morning all
I’ve recently increased my levothyroxine from 75 to 100, since then my anxiety has been terrible, increased heart rate and overall just very on edge. My levels suggested I needed an increase but the GP said to go back down to 75 if the anxiety got worse. It has been 17 days since the increase.
Previous levels before increase
TSH 2.5 (0.27-4.2)
T3 4.9 (3.1-6.8)
t4 15 (12-22)
Do I just continue and hope it levels out as it’s still early days?
x
Increased anxiety has been the worst symptom of having a thyroid condition for me and it is always worse if thyroid medication or key vitamins (ferritin, folate, vitamins B12 and D) are not optimal.
What works well for me and minimises anxiety is to adjust Levo super slowly, increasing by 12.5mcg (alternate days at first) until ‘well tolerated’. I’ve had to ‘think tortoise’ rather than ‘hare’ when making adjustments.
I think because I’m 17 days in, shall I just keep going or would you suggest halving it from now on x
If your anxiety levels is very high, I would consider reducing to 87.5mcg until this diminishes. I find a pill cutter useful for this task. I would only add a further 12.5mcg when settled on this reduced dose.
Just checking your results- have you got the FT3/ FT4 readings mixed?
Sorry yes I mixed them up lol x do the results look ok to you ? Or would you suggest an increase x
Hi, I have only recently started taking levothyroxine, and experienced higher heart rate at the beginning. I think your body can get used to it. However, the anxiety is not something that will go away on its own. Your doctor said you should lower the dose if your anxiety worsens, and I believe it will be best if you follow that advice. Additionally, your results prior to upping the dose seem fine, so not sure why the need to take more hormones? As the more levothyroxine you take, the lower TSH result would be.
I don’t really trust my GP that’s the only problem. They haven’t been good with advice on managing my thyroid so far so it’s hard to trust their advice. I have had advice from here that the lower the TSH the better? X
Ah yes, I haven't had much help from English doctors, had to get diagnosed in my home country by endocrinologist (which was surprisingly quick and easy, as he knew what he was talking about!). May be worth seeing if you can see a private doctor, or get referred to a specialist?
I imagine in general the lower TSH the better, but if you get lower than norm that's also bad for you. Remember, every body is different, and the doctor should help you to get the best dose that works for you.
This forum has talked me off the ledge plenty when I’ve been in similar situations.
I have followed the low&slow approach - increasing Levo from 50 to my current 112 in 12.5 increments and waiting at least 6-8 weeks but some times longer.
I have always found the volatility ramp up in week two and peak at week 5. At some point I searched “week 5” on this forum and found similar experiences of people panicking and convinced they should change their dose.
Most often the best advice is to hold the line. The only way through it , is through it.
Then at week 6 and even better weeks 7-8-or even by 9 & 10… I remember thus notable feeling of things settling and calming down.
And your numbers show an increase is a good move. Too high tsh, too low free ts. We are all different. I don’t know anything about you but your posts. We are not doctors . So take it all as shared experience, we’ve all been there!
Bless your heart thank you so much for the reassuring reply. I’m feeling all out of sorts today keep tripping up on my words and that then makes the anxiety worse! Can’t wait to feel better. Almost 3 weeks on the increased dose so I may aswell continue on it xx
It’s funny you say about week 5, I’m feeling that!!! I wonder what it is about week 5 xx
5 weeks of compounding half lives of Levo building up : ) Our whole bodies reacting, realigning, adjusting to a more “normal” level of hormone.
Hormones are interconnected with every cell and function in our bodies … chain reactions all over the place!
By 6-8 weeks it’s built to a stable amount so the volatility calms down.
🤗
Is it normal to be a bottomless pit as well? Because I am so hungry lol x
I’m stating the obvious - but as your thyroid hormones drive metabolism, yours is now starting up again : )
It’s not a straight line, but all in the right direction!
How did you find posts on ‘week 5’ please xxx
First by sifting through the many and many irrelevant posts returned in using the basic forum search function.
Just typing “Week 5” and filtering on just the thyroid board.
And…. And here’s my find/reply from that time : )
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Ha!
edit: I just re-read my reply linked above and what a difference a year makes.
JoJoloveschocolate remember that! I still think of you disco‘ing to the store on your good day back then 🪩
Diagnosed in Aug ‘22, found this forum one year after that in Aug/Sep ‘23. So the above was only about 4 months into being on the right track.
Thanks to this forum, I would otherwise be ill on 50 mcgs of Levo and 10 t3 forever wondering what else was wrong with me.
So grateful!
I’m so happy for you!! Do you feel back to yourself now? So reassuring to read! Xx
I’m completely functional… now dealing with menopause. But although it’s not a breeze, by all appearances I’m living a pretty normal life.
My next mountain to climb is more regular “exercise” (walking, weight training, yoga, etc.)
Gosh I’m feeling extremely deflated and down today. Week 5 really is tough 😢 head pressure and headaches and extreme tiredness I can barely keep my eyes open! Not fun with 2 excitable children and a bloody elf on the shelf lol x
The only way through it, is through it!
We are all different but still I expect and hope you too will feel the clouds part in a week or two.
There are no short cuts, it gets better though. 🤗
Do you take T3 as well xx
I do.
Maybe thats what I need to feel better x
Not necessarily. Just sit tight til your next blood test in 1-3 week or more.
It’s just really frustrating feeling so wiped out with two little ones x
Have you had any vitamins and minerals tested in the last 6 months or so?
For me, low nutrient levels, particularly low iron and/or ferritin, can cause depression and anxiety. I ended up testing and treating my own low iron/ferritin. I absorb it very poorly and it took a very long time to optimise my levels.
I know that for some people low levels of vitamin B12 and folate can cause depression and anxiety. So can low vitamin D.
Thank you! Yeah my ferritin is only 42 so I think that’s a bit low? X
Yes, a level of 42 for ferritin is low.
According to this link :
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
Quote :
Normal ferritin levels for women are between 20 and 200 ng/mL. According to some experts, ferritin levels of at least 40 ng/ml are required to stop hair loss, while levels of at least 70 ng/ml are needed for hair regrowth. The optimal ferritin level for thyroid function is between 90-110 ng/ml.
And this link is worth reading too although the info on ferritin is too vague for me, and I use the link above :
CAN123x
Ensure your iron levels are adequate before trying to further raise Levothyroxine.
Inadequate iron levels are commonly known to cause palpitations, restlessness and anxiety when introducing Levo or trying to raise the dose.
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