Depression getting worse: Hello all, I posted on... - Thyroid UK

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Depression getting worse

Liam12 profile image
85 Replies

Hello all, I posted on here a few months back regarding my feelings of depression and anxiety. Back then i increased my levo to 125 as suggested and felt an improvement, not great, but better, and I could put up with that.

Over the summer I saw a private gp with hopes of having T3 added to my levo. This was denied and I was given progesterone cream as a Dutch test showed I am oestrogen dominant. I had a terrible reaction to this, im clearly intolerant and quit after 9 days.

I haven't felt right since the progesterone, but recently something has changed and I feel truly awful. I have relentless anxiety and have uncontrollable bouts of crying everyday. I am in the darkest place i have ever been, and admit i feel hopeless and black. I also feel tired, breathless but don't sleep well and wake with feelings of panic.

Again I have checked my levels with medichecks:-

TSH: 0.35 (0.27 - 4.2)

FT3: 4 (3.1 - 6.8)

Free thyroxine: 23.3 (12 - 22)

Folate: 16.7 (8.83 - 60.8)

B12: 129 (25.1 - 165)

Vit D: 87 (50 - 200)

Ferritin: 29 (30 - 150)

I have increased vitamins and red meat and iron rich food.

I had another appointment today with the private gp and she said if I wanted to try T3 she recommended dropping my levo to 75mcg and taking half a grain of armour. Does this sound ok?

I have thought about increasing my levo to 150 but I worry that as I'm small and 9st it will harm my heart as my TSH is already low.

Thanks for reading it you made it this far. Any advice would be much appreciated.

I miss my old life so much

Donna x

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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Liam12

Over the summer I saw a private gp with hopes of having T3 added to my levo. This was denied

If you took the test as we advise:

* No later than 9am

* Water only before test

* Last dose of Levo 24 hours before test

* No biotin, B Complex or any other supplement containing biotin for 3-7 days before test

then your results show that you are a poor converter of T4 to T3.

Your poor nutrient levels aren't helping, conversion will be impaired especially due to the ferritin level

Ferritin: 29 (30 - 150)

NICE consider this to be iron deficiency:

From: cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.

Your GP should do an iron panel to confirm, this should include:

serum iron

total iron binding capacity

transferrin saturation percentage

ferritin

Also a full blood count is needed to see if you have anaemia. You can have iron deficiency with or without anaemia.

You can have low ferritin without iron deficiency.

B12: 129 (25.1 - 165)

This result is fine. Are you suppementing?

Folate: 16.7 (8.83 - 60.8)

Folate is recommended to be at least half way through range. Consider taking a good quality, bioavailable B Complex such as Thorne Basic B. If you look at different brands then look for the words "bioavailable" or "bioactive" and ensure they contain methylcobalamin (not cyanocobalamin) and methylfolate (not folic acid). Avoid any that contain Vit C as this stops the body from using the B12. Vit C and B12 need to be taken 2 hours apart.

When taking a B Complex we should leave this off for 3-7 days before any blood test because it contains biotin and this gives false results when biotin is used in the testing procedure (which most labs do).

Vit D: 87 (50 - 200)

This isn't too bad. The Vit D Society, Vit D Council and Grassroots Health all recommend a level of 100-150nmol/L with a recent blog post on Grassroots Health recommending at least 125nmol/L.

As it's winter and we no longer can make Vit D naturally from the sun, it may be worth considering supplementing with perhaps 2,000iu D3 along with it's important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7- if you aren't already supplementing.

Once all your nutrients are at optimal levels then look again at your conversion, if FT4 remains high with low FT3 then that's the time to consider T3. You could ask your GP to refer you to an endo who may prescribe a trial based on your poor conversion, or you could try a private endo but choose carefully by asking for recommendations from members, or simply source your own T3 and self medicate like many of us here do.

I feel i should increase my levo to 150

I don't agree. Your FT4 is already over range, it's just going to take it further over range. Low T3 causes symptoms so you need to get that up. Concentrate on optimising your nutrient levels first as outlined above then look again at your FT3 level.

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to SeasideSusie

Thanks so much for the detailed reply, yes I am very careful now when having blood taken so I do think am a poor convertor. I dont understand why though. Can you just stop converting after a time?

I dont supplement B12 but I do take Vit D/k2 supplements.

I will take your advice and get tested and supplement folate/iron, ill book a gp appointment tomorrow xx

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Liam12

Liam12

Can you just stop converting after a time?

I think that's possible.

I plodded on for many years with just Levo, never well like before I became hypo but you learn to live within your limitations. I didn't know then what I know now and certainly didn't have any test results.

After 25 years on Levo I became more and more unwell, GP kept increasing Levo but it didn't help. Long story short, I had to learn and help myself. i discovered Vit D deficiency, low ferritin, low folate, poor conversion. So I set about optimising nutrients but conversion still wasn't good enough so I added T3.

I do take Vit D/k2 supplements.

What dose?

Are you not taking magnesium? This is needed so that the body can convert D3 into it's usable form.

I will take your advice and get tested and supplement folate/iron, ill book a gp appointment tomorrow

It's fine to go ahead and get the B Complex but please don't self supplement iron. Your GP should do the iron panel and full blood count, if he says your ferritin is "borderline" or just below range so it's OK then make sure you have evidence of the NICE information with you to show him and request the tests. When supplementing iron it should be regularly monitored with an iron panel every 2-3 months to ensure your serum iron and saturation don't go too high.

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to SeasideSusie

I take 10,000 iu of Vit D and 200mcg of k2. I do take magnesium sorryi forgot that one, half a teaspoon of mag glycinate before bed to help me sleep. I have also been told by the doctor to take ashwaganda but I'm nervous to try this as ive heard it can upset cortisol if it's already low.

Charlie-Farley profile image
Charlie-Farley in reply to Liam12

just a quick one 😊 yes Ashwaganda can drop cortisol- probably best leave and follow SeasideSusie’s advice. If you are systematic in your approach it will be easier to get a resolution. Keep notes on your symptoms in real time. I’ve made some posts on how I tackled self advocating (click on my face ) all my posts are with my profile as for all members- a great way to access information.

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to Charlie-Farley

Brilliant ill have a read, , thanks so much

radd profile image
radd

Liam12,

I’m sorry you are feeling so bad. Many of us have been there and can deeply empathise. Depression is a classic hypo symptom and even if we have enough thyroid hormones if they aren’t working as they should then it will feel as bad as if we’re insufficient. 

I would say you are over-medicated with FT4 over-range and definitely don't require any further T4 dose raises even though your FT3 levels remain low. Your results are indicative of impaired conversion abilities and raising FT4 further won’t necessarily alleviate symptoms and can actually cause further that can be difficult to recover from. 

I aim to keep Vit D between 100-150nmol/L.  Folate looks a bit low and ferritin is under range. This is where it becomes a chicken & egg situation as if you raised iron levels thyroid hormones meds would likely work more effectively but having insufficient FT3 is causing/adding to iron absorption issues and possibly poor utilisation of iron. 

Do you have Hashi? Are you taking steps to reduce antibodies as these can influence how well thyroid hormones are working, to the extent that reducing bodily inflammation can raise FT3 levels through means such as adopting a gluten free diet. 

Anxiety can be caused by low iron, elevated thyroid hormone or high/low cortisol levels. Cortisol can become compromised by low thyroid hormone (or sufficient amounts but that aren't working) . If I was you I would reduce Levothyroxine dose and self medicate some T3, as you are clearly in need of raising FT3 levels.

radd profile image
radd in reply to radd

You asked SsS 'Can you just stop converting after a time?'

Of course!

Good conversion is dependant upon mainly optimal iron and nutritional factors but also a healthy life style, good sleep hygiene, other health issues that cause inflammation and how much stress is given to the adrenal glands.

The ironic thing is once we are on that downward spiral it can be difficult to get off because the very things we need to recover our wellbeing are the ones that hypothyroidism/Hashi may deny us.

Hence iron/nutrients are usually addressed first, then cortisol, bodily inflammation (ie adopting a g/f diet), sex hormones assessed, followed by other conditions such as candida, SIBO, etc, and perhaps some genetic testing of thyroid enzymes or MTHFR which helps us break down folate vits.

HowNowWhatNow profile image
HowNowWhatNow in reply to radd

Hi Radd

What kind of doctor would recommend all the things you discuss, please?

radd profile image
radd in reply to HowNowWhatNow

Geogeor,

A functional doctor familiar with the intricate workings of thyroid hormone. Unfortunately those are very few and far between ☹️

HowNowWhatNow profile image
HowNowWhatNow in reply to radd

Yes I thought that might be it

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to radd

Sorryi replied earlier but it seems to have vanished, I had thyroid cancer so it was removed in 2017. I knowi have low cortisol but no idea how to correct it. I try to avoid stress but its not very easy. Even a loud noise sends my nerves jangling.

Beau55 profile image
Beau55

Hi Liam12,

I’m sorry to hear you are struggling so much at the moment. This summer has been particularly bad for me as I suffered continuous panic attacks and then an episode of major depression so I deeply deeply empathise. You are definitely not alone in experiencing this as a symptom and for me, my mental health has been my worst symptom.

As previous posters have already said, your conversion is pretty terrible. Have you ever completed a saliva cortisol test? The adrenals are so important and often overlooked when not feeling well on thyroid replacement. My anxiety was horrendous on thyroid medication without treating low cortisol first. Vitamins are also equally important in conversion but I’m sure more knowledgable members will have advised you on this.

Your ferritin level is pretty crap so definitely try and do a full iron panel to see if you are experiencing iron deficiency. Iron levels are so important for conversion and will cause issues if you are trying to increase thyroid meds and you are deficient.

Please hang in there and reach out for support on the forum when feeling low. Feel free to private message me if you want to talk with someone who understands x

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to Beau55

Omgosh thankyou for telling me that. I'm sorry you've been through it too. I feel that the docs don't take me seriously as my main symptoms are anxiety and depression. They always try to increase the anti depressants (which never helped). Some days get very bad, today hasnt been good. Are you getting better?

Beau55 profile image
Beau55 in reply to Liam12

I completely understand, they would rather increase antidepressants even though they don’t work, it’s criminal and negligence. Did you manage to avoid increasing them? Your low T3 will be causing your depression.

Yes things have gradually improved when I started armour but I still have some really rotten patches. I feel I’m generally improving mentally but the last couple of days have been a bit rough. I am hoping once my levels get up that this will all be a distant dream ☺️

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to Beau55

Yes, I'm refusing to increase the sertraline, its been a waste of time and msde me so much worse last year when I started it. I saw my oncologist last week and i nervously broached the subject that i wanted to try T3. He shut me down immediately and said that T3 is not important. My heart just sank.

Sorry your feeling rough too lately, from reading other people's experiences I know it'sa slow bumpy ride, but worth it in the end. Praying for better days for us all x

buddy99 profile image
buddy99 in reply to Liam12

Where on Earth do doctors learn that T3 is not important?! It should really be common basic medical knowledge that T3 is the ACTIVE hormone. Grrrrr! It makes me so terribly mad to hear from people like you who have so much unnecessary suffering put on them by doctors who know diddly squat about thyroid. And to add insult to injury they often claim to practice evidence-based medicine. Then, for heaven's sake, look at the evidence! There is no evidence that T3 is not important.

Anyway, everything has been said and I think you have been well advised. What a wonderful community this is! I can only wish for you that you will find a more knowledgeable doctor with more compassion and less antidepressants in their arsenal to free you from this emotional hell. My heart cracked when I read your post. Be well. Take care of yourself. Don't give your power away. I think everybody here is more than willing to look out for you. <3

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to buddy99

It is indeed a wonderful community. I'd say life saving actually, I really mean that. The kindness shown here brings me to tears. I hsve spent hundreds of pounds on private doctors and none of them have the knowledge the people on this forum have. I have lost all faith in the doctors now, not just through my own experiences but from reading others too. We are treated terribly. To think i have been under the care of the mental health crisis team, seen a psychiatrist and and put through months of hell on antidespressants when all they had to do was listen and assess me properly. Thanks for your lovely message, ill take care of myself I promise x

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to Liam12

I know this post was a month ago, but use private doctors, specifically endocrinologists who will prescribe T3, as a tool in your arsenal. Never go to see them expecting them to fix you while you just wait for them to do it. Always go with your own goals listed and don't leave until you have what you want from them. This way the money is never wasted. So I use a private endo. for my T3 prescriptions (that I buy in the UK, GP won't give it to me) and I use a private menopause clinic for my HRT so that I can get what products I need and not be reliant on ignorant doctors for it. But I go to them with a list of what I want from them.

How old are you? Are you of an age that perimenopause or menopause are messing you up? Because a lot of the symptoms you listed are also found in those periods of our lives. I used to just cry all the time when I was in perimenopause. It was rubbish. And such anxiety that I could not leave the house without my husband. HRT sorted all that out.

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to FancyPants54

Hello, yes I'm peri, 49 , still regular cycles but things are changing. Night sweats, nausea etc. Currently oestrogen dominant so HRT not an option just yet. So hard to unravel whatever is going on as peri/hypo share a lot of symptoms. Thanks for replying x

Eton profile image
Eton in reply to Beau55

Hi can I ask please how you corrected your low cortisol as I have a problem with this. Thank you for any advice you can give me.

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to Eton

Same here

Beau55 profile image
Beau55 in reply to Eton

Hi Eton,

Have you read Dr Barry peatfields book? I am using Adrenavive (adrenal cortex) to increase my cortisol levels. Send me a private message if you want some help with it ☺️

Eton profile image
Eton in reply to Beau55

Hi Sarah thank you. I will pm for some help as all advice is v welcome. I do have Dr Peatfields book (along with many other thyroid books !) so I will dig it out and refresh my memory.

HowNowWhatNow profile image
HowNowWhatNow

Just here to send a hug. You are so brave to share what you are going through and I’m sure it will help others who are going through something similar.

Hang in there - something will pick up soon.

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to HowNowWhatNow

Bless you for that. I honestly don't know how some people cope with this for their whole lives. Ill get there.... hopefully

Buddy195 profile image
Buddy195Administrator

Hi Donna,

increased anxiety has been the hardest thyroid symptom to manage for me. I have seen a steady improvement since slowly adding T3 to my Levothyroxine dose, taking magnesium daily (I find dosing early evening helps me relax), being gluten free & practising mindfulness, Pilates and journalling (ie writing positive thoughts).I’m so much better than I was, although did have a dip with peri menopause, when I needed to add HRT. I need my thyroid medication & key vitamins to be optimal and if I need to make adjustments (either increase or decrease) I do this super slowly as my anxiety levels can flare.

You are not alone, keep posting and seeking advice. We are here to help & support 🦋

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to Buddy195

Good morning, I feel peri is making everything so much worse, unfortunately my very short trial with hrt was a disaster. Had an awful night, when I did sleep I had weird vivid dreams and woke up heart racing with adrenaline pumping hard. Just walking downstairs this morning has left me so breathless. Thanks for your kind words, I cant tell you how it feels to know others can empathise

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to Buddy195

Thankyou so much. For ages I didn't believe that my anxiety could be thyroid related, its almost a relief to know it is, at least there's an explanation for these feelings. Once my vitamins are optimal I will be asking for advice on introducing T3. Thanks again x

BiscuitBaby profile image
BiscuitBaby in reply to Liam12

Hi

Just wanted to say that my mental health was one of my worst symptoms. My mood was terrible, i cried at anything and everything, i had zero emotional regulation, i was paranoid, angry resentful. In fact probably every emotion except happy. There is a tick list on thyroid uk website that lists many of the symptoms and you'll see anxiety etc on that. I agree that this site is a lifesaver. I'm not sure where i'd be if i hadn't found it. The advice is good. Hopefully you'll find a dose that works. Good luck.

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to BiscuitBaby

Thank you. It helps knowing im not going insane, others have been here where I am now and came out the other side. X

BiscuitBaby profile image
BiscuitBaby in reply to Liam12

Thats exactly how i felt. I had no idea it could be thyroid related. I feel so much better now. You'll get there too. It's not a quick fix unfortunately but its fixable.

Aurealis profile image
Aurealis

I think that conversion of T4 to T3 becomes more difficult as you approach menopause, I believe this is because there is then less protein available in the blood for T4 to bind to (sorry no references to support this).

I understand your instinct to raise Levo dose, as I experienced this for many years and did increase and run with T4 over range in order to cope. But it’s really not a good plan and recent research papers have indicated this is risky to the heart.

Of course, you’re really craving T3. A reduction in Levo when you feel like raising it feels risky. You need to reduce some otherwise T4 will go even higher. There will only be about 4.5 mcg of T3 in half a grain. You will gradually get it right but it best if you can avoid it going too high as that is also unpleasant. It seemed to me that my body and brain had to learn to use and benefit from armour and it took some time to settle. Good luck. It’s worth it.

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to Aurealis

Thankyou, can I ask how did you get started on armour?. Im reading about timing etc and not sure where id start

Aurealis profile image
Aurealis in reply to Liam12

I was taking t3 and Levo but felt increasingly poorly, then tried t3 only and felt terrible, then added in Armour a bit at a time. It took me a long time to get properly stable.

Beau55 profile image
Beau55 in reply to Aurealis

Hi Aurealis,

How long did it take you to settle on Armour and get better? I have been gradually increasing and having some good patches before reverting back to crap! X

Aurealis profile image
Aurealis in reply to Beau55

Yes it was like that. Good patches, bad patches, dose changes, longer patches of feeling well, then bad patch, dose change, very long period of feeling well etc. Sometimes I’d be well for months and then I’d have to adjust dose due to weather, weight gain etc. in total I’d say about 5 years. To be honest, it would have been quicker if I’d done it on my own but was working with endo. The big step forward for me was finding out that I needed two equal doses and always needed to take T3 at the same time as armour. But that’s just me, I haven’t heard anyone else find this. Armour gave me terrible headaches with every dose change and they’d last for weeks sometimes. But I’m healthier now than I’ve ever been. I exercise more than I ever have, feel happy and well, ready for life :). Keep going, it’s worth it in the end and there’ll be good patches along the way.

Beau55 profile image
Beau55 in reply to Aurealis

Thank you Aurealis for your response and I am so thrilled to hear that you are feeling so well and happy!!

It definitely is all trial and error and hard to figure out if symptoms are from medication change, intolerance or just hypo symptoms. I had my first good patch on armour and then back to rubbish and I’ve found it hard to not overthink it or take it as a sign I won’t get better again. I am thinking I will potentially need T3 adding at some point but we will see. How did you work out that you needed two equal doses and T3 adding? I’m finding it hard to decipher my symptoms most of the time but I know it’s different for everyone!

Have you ended up on a high dose? I’m up to two grains currently but still having a lot of symptoms and worried I may need a very high dose that my Endo might not give me. I was previously taking a large dose of thyrogold the last time I got well and worrying armour won’t be enough on its own. X

janeroar profile image
janeroar

You say in a later reply ‘I try to avoid stress but its not very easy. Even a loud noise sends my nerves jangling’

I think alongside all the excellent advise about vitamins diet and t3 etc I would recommend doing some things to calm your nervous system. Yoga, breathing exercises, walks, relaxing baths, anything that’s going to tell your nervous system that things are ok. Think your body has been triggered into ‘fight flight mode’ and your physical and mental health would really benefit from this self care approach.

Take care Liam12 🤗

I suspected I poorly converted T4 to T3 and checked for the DI02 genetic mutation - which I have. The test was organised by Regenerus in Redhill, Surrey, UK. The result helps my understanding of my body, my approach to medication and in discussions with my GP. I buy T3 in Turkey and use the Monitor My Health NHS lab (with Thyroid UK discount 🙂) to test for free T3 etc. My GP and I then use the results to decide the levels of T4 and T3 medication I take. I hope your health improves.

HowNowWhatNow profile image
HowNowWhatNow in reply to

good work.

Roughly how much does this test cost, please?

in reply to HowNowWhatNow

The Regenerus website shows the DI02 cost as £88 but there may be a small posting charge. I am in the UK. The test is done in Germany. As a once in a lifetime cost it represents good value. Both websites will show the latest prices.

HowNowWhatNow profile image
HowNowWhatNow in reply to

thank you for explaining

Germany seems to be a good place for the thyroid tribe - both tests and T3 prescribing. Anyone here who lives in Germany and can confirm if it’s a good place - from a thyroid POV - to live?

marigold22 profile image
marigold22 in reply to HowNowWhatNow

I would highly recommend the Regenerus DIO2 gene test. I did it a few years back and it changed everything for me once I knew that I have a DIO2 mutation from one parent. In fact it got me NHS T3 from hospital endo.

Auders profile image
Auders in reply to marigold22

I should get my Dio2 results back next week, I’m really interested in the results!

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to

Thankyou so much, I will order that tonight. I have to do everything to help myself. How are you feeling now? Is life better?

in reply to Liam12

It's better now I use T4 and T3 thanks. But I always need to keep an eye on the T4 and T3 test results to stop me swerving off the 'road of health' into the swamp of mental and physical ill health.

Pippah45 profile image
Pippah45

As you have no thyroid it is no wonder you are not converting. I would press for a trial of T3 or swap onto NDT completely. (not combined with levo or you will get too much T4). Sorry for your depression i have been there too. So get the iron panel done and go for T3 or NDT.

Charlie-Farley profile image
Charlie-Farley in reply to Pippah45

Liam12

Chipping in again. You don’t have a thyroid! Pippah45 makes a very good point about the NDT it has all the hormones and yet more T4 so a combo if T4 and a bit of NDT does seem a little bit strange??? I have seen posts where NDT is combined with a little T3 owing to poor conversion 🤔 Doc may be confused on this.

Still get your vitamins etc optimal and be clear on the rationale for this before tacking doc.

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to Charlie-Farley

This is making more sense to me now thankyou. I think NDT is what is what id like to try. X

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to Pippah45

I will thanks. It's good to havea plan, it makes me more positive. I been sinking for too long, admittedly feeling sorry for myself quitea lot, but that's just getting me nowhere

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to Pippah45

Thanks pippa, has your depression completley gone now?

Pippah45 profile image
Pippah45 in reply to Liam12

My depression was many moons ago and yes its gone. I would say mostly due to positive mental attitude. I do remember thinking i had hit bottom so the only way is up. My son suffered depression follwing concussion aged about 5 and was in hospital for a coupke of weeks. When he was 19 he had a car accident in the Yemen which should have killed him but left hin paralysed from the waist down. He was in hospital 300 miles from me for 15 months. One day very early on he said "Mum i am not going to get depressed because its so difficult to get un-depressed". Wise words indeed. To think if he hadnt fallen over the dog and hit his head he would never have learnt that lesson! I also believe that "action cures fear" so i try hard not to stew over things but take action instead. So having a plan is great.

I think you doctor is indeed muddled adding NDT to levo would give you more T4 which you dont need. However NDT alone would be great. I am on NDT as is my daughter who went to her GP and was put straight on anti depressants which luckily didnt agree eith her. In reality her T3 was almost non existant and she has been doing great on NDT for several years. However it isnt so good not having her GPs onside and they think she is just taking a supplement. Its hard out there but educating ourselves is very empowering.

Charlie-Farley profile image
Charlie-Farley in reply to Pippah45

total admiration Pippah45 ❤️

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to Pippah45

Oh gosh. Thanks Pippa. "Action cures fear" ill remember that ....

SarahJane1471 profile image
SarahJane1471 in reply to Pippah45

👏❤️

Mollyfan profile image
Mollyfan

Hi Liam. I am so sorry you are feeling so bad, I think a lot of us can sympathise.

My understanding is that, if you have Hashimotos, the thyroid gland is gradually destroyed and becomes shrivelled. As a major part of the conversion of T4 to T3 happens in the thyroid, it is common for T3 levels to drop compared with T4 over time.

Also, I believe it is becoming better understood that the ratio of T3 to T4 is at least as important as the actual levels. Too much T4 with too little T3 gives you symptoms.

Therefore, as well as trying to get your vitamin levels optimal, I would personally suggest dropping T4 a bit as it is already over range and adding in T3. Why armour rather than T3? Taking T4 and T3 means you can alter both dosages independently to find what suits you.

My mood has massively improved since adding T3

Wishing you good luck…. There are many people in here who have been where you are and have improved things.

Oh, and I agree re testing DIO2. The test result helped me to get T3 for a wonderful private endo.

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to Mollyfan

Thankyou Mollyfan, I reduced my levo dose this morning actually, I'm going back to100mcg. I mistakenly thought that the higher dose of levo the more T3 id have. I didn't realise thati can be overmedicated and also T3 deficient. Duhh! I do feel pretty horrible on the higher dose

Guost profile image
Guost

Morning I have suffered this year terribly with levels up and down. I went private in the end. I would say you are over medicated and need to take a little less. You look over medicated. Are you getting palpitations, can’t sleep, dry eyes, headache feel sick? Take care Beth x

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to Guost

Yes I all of the above,the palpitations are very bad. So, I can be over medicated, but still low on T3?? This is so confusing

Guost profile image
Guost in reply to Liam12

my last blood test looked slightly over medicated but low on T4. I feel for you, it’s awful. I tried to get my liquid thyroxine today but couldn’t get any apparently there is a stock issue. They will ring me in a week, they have nothing to offer me in the mean time. No wonder we feel depressed constant battle. Take care

Ivan222 profile image
Ivan222

Hi, the uncontrollable anxiety and depression that we all suffer with is horrendous. Personally i have found improving my gut health by using Prebiotics and Probiotics daily has helped, it takes a while to make a difference but i do believe that i now feel better. Instead of feeling low 80% of the time i now feel good about 70% of the time. In the mornings i squeeze half of lemon into a cup of water and put in 2 table spoons of organic apple cider vinegar followed by low carb/sugar breakfast with which ill include biocult (not the best but i cant afford the best, VSL#3), a tsp of innulin and a sachet of bimuno. I have also found daily meditation and yoga helps the way i deal with anxiety and negative thoughts. Its just my 2 cents but thyroid problems is known to cause bad gut health and there is plenty of research proving that bad gut health causes depression. Hope this helps and i really hope you start to see the light at the end of the tunnel very soon. Take care

Charlie-Farley profile image
Charlie-Farley in reply to Ivan222

Liam12

Chipping in AGAIN! Ivan222 makes a very good point. Low vitamins and minerals, heartburn all associated with leaky gut. I too take a probiotic and inulin and I am strictly gluten-free. Much better.

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to Ivan222

I didn't realise anxiety was a common symptom with low t3. I thought there was something else going on fora long time. Thanks for the advice, it's genuinely appreciated x

Clairebeary profile image
Clairebeary

Hi Donna, I'm going through perimenopause too. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 4 months ago. Been struggling with anxiety and depression, have battled with it off and on over the years. But came back after a traumatic break up. I've heard stress can trigger hypo.

It's a double whammy for sure dealing with both peri and hypo. I'm on 50mcg levo. Started hrt, Utrogestan every night and Oestrogel every morning. Feeling more balanced, but have to not overdo things. Brainfog/concentration is still an issue but bit improved. I get dizziness and tinnitus/ringing in ears off and on too. I'm waiting for blood test results as might need adgustement of levo after starting hrt. I find it hard to get my head around it all with the thyroid. Trying to learn more on here, but retaining information is a struggle. I would try meditation, I google and lots of you tube guided meditations come up. It helps anxiety. Also walking in nature. Thank you for being open, it helps to know your not alone. I hope your feeling back to yourself again soon. I think I'll post my results on here soon and get some advice. I find it confusing. Feel free to message me too xx

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to Clairebeary

Personal question if thats ok, do you still have a regular cycle? I do and was thinking it's too soon to go on oestrogen as im quite dominant.

Clairebeary profile image
Clairebeary in reply to Liam12

Yes I still have a regular cycle. I might try patches, reading post from Guost just now. The oestrogel could be causing my tinnitus.

Guost profile image
Guost in reply to Clairebeary

hi I’m in exactly the same situation as you. I had to stop the gel as if you look at the excipients in the gel, one causes tinnitus and one causing sweating, like hot flushes. Stop the gel the tinnitus should improve. Try the patches they don’t have any excipients(fillers). I’m not taking anything, I’m going to try and sort my thyroid first. Good luck x

Clairebeary profile image
Clairebeary in reply to Guost

Hi, thank you for the info about the oestrogel. I didn't know can cause tinnitus! Will give the patches a try. Have you had hypothyroidism for long? X

Hookie01 profile image
Hookie01

Hi Liam12,

I have no advice to give but just wanted to let you know you you are not alone. I had my thyroid ablated in 2018 and i too have hit a huge depression wall! I can't up my levo as if i do it makes my shoulders, arms and feet hurt to the point i can barely walk and i just cry and basically do not want to be here. I was referred back to my endo to try and get my T3 back (i need lactose free) as gave up last time cos couldn't get lactose free for love nor money. My appointment was yesterday. I had to argue with him to get it back, won't give me a private prescription for thybon henning and tried to tell me that buying armour was cheaper than buying T3. He has sent a prescription to a hospital which is 17 miles away, but it will be a lottery to whether it is lactose free as won't put a named brand on the prescription! I was so angry with him for the lack of care and understanding i just came out and cried. It really shouldn't be this difficult to get help to feel better. I really hope we can find a solution.

HowNowWhatNow profile image
HowNowWhatNow in reply to Hookie01

Am so sorry.

Is your endo one you see on the NHS or privately?

And why will he not put lactose-free on the prescription? I don’t understand.

hope things are improving since then.

Hookie01 profile image
Hookie01 in reply to HowNowWhatNow

Thank you. He is NHS, have no idea why they don't want to do it, but after arguing with him he did. Am trialing the T3 and it is helping so far, def have more energy but my head still isn't quite right.

HashiFedUp profile image
HashiFedUp

Firstly, I’m so sorry to hear your feeling anxious and down. And you have my sympathies. I had both very bad before diagnosis and thankfully have had no reoccurrences. If i do start to feel even slightly anxious or uneasy, then it is typically because my levels are off.

I am a poor converter of t4 to t3 so I do tale t3 (NDT normally) as well as some NHS levo. I would suggest the same for you. I know from years of experience that, if my t3 is too low, the feelings of anxiety sometimes return.

With the NDT (Armour) start small as it’s quite powerful stuff! Expect side effects so start it when you have a few days of few commitments. Let us know how you get on and be assured that these feelings won’t last forever, they will pass, and you have us to talk to any time 😘

Morning_gl0ry profile image
Morning_gl0ry

Hi Liam12, I feel your pain! I haven’t read through all the reply’s so maybe it’s been said already, but I felt very similar to what you describe when I had a progesterone coil, it is scary how low I felt and not like me not to see a glimmer of hope in anything. I don’t know what age you are but could it be peri-menopause symptoms? I started hrt, oestrogen patch and progesterone tablet, 3 months ago and felt like my old self was back, then I forgot to renew my oestrogen patch for 3 days and I noticed I was so low and felt hopeless until I replaced it. I’m not a doctor of course but my hunch is armour is no replacement for t3 but different things help different people. I really hope you feel better soon x

HowNowWhatNow profile image
HowNowWhatNow in reply to Morning_gl0ry

interesting you say this. I was on progesterone for a few months. Find it v hard to put my finger on why but I didn’t feel myself on it at all. Doctors will say it’s perfectly safe / well tolerated but there are of course class actions going on in the U.S..

A friend who has a pharmacology degree had this coil. After a year she started having panic attacks. She’d never had them before. Once she removed the coil - life improved dramatically.

HowNowWhatNow profile image
HowNowWhatNow in reply to HowNowWhatNow

relevance of the pharmacology degree is just that she researched it - once she started having issues - and said she found a lot of research implicating poor mental health effects

English_Patient profile image
English_Patient

Hi there

I take 125 a day, divided into 100 in the early hours and 25 in the afternoon, as taken together, I get palpitations. I've found that when I feel those dreadful depressive feelings coming on, I take a 50 instead of the 25 and I'm back to normal until the next time. The GP's themselves have advised taking more some days than others.

KCFryer profile image
KCFryer

I'm really sorry you're feeling so bad. I've been there and am still trying to find my way. One thing that improved my symptoms quite a bit was to stick to the same brand and NEVER mix brands to get my dosage. I also felt terrible at TEVA, as it's got mannitol as one of the fillers and many people feel very unwell in it. If you read about the change from lactose to mannitol in the Euthirox (Merck) and how it affected the French people, you'll relate a lot to that in case your brand is TEVA here in the UK. I wish you all the best.

Timeow profile image
Timeow in reply to KCFryer

I felt terrible on teva too. Since I'm not taking it my anxiety and depression got better.

KCFryer profile image
KCFryer in reply to Timeow

I realised that thanks to this forum and the controversial situation in France when Merck changed lactose to mannitol. I'm glad you spotted that and feeling better now!

HowNowWhatNow profile image
HowNowWhatNow in reply to Timeow

same same

BirkiNAsa profile image
BirkiNAsa

I see a number of folks have replied in detail, so I won't go into much, but I also had a horrible time after P, and am going through mood issues as well again 18 years later. Still running all this down, but ferritin, vax, COVID, and Armour issues all potentially implicated.

I don't see a Reverse T3 here and that might yield a lot. However, I have been seeing for a while anx/panic/depression issues post COVID and vax.

Urraquer profile image
Urraquer

If I was you I would try to supplement with folic acid, it won't harm and it has been shown to improve substantially depression and anxiety.

humanbean profile image
humanbean

I have thought about increasing my levo to 150 but I worry that as I'm small and 9st it will harm my heart as my TSH is already low.

You should read this - you might find it reassuring :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Liam12 profile image
Liam12 in reply to humanbean

Brilliant, thankyou, I will x

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