I'm trying to get from 75mcg levo - 100. Went straight for it in April and the anxiety was too much after a few weeks
Came back to 75mcg, tested after 6 weeks (will attach results)
Based on this and your advice (Buddy) I have been going slower and tried 87.5mcg daily. This has been much better. Less anxious and some good days. I'm now on week 5 + 4 days and not having a great week. Feel more tired and sort of unwell.
Had an appointment work the Thyroid Clinic yesterday who agreed I'm under medicated and have put me up to 100mcg. Starting straight away.
I'm not sure whether to give the 87.5mcg time to settle a bit more or just to step up now to 100mcg?
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Dahliasanddaisies
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Similar situation as yourself as have gone up to 100mcg and my anxiety has increased. It’s odd in that it’s noticeably raised but for no reason. As in I don’t have palpitations etc, it’s just there more often. Going to stick at 100mcg and hopefully it’s just my body speeding up a bit??
Morning, yes I'm just over 3 weeks into 100 (did 6 weeks at 87.5) and feeling okay. Last time, it was about week 4 that I started to get more anxiety symptoms, so I'm wondering what next week will bring!!
I think best to stick with it if you can, I'm definitely going to try to! It felt like I'd had a double espresso (I'm not drinking caffeine atm) so not awful but a bit disconcerting. Generally wore off after a few hours, but it's like you don't know what to do with yourself.
My general resting level of anxiety has been up and down. Much much better than on 75, so I'm hoping eventually it will go away!
Thanks, that’s good to hear that you’re managing to stick with it. Really hoping that the slow increase works this time and week 4 doesn't creep in!
I get the coffee example completely, it’s not like a caffeine rush for me though, just that the thoughts are more prevalent. Hopefully it’s just the brain ticking over a bit more and my ruminations are up. Will keep going and let you know if it goes away (hopefully 😃). I’ve never had my vitamins tested so my next lot of bloods including those will be interesting.
Hi Comet...well week 4 has been awful (and not over yet)!! I knew it would be but blimey, it's a good job this forum is here else I would have stopped my increase already. Anxiety back, chest pains, breathlessness and hideous reflux/indigestion. Feel like I can't eat anything at the moment, not much appetite either (not a bad thing!).
Sorry to hear that Dahlias. I know you were readying yourself for it but still, rubbish to go through. Is it the combination of the symptoms driving it or is the anxiety just there?? Are you feeling any better in others areas, just so you know you stick with it??
I’m on week 3 (I think) and I definitely had noticed my anxiety increasing but have been hoping it was just my metabolism kicking up a notch. Feeling hot and my extremities tingling. Has calmed down a bit though so have fingers crossed that that’s it.
Are you planning on pushing through then? Is it something others have had and been able to help with to encourage you through? Really hope so!! I’ve only posted a couple of times so mainly lurk to learn and this site is nothing short of amazing. Really, really hoping you can stick with the dose increase.
Andrew Major has been fab to listen to by the way 😃 brilliant just before sleep so thanks for the recommendation. I’ve been trying all sorts to help the anxiety, just different techniques, kind of hoping that something sticks. One of the main ones has been trying self-compassion. Just being kind with yourself. That’s been helping a bit but has been so much harder than it sounds - Kristin Neff (?) is good to listen to. Don’t know if that might be a help???
Ah I'm glad it's been useful, he's got a great voice! Yes I'm going to stick with it, others have said week 5+ things should settle, but obviously its different for everyone. I don't want to go backwards, I wasn't well on a lower dose either, so the only way is up.
The anxiety is different this time, and yes the breathing and digestive issues might all be anxiety related...it's a fun guessing game!
Hope you feel okay this week. I'll check in in a few weeks
Side effects have started to drop here, so has the anxiety, so there’s hope with sticking with it. Hope you’re finding the same, or the help to push through with the new dosing.
Ah that's great! I'm really pleased for you. I've had an awful week but I've got pmt to so that doesn't help. The anxiety has no rhyme or reason to it 😕 week 5 for me now, so I'm sure next week will be better
Sorry to hear that. Having that on top isn’t going to help is it ☹️
Bizarre about the anxiety isn’t it? When mine was bad it was like a taunt wire buzzing constantly. Not pleasant for us that experience it. Really hoping you come out the other side of this soonest.
Hi Dahliasanddaisies hope you don’t mind me popping onto your post? Just wondering how you’re getting on with the anxiety? I’m at the end of Week 4 of a dose increase and the last couple weeks have been brutal with anxiety. I’ve suffered with anxiety in the past so I’m no stranger to it but I’m finding it tough going at the moment. Hoping that it will ease in the coming weeks… I’d followed your post as it was reassuring to me that others on here feel the same - although of course I wouldn’t wish this on anyone!
Hey, course I don't mind! Yes week 4 and 5 were brutal. Week 6 seemed to turn a corner but not quite back to 'normal' haha. The anxiety manifests in strange and different ways just to keep me on my toes!
I'm sorry you're struggling too, it will ease off but it's so hard when you're in the thick of it, days last forever when you feel anxious. It's the heart/chest issues which are the most distressing for me, they were really bad in week 4.
Are you doing any meditation/yoga nidra/hypnotherapy? Anything to relax your nervous system. Try some vagus nerve exercises to help with any excess cortisol (look on YouTube etc) take care x
Thank you for replying! I’m glad to hear things have eased a little bit for you. Yes, the days last forever!
For me it’s all anxiety around eating/drinking. I suffer with slow swallow reflex, poor appetite and other eating related issues usually, but now with the anxiety it is absolutely terrifying to eat and I can only manage to get a little bit eaten at a time by myself in a room alone. Very stressful, strange and upsetting.
Those are some good tips - I find meditation very beneficial when I do it so will get back on that. And yes, vagus nerve exercises - I’ve heard of them but not done them - will give them a go.
Gosh you poor thing, that sounds really distressing. I have found real anxiety about taking medication/vitamins that I never had before. Some days I just can't swallow pills, it's ridiculous. If you're on Instagram, I like Health with Holland. She has a good take on vagus nerve stimulation.
Popping in to say that week 5 has in the past been the worst for me too… week 6 better and by 8-9-10, so far, it has always settled down. I’m now a few weeks in to my latest so going through it again!!!
WestElf and Unfamaliar_Comet hey both, hope you're doing okay now? Just wanted to say that by week 8 I'm feeling much better, most of the physical symptoms of anxiety have gone..yay! Just had new bloods and looks like I need an increase, so will be doing it all again 😱
Oh that’s really awful for you - so hard to increase when you know you’re going to feel like this. I suppose there is some comfort in knowing that it will pass eventually but still, you are very brave.
Yeah it's really taxing, knowing you've got to keep going through it. But I did have a few 'good' weeks but my bloods showed I needed an increase and I still have no stamina, I'm desperate to be able to walk places again. So maybe by Xmas I will.have finished increases...fingers crossed. Thank you for your kind words
For anyone following this thread (and my own reference) Week 4 of increase to 112.5mcg, typically been feeling off again. Hot flashes? (That's a new one!), like my chest and neck are on fire. Increased anxiety, chest pain, high HR in the mornings especially.
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