Reduction in Levo and heart rate

[HashisKate]

Hi there,

I’ve had my medication reduced from 100 Levo daily to 100/75 alternating days due to my T4 being 21.8 (12-22 range) and my TSH being 0.11. This was started 3 weeks ago. I got a fit bit a couple of weeks ago and it just shows my heart rate steadily dropping below 60bpm. Whilst it’s true I’ve never monitored my heart rate this closely before, I’m sure it was never this low. It can go down to 52 as I sleep. It does seem to rise when I exercise, but doesn’t seem to react much despite feeling high levels of anxiety. I’m a slightly overweight 36 year old female and despite being active, I do not do cardio or exercise in the manner that would qualify me as fit enough to have a heart rate so low.

I was getting a lot of palpitations at one time but these have now stopped. I have detailed my previous results in other posts but in short I am a poor converter and in February my T3 was only 5ish (top 6.8) despite being top of range T4, so I’ve never been truly overmedicated.

Has anyone every experienced this? Will my limited thyroid function kick in and raise my heart rate? I presumably have some as my Levo dosage is less than usual for my weight.

I’m really anxious about this, can anyone provide any reassurance or help?

My vitamins are all optimal except ferritin which I have been working on. Full test results on previous post. Will be testing privately again at the same time as my GP blood test so I can demonstrate my T3 levels as I presume these will drop.

Thank you for any help you can give

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Keep spreadsheet of average weekly resting heart rate

Can be helpful for getting on dose increase in levothyroxine (or addition of T3)

[HashisKate in reply to SlowDragon]

Most definitely!! I am compiling all the evidence I can in the hopes of getting T3, but am so worried about my heart & health in the meantime ☹️

[greygoose]

Will my limited thyroid function kick in and raise my heart rate?

Unless your TSH rises quite a bit, no, it won't a TSH of 0.11 is more than likely not enough start your thyroid working again.

Your doctor should not be dosing by the TSH, that is how doctors keep their patients sick. A TSH reading on its own means nothing, and you are not over-medicated unless your FT3 is over-range. I would kick up a hell of a stink about that, if it were me.

[HashisKate in reply to greygoose]

Thank you. Hope I’m compiling enough evidence to argue just that (and hopefully a case for T3), but until then...☹️☹️☹️ doctor isn’t interested until I get to at least 8 weeks and even then..!