4.5 weeks in - symptoms improving

[JonnyA]

36 y/o male, I was recently diagnosed with “sub-clinical” hypothyroidism - with a TSH of around the 5.0 mark but with debilitating symptoms that had plagued me for over three years. The most noticeable symptoms were:

- Depression

- Difficulty maintaining weight despite regular exercise, weight training and good diet

- Fatigue

- Cold intolerance

- Brain fog

- Slow resting heart rate (40 - 45 bpm)

- More recently, anxiety

I’ve been on 25mg levothyroxine (plus a blend of vitamin D, selenium and zinc) for roughly 4.5 weeks, which I know is a low starting dose, however I feel like many of those symptoms have shown noticeable progress in this last week. I feel generally much better in myself, my mental cognition seems much slicker and I’ve started feeling hot and sweating again which I know sounds daft given the recent hot weather here in the UK, but last summer I had the fire on most days because would feel so cold, and hardly ever broke into a sweat.

I’m mindful of the placebo effect, however my heart rate has also shot up to pretty much 60 bpm on the dot, which seems hard to explain except through the positive effects of the medication.

Would you typically expect an improvement in symptoms this early, or could I be imagining things? The one symptom that doesn’t seem to be improving yet is the weight management side of things - I’m still having to be very careful in what I eat and exercise regularly just to maintain the same weight. Would you expect this to follow, given that other metabolism related symptoms such as body temperature appear to be improving?

Thanks!

[Hidden]

I started on 25mch too and noticed a difference immediately. I don't think it's too early if you're feeling a difference.

Be mindful though that as your body gets used to the dosage you might start to dip again; that's ok it just means you're ready for your next increase. I'm on 125mcg now and for each increase I have definitely noticed that by about 2 weeks I'm noticing a difference, by 4 weeks in feeling better than I have in years, and at 6 weeks I start to slow down again.

You should get to a point when you're adequately dosed where you just feel well without dipping.

[JonnyA in reply to Hidden]

Thank you!

[beaubeau1121 in reply to Hidden]

Agreed! I notice immediately to the drs chagrin!

[RoboTh]

I felt better for first three weeks after starting levo 25mcg. At 4 weeks started to to down hill again. Waiting for a dose increase. Good luck x

[radd]

JonnyA,

Yes, recovery should continue but slowly as there is no rushing thyroid hormone issues. It has most likely taken many years for your body to get into this state so is going to take a while to get out.

25mcg Levo is a starting dose but with those levels of thyroid hormone you won’t be able to add too much more so it will be about making them work effectively. You are providing all the essentials that should make the thyroid hormone replacement effective, and thankfully don’t have thyroid antibodies.

You don’t want to add too much to the mix at present but there are other sups you can add as & when if this mix stops finding progress, such as glandulars and adaptogens. Both will help with thyroid and adrenal function in different ways. Vit C is also great for the adrenals and it sounds as if you are mindful re diet & adequate sleep, etc.

Testosterone is commonly low in males with low thyroid hormones and reverses when optimally replaced but you could ask your specialist to check out sex hormone levels as in-balances risk elevated protein carriers binding too much of other hormones (including thyroid) making them inactive.

Re switching meds, it is much too early to consider as this regime will hopefully be successful and medicating Levo is usually the easiest (when tolerated) as is on prescription. Self medicating can be both a worry in sourcing, and expensive. Also you already have a good amount of T3 and medicating NDT will give you more of both hormones.

It is quite helpful to educate yourself on thyroid physiology and a good read is ‘Your Thyroid and How To Keep It Healthy’ by Dr Barry Peatfield.

[dylandolly]

I felt really ill before eventually being diagnosed with thyroid condition( Hoffmans syndrome) and I would say I felt the effects of 25mg almost straight away.

[hearty1]

In have been taking Levothyroxine for many years for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. I take 75mcg daily. You need to give it time to help you. Best wishes.