these were my readings a few days ago however since reduced thyroxine back down due to high t4 symptoms affecting my heart and increased and anxiety and diarrhea.
My question is does anyone split dose their thyroxine and would it be beneficial for me?
I have lowered the dose slightly to reduce the high t4 but now I am starting with under active symptoms including low stomach acid and fatigue.
Should I take the slightly lower dose of 75 every morning as I always take it then and maybe take another 12.5 in the afternoon to top me up and maybe the high t4 symptoms which I seem to get every afternoon on the higher dose wouldn’t be so bad?
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Goinginsane1
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As per your last post, I think your high anxiety and stomach issues may be linked to FT4 being over range. When I experienced similar, I reduced Levo to get FT4 within range, then looked for a trial of combination medication to raise FT3 and address conversion issues.
so, I started eating more (which I need to do) last October. When I ate more (but only to what I should be eating as I haven’t been eating enough for a long time) my TSH went over and I needed to increase my thyroxine. I had low stomach acid problems and awful muscle aches and fatigue and unbelievably tired at that time of my TSH going over and these were under active symptoms.
I knew that my t4 was already at the high end so didn’t increase my medication in fear of over active issues back then so the only way for me to reduce the tsh was to eat slightly less again.
This time round I have started eating more again as I am seriously underweight since having diarrhea when I took citaolpram for 6 days after Xmas. I lost weight I couldn’t afford to lose and now I look and feel anorexic which is affecting my whole body. I’ve started eating more and enjoying my food the last week or 2 and I can feel the stomach acid and achey muscles flaring up again and my TSH was about to go over range (3.7) prior to the above test done a week later. I increased my thyroxine marginally to prevent the TSH going over and stomach acid becoming a real problem and was hoping that the t4 wouldn’t go up and cause me other issues.
But, sure enough, since increasing the dose (especially the 2 days I took 100) my anxiety was so bad and my heart was beating faster and I felt really unwell. I tried increasing it ever so slightly as in 12.5 or even less that than initially for a couple of days but still felt stomach acidy so increased it to approx 87.5 and then 100 for 2 days. The days I took those doses especially the 100 I had diarrhoea again and anxiety through the roof and heart issues.
I’ve had to reduce it back down to 75 the last 2 days and whilst the high t4 symptoms have eased somewhat I have started with low stomach acid issues again. I am so unwell.
I’m not sure how to get T3? I have to find a private dr don’t I?
The nhs endocrinologist I saw a couple of weeks ago knew nothing and was a total waste of time. He didn’t even know that iron affected t3 levels when I told him that everytime I stop iron supplements my t3 drops. He said iron wouldn’t do that and he had done a masters degree! Absolutely shocking appointment. He ushered me out the room before I could even mention things or t3 medication. I don’t think he would have known or thought I needed it as he looked at my medichecks chart and said they were in normally range and there was nothing wrong, even though there is. He don’t say anything about the high t4 either.
I need to eat more so bad but I feel trapped. I believe low hormone levels are potentially the cause of the poor conversion and my anxiety (and the thyroid issues causing me more anxiety too). Anti depressants affect my heart and make me more ill so they are not an option.
I took 75 this morning and yesterday morning. I have cut a tiny bit more to add to the 75 tomorrow morning (approx a quarter of a quarter of a 50 tablet so around 7/8mg) to increase it as slowly as I can possibly do to try and find some sort of balance.
I am wondering whether to take that tiny bit more tonight before bed so it might keep me going over night so I don’t wake up with what I think is stomach acid and pain under my ribs first thing in the morning. And then take the 75 at 8am as usual?
I also notice that I take my medication every morning around 8am and when I get over active symptoms (heart issues and feeling really poorly and awful anxiety) they peak around 2/3pm in the afternoon and then subside as the evening goes on, I guess as the medication starts to wear off again 💁
I wonder if I took the tiny bit extra tonight before bed, as I said, to keep the under active issues at bay and maybe if I don’t take it altogether at 8am I won’t get as severe over active symptoms when the levels seem to peak in the afternoon?
Or maybe just taking that tiny bit extra is going to cause me the over active issues regardless of when or how I take it? And I should just take it altogether tomorrow morning and see how I am tomorrow 💁
I just know I need to eat more somehow and when I get stomach acid issues I struggle to eat and my food doesn’t digest and I can’t live with that either. I feel so poorly and trapped and I feel like my body is giving up on me. I went to a&e earlier but didn’t stay long after triage as I don’t know what they can do for me there unless I’m having a heart attack or I collapse. Which I feel like I’m coming close to at times 😞
I am going back to the gp tomorrow but I don’t think they know how to help me either and I don’t think they understand when I try to explain to them what’s happening. Hell the endocrinologist didn’t either!
I am going to ask about hormone replacement options. I took the pill for 3 weeks but had to stop that about 10 days ago as I was having awful migraines. Frustrating coz I think the hormones were helping my mood. It’s going to be hard to convince the dr that I need hormones and maybe hrt at a super low dose short term until I find my balance again and pray that that doesn’t cause my awful migraines.
I have recently read that hormones ie estrogen/progesterone are needed for a proper thyroid function too? And my levels are low so I wonder if this is the cause of my anxiety and conversion problems 💁
Over range FT4 caused me increased palpitations, tremor and anxiety and a cardiologist warned against this/ supported my endocrinologist in a combination treatment trial. It’s worth searching on the forum to see other posts discussing over range FT4, eg healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Regarding split doses/ timings; this is very much trial & error to see what works best for you.
It may be worth you looking at the Louise Newson app to gain more information about HRT options. I’ve found improving oestrogen & progesterone levels improved many adverse perimenopause symptoms.
I am currently taking 400 vitamin d including in the omega 3. Vitamin d tablets make me feel really sick. Nervous to try the spray but I have bought it.
I also tried magnesium a few months ago and it caused me severe anxiety like ridiculous for some reason. My body seemed to react to it badly. Again nervous to try a different one but maybe I should.
if I didn’t increase my dose slightly after this the TSH would have gone over like last time and I would have started to feel even worse with awful stomach acid problems and my whole body would be aching and high inflammation markers and fatigue like I’ve never felt before which I can’t live with either 💁
There's lots of good advice in these replies. You should keep your levo dose so that you are within range. Don't chop and change doses. Yes, this will probably make you feel hypo. You must eat a good range of foods and ensure you get all your vital nutrients. If your stomach acid is low, take betaine hydrochloride with your main meal. Yes, you may well be constipated. Once you are doing this, get full bloods done as has been suggested. Yes, you'll probably have to get these done privately. Make an appointment with a private endocrine consultant, with the aim of getting some t3 added to your levo. Hopefully, you'll then start to make progress. Good luck.
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