I’m struggling again is there anything else I should be doing?

[Mst27]

I am waiting for my next blood test and hopefully another dose increase on Monday. I have spent the last week having panic attacks constantly and crying non stop. Life is hard at the moment with lots going on in the family that is adding stress. I have gone gluten-free and had a couple of weeks where I felt almost normal (still tired and brain fog but less so) but the drop has been the worst I have had. My neck has been swollen on one side for the past three days. I’m just not coping very well. I have lost all my confidence I haven’t driven since my diagnosis because I don’t trust my reactions and I feel like I physically look like I’m 10 years older than I am. I’m taking supplements for b12 and vitamin D each day but I think I probably need to increase my iron. I was hoping that there was something else that I could try to help with these symptoms. I expect I just need another increase but I’m struggling to see an end to feeling like this as I struggle with increases of 25 a day so it will probably be 50 one day and 75 the next. Sorry for all the negativity if anyone can suggest anything I will definitely give it a go. Many thanks

[Lalatoot]

Mst27 Oh you sound so like I was! Anxiety and panic attacks were my biggest symptom when I was undermedicated. What the body lacks in thyroid hormones it makes up for with adrenalin. It is not a great way to live. Like you I found it difficult to increase doses so the endo suggested I split my dose taking some morning and some at bedtime. This helped. The GP surgery were happy to supply my dose in smaller mcg tablets so I could and can do this.

My body did not like alternate dosing so I had to split 25mcg tablets to increase 12.5mcg per day.

By doing this I was able to slowly build my dose up to 50mcg x 2 daily.

[Mst27]

Thank you for your reply I haven’t been referred to an endo but my gp can normally be talked round. I may ask if I can try the morning/nighttime split to see if that helps.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How long have you been on 50mcg levothyroxine everyday

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Book blood test for 6-8 weeks after increasing to 50mcg daily

Always book early morning, ideally before 9am (say work commitment means you need early appointment)

Last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Do you take levothyroxine waking or bedtime.

How much vitamin D are you currently taking

Are you also taking any magnesium supplements in afternoon or evening (must be minimum 4 hours away from levothyroxine)

Have you had folate or ferritin tested

[Mst27]

I am taking 2000 vitamin d with magnesium mouth spray each day. I have a blood test booked for Monday and follow the recommendations on here. I have been taking 50 of accord each morning for 6 weeks now and have stayed with accord for the last two increases. I had low iron levels when initially tested in October and was advised to increase iron rich foods in my diet which I have done. My folate was very low then too and I was prescribed supplements which when retested after six weeks was advised to stop because I was then over range. I wonder if this has now dropped again as I haven’t been re tested for this since. Is there a private blood test for vitamins only that I could do ? Thanks so much for your reply.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mst27]

Many of us find we need to self supplement daily vitamin B complex to maintain good folate and B12

Cheapest option is Medichecks thyroid and vitamin testing, cheaper than just testing vitamins

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

List of private testing options and money off codes

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

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

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 after any dose or brand change in levothyroxine

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Test vitamin D twice year when supplementing

Once a year test recommended to get full thyroid and vitamin testing done and vitamin D is included

2nd test in between full testing use this

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

[Mst27]

Thank you I will order a test. I really appreciate your help and time.