I'm hypothyroid with hashimotos but also had postpartum thyroiditis so have been both over and underactive for years. On top of various symptoms, I'm usually well aware of my T3 and T4 levels by my resting HR. If it is between 60 and 66, T3 and T4 are in the normal range, and obviously outside of that I am over or under the range for "normal" I feel at my best when my RHR is 63/64 bpm.
My dose of levothyroxine was increased during my second pregnancy and the endocrinologist told me to reduce it to 50mcg after I'd given birth. The next bloods showed T4 as 16 (although I felt good in myself) and so I was told to reduce the dose to 25. My RHR dropped, as would be expected to 60 bpm. I then started a calorie controlled diet and my RHR reduced to 56 bpm. I got bloods redone and my t4 was 9 and t3 was 2.4 so I was told to increase the dose again to 50. I carried on the diet and increased the meds, but my RHR has fallen further to 54/55 bpm and I'm feeling awful. Not to mention I'm gaining weight despite being in a deficit by 500 calories per day.
Could calorie restriction cause my hypothyroidism to get worse? If I up my calories will my t3 and t4 increase or will I just put on more weight? I'm so confused!
I'm also doing couch to 5K so jog/walking every other day.