Levothyroxine peak serum symptoms

[tumrum]

I'm on 100mcg Levothyroxine and have been steady on that dose for a long time. Recently I've noticed that noticed that my heart rate gets high 5 or 6 hours after taking my levo and I feel anxious and shakey eg: Levo taken 6am only with water no food for 2 hrs. 7am to 8am 60 to 107 and sitting or just waking around the room. 12pm till 1pm 65 to 130 just sitting. As the day goes on it gets better and by evening its fine. I'm wondering if its when my Serum levels peak and that my dose may need reducing. Latest labs showed TS4 as slightly above range and FT3 was mid range. I'm looking into low Iron and conversion rates just wondering if anybody else has noticed this.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Try taking half Levo waking and half at bedtime

See if that improves symptoms

Retest 6-8 weeks after changing to split dose

Are you now slightly reducing dose Levo one day a week as discussed here

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Previous post shows extremely low Ft3 ……but that may improve at next test

Presumably you are working on improving low ferritin now

[tumrum in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I'm missing my levo one day a week but think what you say about splitting the dose is a good idea and easy to monitor as Hopefully the morning symptoms will subside. I've ordered a private Iron panel blood test and if this shows anything I will be armed with evidence when I see my GP. Wow I'm on a big learning curve, never you old to learn I guess.

[FallingInReverse]

This happened to me yesterday and had been pondering the same thing!!!! I hadn’t considered my Levo timing. Hmm 🤔!

I had palps for many months a couple years ago when I started t3. They went away at some point. Most days now I can drink coffee and no impact or stress or work or anything and it is steady.

Then yesterday I’m feeling that familiar bubbly feeling and - like you - doing nothing but sitting. Mine is less extreme - hr jumps from 70 to 90 ! But then like magic by 11 pm or so it settled down all in its own. So annoying!

I was thinking about diurnal patterns, maybe combined with a recent drop in ferritin. Pretty sure my breathlessness is an indicator of red blood cell health. My serum ft3 is fine I know, but there’s always the great unknown of cellular t3 levels - which can be blocked by things like stress.

I have a Kardia device which gives me peace of mind. Otherwise I think iron/ferritin is about to take top slot in my priorities!

[tumrum in reply to FallingInReverse]

Yes Iron levels have worked their way to the top for me. My Ferritin is 38 and I also have Chronic Kidney Disease stage 3, not on treatment for it just healthy diet etc. I checked the NICE guidines for UK GP's for Ferrintin blood tests and it clearly states that minimum level for people with CKD is 100! I'm like a dog with a bone now trying to figure out what's going on.