seem to hypo dip in afternoon??

[Manxie]

Hi everyone,
       In past few days I seem t be noticing dip in the afternoons when I just feel like sleeping. I am presently on 50mcg of lovothroxine and having blood test this week to see if this needs increasing (doc thnks it will)- started this three weeks ago. Ive been up and down really since I started the meds - get good days and joint pains seem less - but then the early afternoons I just seem awful? Anyone expereinced this? I guess its just my body not yet having settled down to the meds and the levels dropping at this time?? My last tsh three weeks ago was 15 and although doc hasnt given me T4 or T3 results yet he just said it confirmed I was significantly hypo and stared the levothyroxine. Due to see him again on 20th I just wondered if anyone else had this so I can then understand whats happening better.
          Love Manxie

[Manxie]

Yep I hear you there! I am having to listen! I agreed quite freely to time of work becos I knew I would never get better at that pace and I dont intend to go couch potatoe! I have a new 7month old border collie who needs walks so she'll keep me active to degree but now I have had your advice it will be 15 mins or so on the flat (which I have to say probably feels better at the moment!).

I know whatyour saying about the docs -I guess I just frustrated that he didnt tell me about not taking the meds with caffeine, didnt say about taking it two hours earlier than other meds etc and didnt say not to push the exercise till the tsh was settled! No wonder I wasnt picking up initially! Im stuck with this doc at moment though as our island has no endo and unless I move house its him or others who are no better! So teaching myself is the best tool I have presently and this forum has been very helpful in that.
             Thanks Manxie xx

[stella5349]

Don't go totally "couch potatoe" though. Just take your exercise in stride. You have to put together the positives for yourself. If yoou feel "good" then do enough to burn off energy. If you notice you are overly tired - you need to listen and rest.

Now a days we all run so much for everyone else. Then when it comes time for us we have no energy. I am a big believer that if your doctor really doesn't KNOW thyroid disease - they stick to the "basics" for treatment.

Thyroid disease doesn't look at us and say "OK - she/he is  very busy helping everyone - so I'll take it easy on her/him today!)

Thyroid disease says to all of us ( "LOOK...... if you don't start listening to me and do what I need...... I'm going to make you feel miserable!")

I never thought such a small gland would have such power over my life until I listened to it.

[Manxie]

Really? gees why dont the docs tell us all this! I have been pushing myself to walk for at least 40 mins and up hills, since getting meds thinking it would help me to boost metabolism and help lose weight- have to say it hasnt! So I should wait till my tsh is right for me- okay. thanks for that hun  I appreciate your help too!
                            Love Manxie xx

[stella5349]

Exercising should be minimal until you heal more. If you over exert - you will have a longer recovery.

Your need to be stable at your TSH number - YOUR NUMBER - before exercise can be a benefit.

Things will be together - as my friend AR says - it takes time.

[Manxie]

Thanks Ar for the words of wisdom - its easier to wait if you know it will sort out in the end - also knowing that others do experience this afternoon dip helps- although I dont wish it on anyone!

I seemed to pick up about 3pm today and feel better so I'll watch over next few days and weeks see what happens. I dont mind napping in the afternoon at the moment but if Im to get back to work in next few months I need to resolve that need by then- guess that worries me slightly as Im the main breadwinner with a big mortgage and two teenagers. However I do believe I will get better so I am thinking positively.

Hope you start to feel better too AR-10 - I appreciate your support,
            Love Manxie xx

[AR-10]

Once you find the correct dosage and have gotten your hormones back into balance, it may take a few months for your body to heal and get back to something close to normal.

Some of the symptoms will abate quickly, some will hang on a while. It's hard to say, but I'm guessing your fatigue will fall somewhere in the middle of the recovery timeline.

Afternoons are worst for me. The evenings seem better. But then, I take naps in the afternoon. I am, like you, neither balanced nor healed up. It will take a little time.

[Manxie]

I have been exercising -walk dog for 40-60 minutes most days, but I also still notice lots of exercise intolerance despite this now for over a month -but then I am overweight due to many years being "borderline" before diagnosis. I try to push myself thru the slump but that doesnt really seem to be effective so Ive taken to just waitingon the sofa for it to pass and just pottering doing housework when it begins to shift. Boy I hope I dont feel like this for six years more! I am signed of work and just resting mostly apart from the walks and some housework but still get that slump in afternoons.  I hear what your saying that I should maybe look at my expectations but I guess Im hoping to be back at work in next few months at least, and that can't be whilst I get this pm slump coaster!. I work as a mental health counsellor for kids so I need to be awake! So I guess Im praying that when I get the dosage increase this slump will reduce in intensity and frequency?? is that realisitic -or am I really looking at years of this?
                             Love Manxie

[stella5349]

It is hard to say with hormones. I know there are days (even before my throid problems) that I had "good" and "bad" days. I think the same applies here.

After I was Dx with thyroid disease I expected myself to be the best everyday.

Then when I crashed - and felt horrible everyday for a long time. I started over.

Now I take each day - practice what I know that makes me feel better and see what each days brings me.

I feel "normal" for the first time in 6 years and I still have bad days just not so much

Most of the time now I do not feel that "crash" in the afternoon much - so I think I have come a very long way. Now I need to get out and exercise to feel better.

[Manxie]

Thanks for your info Stella- it is my first dosage and doc seems to think it will need increasing after my blood test on wednesday. So when you "cycle" the T4 into T3 you should then feel better all day? Is that right?
                      Love Manxie xx

[stella5349]

At this time in the 3 weeks your hormones - T4 - should be converted into T3. So you should be cycling by now. If this is your first dosage on Levo - your doctor most likely started you out smaller to see what happens with your next labs. Most likey - if you are still hypo - your meds will be upped to around .75 mcg. This upped dosage will again take aroung 3 weeks for you to notice the cycling again.

At the beginning - it is pretty much trial and error.

Good Luck