Anybody else have a terrible memory on levothyroxine

[ockerdoc]

I’m on 100mcg of Levo but my memory is probably the worst it’s ever been. Mainly names I just cannot remember names of people. We were doing a quiz in work on faces and I literally couldn’t name any. I’m 51 so I don’t know if this is normal for my age or whether I’m still hypo and need a bit more Levo. Anyone else suffer from this?

[Buddy195 Administrator]

For me ockerdoc this was definitely related to peri menopause, as it started after I was on optimal thyroid medication. My memory issues massively improved when I began HRT.

Regarding HRT, I found useful information on Dr Louise Newson’s free Balance App. It’s useful for having up to date research articles. There is also an ability to post questions.

healthunlocked.com/redirect...

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Buddy195]

Not sure the Balance App caters for men 🤭

But it could be that a bit of testosterone would help as it is linked to brain fog

[Chriskisby in reply to TiggerMe]

Haven’t you heard of the manopause? No, me neither! Seriously I can’t say levo has, thankfully, given me anything but relief from most symptoms many of us do suffer from due to our thyroid issues. I take 150mcg of Mercury (I am only prescribed 125, but it is not enough) and, generally I manage quite well, I think, for a nearly 70 year old female. Good luck with yours and hope things improve for you.

[ockerdoc in reply to Chriskisby]

Thank you.

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

What are your fT3 levels like? My memory for names was embarrassingly bad for years HRT helped a little but it took getting my fT3 levels up for a few months before it really improved and a year on it is still getting better 🤗

[ockerdoc in reply to TiggerMe]

I’m on 100mcg now and my FT3 levels on 75mcg were 52% through range so hopefully I got some room to increase as yet. It’s becoming very noticeable lately..somebody will ask who is in a film or who is boxing or who is fighting in the ufc and I literally cannot remember any names ! It’s so weird !

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to ockerdoc]

Sadly it doesn't necessarily work that way, you might find that your fT4 goes up but if your ducks aren't in a row the conversion slows and fT3 stays where it is 😬

How long until your next test? I'm thinking you've only been on 100mcg for a few weeks

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

Thought it rang a bell...

ockerdoc profile imageockerdoc in reply to Eeyore100

26 days ago

Thanks Eeyore100 yes at the moment I’m taking 75mcg one day and 100mcg the next so 87.5mcg..do you think I could go to 100mcg or would that be too much? I’ve had my Testosterone levels checked and my free testosterone was 0.26 (0.16-0.47) so not particularly great to be honest. It’s strange because my libido got worse when I started the levothyroxine. Actually the first 5 days on Levo the libido came back but then went and still hasn’t come back. It was better when I was hypo and on nothing, how does that work 🤷‍♀️. I do feel better in myself brain fog anxiety zest for life is coming back etc but still lacking in energy and libido.

and you being 93kg are likely to need nearer 150mcg but it takes a while to build up the dose

[HealthStarDust in reply to TiggerMe]

I remember this too!   ockerdoc you beat to 100mcg!!! Glad things are easing for you a bit.

Anyway, I can share that my memory went to pot about 10 or so years ago, which I imagine was when my thyroid began to struggle but was left undiagnosed. Can’t be sure of course.

[ockerdoc in reply to TiggerMe]

Yes after this post I actually began 100mcg daily so I’ll be testing in about 4 weeks ish see where I am on 100mcg.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to ockerdoc]

It'll be interesting to see those results... in the mean time I can thoroughly recommend a bit of testosterone.... works for us girls 😁

[ockerdoc in reply to TiggerMe]

If I had the energy to go to the gym I would !! I know my T levels could do with a boost 👍 thanks Eeyore appreciate your advice 😀

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to ockerdoc]

Ask your GP for a trial 🤗

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How long have you been on 100mcg

Retest 8-10 weeks after increasing

Likely soon ready for next dose increase up to 112.5mcg daily

just read  eeyore78 link to your post discussing low testosterone

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to SlowDragon]

Has my dose been reduced SD? You've dropped me down to 78 😏 Who's not been seen for 12 years.. hope all is well

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to TiggerMe]

I was talking to ockerdoc

Thought he was still on alternate 75mcg /100mcg

Now edited my reply

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, you tagged eeyore78 🙃

[ockerdoc in reply to SlowDragon]

After that post I decided to stick to 100mcg daily so I’ll be testing in about a month or so to see where I’m at on that dose 👍

[DippyDame]

FT3 on 75mcg levo = 52% through ref range

FT3 on 100mcg....better?.....perhaps.

We aim to have both Frees approaching 75% through their respective ref ranges.....so you are possibly undermedicated

You need an FT3 result along with FT4

Your T4 to T3 conversion sounds impaired....evidenced by high FT4 with compara.tively low FT3

Have you optimised vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin to support conversion?

That plus extra levo may help tho' I suspect your (cellular) T3 level is on the low side....and may have been slowly dropping

The brain needs a great deal of T3!

Suggest have a full thyroid test after at least 6 weeks on a steady dose of 100mcg levo.....at 9am and at least an hour away from food and drinks

The lab results will point the way forward.

It will take time, there is no quick fix

[ockerdoc in reply to DippyDame]

Yep thank you DippyDame I’ll be testing in a month or so on 100mcg to see where I’m at. My FT4 was 60% through range at 75mcg and my FT3 was 52% so I thought my conversion was pretty good? I’m still taking all my vits..I have b12 injections and take Vit D and folate. My ferritin is usually good as I eat beef n eggs every day.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ockerdoc]

Test after 8 weeks on 100mcg daily

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription?

[DippyDame]

Hopefully the next test might show better conversion!

Nutrients sound OK.

Good luck

[Readingaddict]

I have never been able to remember names since my thyroid failed at 18yrs ( I am now 69) so it's a symptoms not your age lol. I have just always got round it by calling everyone hon because I know who they are, I just have no access to their name. I also have to set alarms for apps because, although I know that I have an appt on the 22nd, I am not aware that it is the 22nd today. Hope that helpful to you Cx

[Cup-cake7 in reply to Readingaddict]

Hear Hear! Same! I don't worry now about this as never been good at names, Iv muddled along and can see I was probably sub clinical always! For me

Mind you I put blame on double head fracture we can always lay blame somewhere! lol. Also I knew dates much more when working and needed to I guess need to make conscious effort to look at calendar/phone but if it's not a habit you just don't 😉😃

[pvw2]

I haven't seen that issue with my levothyroxine. Have you tried exercising?

[ockerdoc in reply to pvw2]

Yeh I was exercising until a few weeks ago when I had the flu. Hoping to get back in the gym this week. Doesn’t seem to improve my crap memory tho !

[Cup-cake7 in reply to ockerdoc]

Id really like to know people's results when having the levo dose in accordance with their body weight as it seems to make total sense

[ockerdoc in reply to Cup-cake7]

Yep hopefully I’ll be increasing to 125mcg in a month so should be close to my dose by weight.

[Cup-cake7 in reply to ockerdoc]

What equations is it pls

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Cup-cake7]

1.6mcg per kilo for T4

[Kimkat in reply to ockerdoc]

It didn’t work for me tbh, I ended up having palpitations, anxiety and unable to sleep. I should be on roughly 125 a day but I’ve reduced to 100 for 5 days and 50 for 2 days, I’m still not there but I’m always hopeful. By the way my memory for names and words is awful too.

[Doris11]

mine memory is terrible too ☹️

[dunestar]

My memory was awful earlier this year. Not just names but I'd struggle to bring ordinary words to mind. It got to the point where I thought twice about opening my mouth. It turned out that my folate levels were getting on the low side. I started methyl folate supplements and things have improved quite a lot.

[Marz]

How are your levels of B12 ? Folate ? Ferritin ? VitD ?

[ockerdoc in reply to Marz]

They are pretty good except folate which I’m now supplementing to get it up towards the top of the range.

[Marz in reply to ockerdoc]

Is B12 over 500 ?

[ockerdoc in reply to Marz]

B12 124 (37-188)

[Marz in reply to ockerdoc]

Looking good as long as it reaches the cells !

[Kimkat in reply to ockerdoc]

What are you supplementing with?

[ockerdoc in reply to Kimkat]

I have B12 injections regularly take folate vit d/k2 magnesium glycinate selenium etc. I also eat alot of beef and eggs every day so my ferritin is always good.

[Kimkat in reply to ockerdoc]

Yes I take B12 and vit d/K2 plus magnesium, also my ferritin is low. I try to eat enough to combat that but it doesn’t seem to be working

[san_ray70]

Yes, but I never thought it was my Levo. I am nearly 75

[Dakie]

I'm 58 and have been on HRT for 5 yrs. Since being diagnosed with under active thyroid 18 mths ago, I live in a permanent brain fog!, feel like I am floating through life, menopause doesn't help, but my thyroid is the main cause