Feeling scared and alone - Levothyroxine ruining my life.
Posted , 20 users are following.
I'm writing this in a desperate way, and any advice could honestly make me feel less alone with this horrible situation .
I'll try not to ramble too much.
Basically I have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and for the past year my struggle has been with levothyroxine.
They started me off on 25mg a day and this caused me to have major episodes of palpitations with an accelerated heart rate.
So they lowered my dosage to 12.5mg a day and the palpitations stopped but I have other side effects that are ruining my life.
It might sound dramatic, but it has made me feel so jittery, nervous and anxious that the past week I've just come home crying every day with bouts of panic attack.
I suffer from anxiety, and get awful physical symptoms such as tingling and numbness on my face (this has been classed as anxiety, clear MRI, etc) and only appears when I feel really anxious.
Since taking the levo regularly, these symptoms have come back full force and I'm finding it unbearable. I also get prickly heat feeling in my head and body, feeling very warm.
I am completely on my last legs with this medication and I just don't know what to do. My DR doesn't seem to know much about hypothyroidism, and living in Scotland in the Highlands there aren't really many specialists I can find.
I'm considering stopping taking the levo because I'm actually starting to have no quality of life with these side effects.
I don't know of any alternatives? Or if the side effects will disappear once I get used to the levothyroxine?
Please, please, please any advice or help I would be super appreciative.
I really feel I can't go on like this.
Thank you.
4 likes, 37 replies
brewster121044 heather2905
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gcowboy heather2905
Posted
gill43753 heather2905
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heather2905
Posted
I am trying to find a good Scottish endo that specialises in hypothyroidism but I am unable to really find any
And referral through the NHS will take forever.
Do you think I should lower my levo dosage even more? Or mabye take it alternating days? I just can't deal with the side effects anymore, my anxiety is doubly bad because of it.
I'm also checking out natural thyroid meds, does anyone have any info on them and their effectiveness?
And links to facebook pages?
Deepest thank you's again guys
xxx
gill43753 heather2905
Posted
Sorry can't help about what to do with medication.I'm on 200mcg,and also don't feel it suits me,but I have an appointment with an Endo in June in Oxford.Gill
barbara98940 heather2905
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It sounds like you may be on too much thyroxine.
Have you had a blood test in the last 4-6 weeks? If not, it may be a good idea to go back to you doctor, tell him your symptoms and see if you get asked to get a blood test. You need to have the blood test done before changing the dose. Remember not to take thyroxine on the day of the blood test until after it has been done (else it will cause an inaccurate result). Also book a doctor's appointment afterwards for when the blood test results are back.
lisa09857 heather2905
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shellyC19 heather2905
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1. It regulates body temperature.
2. Causes an egg to ripen so you can get a period
3. controls metabolism
4. works with other glands like Pituitary Gland.
Now in life as we age and in some of us, mostly women, our bodies go through changes, and the gland acts up and goes haywire. It may go low or high. In some it does not work at all. They can't transplant glands yet, as the body will reject it. So they came up with meds that are made synthetically. Some work and some don't. Now most people are on Levo but there are other meds. You need a darn good GP or Endo doc. some other brands are Armour Natural Thyroid, Cytomel, Thyrolar, and others....side effects can be nasty and if you had what I had, which was loose bowels, I changed meds. lucky for me I have a good doc. Be your own advocate and say, "this med is making me feel bad, I want to try another..." Please call to see the doctor. You are not alone, many of us have thyroid problems. Thyroid meds take time to work in the body. Some meds can take a month or longer before feeling better.
It sounds like an adverse reaction or side effect and just call and make an appt. Please do not stop the med, unless you are having severe loose bowels or unable to breathe, or respiartory distress. then go to an Emergency Room if that happens.
There are other meds, so be strong, ask for that. I hope this helps.
Sketchy heather2905
Posted
If you stop taking the medication and feel better for it .. that will give you the answer to your problems. The extra anxiety, heat and jittery feelings can be caused by being overmedicated.
You must research thyroid conditions for yourself (don't be overwhelmed) there is a lot of information on the web .. just consider what you read and you will have some sort of understanding of how to look after yourself.
When first given a diagnosis of hypothyroidism most people are overwhelmed and rely and hang onto their doctors every word .. many of these doctors don't have a clue about thyroid conditions (this I have learned the hard way) as have many others. It's your body and only 'you' know that something is not right.
Jill6969 heather2905
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leigh25499 heather2905
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heather2905
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Thank you again guys. I really appreciate it.
Jill6969 heather2905
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Let us all know how you got on
heather2905
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My dr basically told me the other day that my thyroid levels are not high enough to warrant taking a drug that produces so many awful side effects for me.
He said to stop taking the levothyroxine for a month and see how I get on. I've stopped it for 4 days now and I'm starting to feel absolutely exhausted, achey and have my undereye bags back
Now baring in mind that my anxiety and stress has been through the roof so this could all be because of that.
But he also said my antibodies are high do presumably I have hashimotos no?
He even got a second opinion from another dr before confirming his opinion that I should come off the meds.
I have started taking ashwagandha and rhodiola because I've read a lot about these drugs helping thyroid.
What would you guys do!? Should I start on Levo again maybe 12.5mg every second day? Or follow his advice and see how I go for a month? I'm so desperately fed up and confused by all this. I'm trying my best just to charge ahead but it's useless if I just feel bad all the time. I can't bear it guys
please any help would be appreciated. Xxx
suesku12 heather2905
Posted
I saw the endocrinologist and he started me on some T3 Liothyronine.
This helped me immensely. I started with 5mcg and now take 10mcg a day in addition to my Levo which I have not dropped to 75mcg per day.
See if you can get an endo appointment and suggest that you have a trial of T3 to see if that helps you.
I have also been taking ashwagandha at night. But only small amount.
I have also had a daily drink of camomile and turmerric powder and I think the turmerric has helped my thyroid a lot. Turmerric is an antinflammatory and you should not take it alongside blood thinners.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps