heart beats stronger

[Prosecco1997]

hello I’ve been on levothyroxine now since October all be good , but now I notice after about an hour of taking 100mg I feel my heart beating stronger feeling it in throat and ears , should I try to reduce to 75 mg , I do have af but that is under controll , I was upped due to tiredness and exhaustion, but just recently found out I have hashimotos, so perhaps I didn’t need to increase dose ? I’m being treated for under active mild

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your recent results clearly show you were in need of dose increase and low vitamin levels

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Presumably you are now slowly adding separate vitamin supplements

You could split your Levothyroxine…..literally cut in half taking half tablet waking and half tablet at bedtime

[Prosecco1997 in reply to SlowDragon]

Would this stop the pounding heart if I split ? Also been realy itchy on my neck , sweating and headaches realy anxious and feeling sick , not sure why as read it could be to much

[crimple in reply to Prosecco1997]

Prosecco1997 what brand of levothyroxine are you taking? Each brand has different fillers which some people are sensitive to. Have you always had the same brand?

[Lulu2607 in reply to Prosecco1997]

Hi Prosecco1997 . The symptoms you describe sound like overmedication. Maybe your dose needs adjusted, particularly if you have af. It takes a while to get everything in balance when you start levothyroxine and many tweaks to dosage along the way are not uncommon.

[Prosecco1997 in reply to Lulu2607]

I was told I have mild under active, along with hashimotos , I realy don’t know what to take today as don’t want to start my af off again I’ve took 50 but speaking to slow dragon said to do 75 , I’m just so anxious at the moment

[Lulu2607 in reply to Prosecco1997]

If you have a clinical pharmacist at your GP surgery you can ring for advice I would do that as they can also take into account any other meds you are taking. There are a number of factors that can affect how we respond to levo and we are all different. Maybe the dose increase needs to be staggered, particularly with the af. The palpitations you describe are often experienced by levo patients particularly in response to an increase in dose, but with af you are right to be concerned. I'd give the GP a call or ask to speak to the clinical pharmacist for advice as you're concerned.

[Prosecco1997 in reply to SlowDragon]

Serum TSH level 0.72 mu/L [0.27 - 4.2]

Serum free T4 level 16.4 pmol/L [12.0 - 22.0] these were my latest results do you think I should still be on 100 these were 16 november

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Prosecco1997]

How long have you been on 100mcg

Was test done as recommended….early morning, ideally before 9am, only drinking water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Assuming Yes

FT4: 16 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 only 40.00% through range

Shows you are not on high enough dose yet

Retest again after 12-20 weeks

Likely TSH will have risen

Meanwhile continue improving vitamin levels and get these retested at next test too

[Vasiliki99 in reply to SlowDragon]

I get that cud be hormone virus it cud be meaning it's working or that it's t much I don't know the body weird cud be sign your ok

[Prosecco1997]

I’m taking accord always been on same brand , stalling this morning taking it as how I have been feeling

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Prosecco1997]

So you were on 75mcg daily?

Increased to 100mcg daily

Some people can’t tolerate increasing in too large a jump

Try alternate day 75mcg and 100mcg (average daily dose 87.5mcg)

Get a weekly pill dispenser so it’s easier to remember which dose which day

Initially 75mcg 4 days a week and 100mcg 3 days

After 6-8 weeks retest

Or just try increasing to 100mcg daily

But also very important to work on improving low vitamin levels to help tolerate increased dose levothyroxine

[Prosecco1997 in reply to SlowDragon]

I’ve just took 50 so I’ll take another 25 , just didn’t no if I was taking to higher dose with my symptoms , doctor said just to increase my bit d said b12 was ok ?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Prosecco1997]

I gave you detailed information on how/why to increase vitamin levels in previous post here

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

suggest you reread it

NHS only considers treating vitamin deficiencies

On levothyroxine the “lived experience “ of thousands of thyroid patients is that we need OPTIMAL vitamin levels

Serum vitamin B12 level 301 ng/L [197.0 - 771.0]

Serum folate level 3.6 ug/L [3.0 - 20.0]

vitamin D level 42.0 nmol/L

Optimal B12 at least over 500 minimum

Optimal folate at least over 17

Vitamin D at least over 80nmol

Don’t start all vitamin supplements at once

Wait at least 10-14 days to assess after adding each supplement

Start with vitamin D

Suggest 3000iu vitamin D mouth spray with k2

After fortnight add separate B12

After that add daily vitamin B complex

Lastly daily magnesium in evening

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Being aware of heart beats is often a hypothyroid symptom

Do you wear a fitness watch

[Prosecco1997 in reply to SlowDragon]

I have atrial fibrillation, so have to be careful what I take with my meds Do you think my symptoms are from having to higher dose

[Prosecco1997 in reply to SlowDragon]

Is it best to drop to 75 or do 50 twice aday

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Prosecco1997]

How long have you been taking 100mcg daily

I would try splitting dose first

And equally important work on improving very low vitamin levels

For good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone) we need GOOD vitamin levels

Also as you have Hashimoto’s get coeliac blood test

Assuming coeliac test is negative, consider trialing strictly gluten free diet (after Christmas perhaps)

[Prosecco1997 in reply to SlowDragon]

I have been taking 100 since middle of October, made a big difference felt better , but have moments where I feel I’m going to drop but got better with increase , just can’t cope with pounding heart , as makes me feel awful

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Prosecco1997]

When vitamin levels are low this causes poor conversion of Ft4 to Ft3 …so Ft4 can be high, and Ft3 remains low

High Ft4 can make you feel a bit anxious/wired…..and low Ft3 will make you feel hypo and result in ever lower vitamin levels

The lower vitamin levels go, the worse conversion rate gets

You need to retest 8-12 weeks after increase in dose Levo

But if not been improving vitamin levels, start now and make some progress before testing

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How other member saw how effective improving low B vitamins has been

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

examples of other posts with Medichecks results…often including vitamins

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

[Prosecco1997 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hello sorry it’s me again , I took 50mg of Levothyroxine this morning instead of 100 , come 5 o’clock I started to get realy jittery and felt like I needed sweet stuff and my walking problem came back ? I’m now thinking when I’m on 100 and this happens , I may need more ? I was trying to split the dose to twice a day , I’ve now took the other 50 , would it be ok to take 100 at 7am or to early , I’ve been crying with my anxiety , realy is getting to me all this , but so thankful to come on here and speak to everyone 🙂

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Prosecco1997]

Have you started taking any vitamin supplements at all yet?

Perhaps tomorrow take 75mcg in morning and 25mcg late afternoon or bedtime

Do you always take levothyroxine on empty stomach, only water for an hour after and no other medications or supplements within 2 hours

No magnesium, iron, HRT, PPI, iron , or vitamin D tablets within 4 hours

[Prosecco1997 in reply to SlowDragon]

I have started high strength vitamin d , but will get normal strength, I take on empty stomach at 7am then 2 hours ish later take flecinide bisoprolol and hrt gel , I have caffeine free coffee , does that effect absorption?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Prosecco1997]

What dose vitamin D

Is it a tablet. Or mouth spray

Tablets should be taken with food that has high fat content to aid absorption (and 4 hours away from levothyroxine)

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function. Only need be an hour away from levothyroxine

There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7.

One spray = 1000iu

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average

Retest after 2-3 months

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly via NHS private testing service when supplementing

vitamindtest.org.uk