mg/125mg gradually over past 2 months and generally speaking Ive felt good no hyper symptoms. Ive just done a test today awaiting results.

However both before and after being on levo periodically (every few weeks, sometimes longer, sometimes more frequently) I suddenly get tired in the afternoon after lunch, feel like I havent digested my food, get bloated, and brain fog ensues. This then last a few days (usually 2-4 days) and it feels like my stomach isnt right/bit upset. Brain fog, really low mood etc…

Id assumed that once being diagnosed hyper that these bouts would go away, but they havent and so I need to try and figure out what they are and if thyroid could be a cause.

I understand no one’s a doctor here so all Im really trying to ascertain is if this can realistically be related to thyroid, either because Im under medicated/not converting correctly etc..., or that Im over medicated?

I’ve not seen anyone here or elsewhere describe similar symptoms as this and so really Im trying to rule out thyroid as an issue?

Thanks for your time

[TimD250172]

Hi, sorry to hear you’re going through rough patches.

Strangely I can relate to this and I have been blaming swings in my antibodies flaring up and calming down again.

I notice this especially when I’ve had a stressful few days I feel like crap generally with aching shoulders too.

I’m pretty sure I’m a bad converter too which doesn’t help.

Hope you get some helpful advice as this is a great community and start to feel re-assured and better.

[Johndillon in reply to TimD250172]

OK thats interesting as Ive been wondering about stress as well thanks for the input.

[TimD250172 in reply to Johndillon]

I’ve found since being on the medication I react really bad to prolonged stress. Never had an issue before as was symptomless before going on Levo.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

125mcg levothyroxine isn’t a high dose

Have you retested since increased

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine at each prescription

Which brand

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

When were vitamin levels last tested

The aim of levothyroxine is to increase dose upwards in 25mcg steps until TSH is ALWAYS under 2

When adequately treated, TSH will often be well under one.

Most important results are ALWAYS Ft3 followed by Ft4. When adequately treated Ft4 is usually in top third of range and Ft3 at least 60% through range (regardless of how low TSH is)

Extremely important to have optimal vitamin levels too as this helps reduce symptoms and improve how levothyroxine works

Bloating is often low stomach acid, common hypothyroid symptom

Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

Often helps or is absolutely essential

[Johndillon in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes thanks vitamin levels all good 3 months ago, take a bit of vitmin d + b periodically to keep topped up and otherwise have been taking magnesium+zinc +selenium as was working with a functional doctor. None of this has ever made any difference nor has going paleo and gluten free whcih I am now.

Lets see what my latest bloods say and I giess go from there. What Im seeing here suggests it coudl be thyroid related so thanks.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Johndillon]

See reply from Diogenes here

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

the best paper on this that I have seen indicates that a TSH of 0.03-0.5 is best on therapy. Above that is insufficient and below MAY or MAY NOT indicate slight overdosing

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

Interestingly, patients with a serum TSH below the reference range, but not suppressed (0.04–0.4 mU/liter), had no increased risk of cardiovascular disease, dysrhythmias, or fractures. It is unfortunate that we did not have access to serum free T4 concentrations in these patients to ascertain whether they were above or within the laboratory reference range. However, our data indicate that it may be safe for patients to be on a dose of T4 that results in a low serum TSH concentration, as long as it is not suppressed at less than 0.03 mU/liter. Many patients report that they prefer such T4 doses (9, 10). Figure 2 indicates that the best outcomes appear to be associated with having a TSH within the lower end of the reference range.

Come back with new post once you get results

Optimal vitamin levels are vitamin D at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better

Folate and ferritin at least half way through range

Active B12 at least over 70

Serum B12 at least over 500

[humanbean]

If you've had a TSH of 5 and you take Levo then you must be hypothyroid, not hyperthyroid.

I'm generalising here :

Hypothyroidism presents with high TSH and low Free T4 and low Free T3.

Hyperthyroidism presents with low TSH and high Free T4 and high Free T3.

[Johndillon in reply to humanbean]

Yes sorry Im an idiot (spelling mistake) I am of course hypothyroid

[pennyannie]

Hello Johndillion

So do you have Graves Diseae and have you had surgery or RAI thyroid ablation or in remission after taking anti thyroid drugs ?

[Johndillon in reply to pennyannie]

No sorry its a spelling mistake Im hypothroid (so not graves) but I cant see how to edit a post anywhere seems you cant?

[pennyannie in reply to Johndillon]

Oh, ok ,

yes you can -

just look at the post you wrote and in the bottom right hand corner you'll see MORE - press this and you'll see the option to EDIT ;

[ElephantShrew]

Hi! just to say that i have had this as well: eat lunch -> hit wall of exhaustion -> stare into space for a few hours -> don't get brain back until the morning. I am also hypothyroid and not on enough medication at the mo.

I only had this during one week, was having a hyper swing at the time i think so i'm not sure if might be to do with the swing or what was in the lunch? (I'm meaning to move to gluten free but haven't done that yet).So not much help I'm afraid - is a mystery to me too - but I can sympathise!

I also have very low B12 and bad folate at the moment so might be related to vitamin levels...?

[Johndillon in reply to ElephantShrew]

Sorty to hear youre suffereing the same hope you get it sorted soon