Today marks day one of me trying to lower my thyroxine dose to 500 mcg per day.

For those new to the blog, my name is Nour Loutfy. I was diagnosed at the age of 37 as bipolar. After a hellish two years of mainstream psychiatric care, my husband came across this new treatment for bipolar disorder: high dose levothyroxine + rTMS. I have been stable on 700 mcg levothyroxine for five whole years.

Three months ago, I reduced my dose to 600 mcg because I had built up thyroxine excess in my body. I noticed increased hair and muscle loss, as well as a faster heart, amongst other things.

The dose-reduction protocol is simple: five days without thyroxine, and then on the sixth day I take the lower dose. Today is day one.

This blog is raw; it is a reflection of my life. I write because I know that someone on the other side needs to know that there is hope for bipolar disorder – and I am living proof of it.

My chances of success on this second dose-reduction attempt might be lower, since I may not be as much in “excess” as I was the first time. I might still need the high dose.

Why am I very hopeful?

Because I am functioning on a lower dose, and this might mean that my gene expression – or whatever the medical term – has changed.

And if this remains the case, then this is by far the most fascinating medical discovery I have ever seen.

Who knows? Could bipolar disorder one day be reversed?

I embrace the unknown with open arms. Whatever the result of this second experiment, I am grateful to be alive today.

TBC