hyper when hypo

[lelole]

Hi
I have been diagnosed with hypothyroid for over 10 years, and have the autoimmune type.  I was stable although not always totally well on 150mcg of levothyroxine until 18months ago when I had my daughter. 6 weeks after the birth they measured my bloods and dropped my dose to 100mcg.  

Since then I have been getting more and more hypothyroid (though I have only realised this retrospectively), and I had some bloods taken and when they came back TSH 16.4 and T4 14 my dose was raised by 25mcg to 125mcg.  This was 3 weeks ago, at first I felt much more fatigued, and in the last two weeks I have started to get hyper type symptoms as well as the hypo ones, and have not felt much improved at all.

My question therefore is threefold:
1) Why would I get hyper symptoms when increasing levothyroxine, even though TSH was high?
2) Should I increase my dose again to eliminate the fatigue?
3) Can I expect to feel as well as the next person when adequately medicated?

Thanks for your help... I know you must be very busy...

lelole

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Too much levothyroxine can cause hyper symptoms.  An increase from 25 to 125 is a big difference and may take a few more weeks for things to settle down.  Would not increase dose again w/o discussing w/ your doctor.  Some people benefit from T4/T3 combos - but most cannot tell a difference (in my experience and in research publications).  And, for the last question, there is no hormone (thyroid or other) replacement that works as well as our own glands....

[graywings]

I think Armour goes by another name in the UK.  Sorry I can't remember - possibly Thyroid-S.  I'll do some research and try to get back with you.

graywings

[lelole]

Thanks for your help. I have asked my GP about Armour, and it's not available in the UK, the only treatment is levothyroxine, so I guess I'll have to keep trying with it.
Lelole

[lelole]

Hi, I think you may have misread my post - I was raised BY 25mcg to 125mcg from 100mcg.  

Actually the hyper type symptoms have abated, and the fatigue remains, so I guess I'll have to suffer for 4 more weeks at least until I am able to have my next blood test.

Thanks for your answers, I appreciate your time.

Lelole

[graywings]

Personally, I don't think you will ever get better on levothyroxine.  I would get your doc to switch you to Armour.  I haven't heard anyone getting better on Levo.  In fact I hear that many women are allergic to the synthetics in them.

It is very possible to be hypo and then hyper and child birth does bad things to our hormones and thyroid hormones.

Check out realthyroidhelp.com for more answers.  They have great people over there, but no doc's.  Just people that are fed up with being sick and not getting the help they need.  There could be other factors involved and not just being hypo.  Have you had your ferritin checked?  B12?

Look for some of these answers and questions.

graywings