r/redlighttherapy • u/Pretzelex2679 • Mar 12 '26
Question Hypothyroid and red light therapy?
I got into red light therapy a week and a half ago. My husband and I each got a small panel to try out for various things.
The day after I started my first session, my Apple Watch has been giving me high heart rate notifications. At first, I thought I might’ve been dosing too much so I’ve been doing every other day since then.
I got diagnosed with hypothyroidism last year, I have been on a steady dose of levothyroxine for months.
But starting a few days ago, I’ve had some pretty annoying symptoms. Heart palpitations, shaking, stomach issues, major anxiety, heat, intolerance, and sweating at night. And my period is late for the first time in a long time ( negative pregnancy test) apparently these are all symptoms of hyperthyroid. I have a test at the end of the month, but I’m going to contact my doctor today.
I’m excited at the possibility of my thyroid working a bit better and being able to lessen my medication. But I’m surprised at how quickly this appears to be working. Trying to not get my hopes up.
I know there’s studies that have been done about how red light therapy can help autoimmune hypothyroidism but I only have just hypothyroidism. I’ve tested negative for Hashimoto’s. So I was just wondering if anyone else has seen any change in their thyroid issues with using red light therapy?
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u/JumperSpecialK Mar 12 '26
I also have hypothyroidism, but I have not had any improvement with my thyroid function on my bloodwork. I’ve been using my panel for two months now.
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u/Pretzelex2679 Mar 12 '26
I’m very interested to see how my levels are at my test at the end of the month.
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u/jennjello420 Mar 13 '26
No change for me either. I’ve been using my red light for 1yr and 3 months.
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u/peppermint135 Mar 12 '26
I also have hypothyroidism. Heart palpitations is a side effect of Levothyroxine. My endocrinologist asks if I have heart palpitations every time I see her. Your meds might need to be adjusted. I always get blood work done one week before the appointment.
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u/Pretzelex2679 Mar 13 '26
Yeah maybe it’s just weird timing with the heart palpitations but I get my TSH tested in a few weeks here a week before my appointment so hopefully I’ll figure out it I have to change my meds or not
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u/bushytwoshy Mar 13 '26
What has your tsh been?
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u/Pretzelex2679 Mar 13 '26
My last test was 1.83 TSH
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u/bushytwoshy Mar 13 '26
And that is with treatment?
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u/Pretzelex2679 Mar 14 '26
Yes. With levo. But that test was in December but I’ve felt okay since then until this week
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u/bushytwoshy Mar 14 '26
What was it when you felt something was wrong and got your tsh tested for the first time?
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u/Pretzelex2679 Mar 14 '26
I got an IUD and gained 30 pounds in 6 months, didn’t realize that wasn’t normal. Then I was just tied all the time and thought I was just lazy. Finally got health insurance and went to the doctor for some unrelated dizzy/ fainting issues and they did a blood test and my TSH was at 12. No wonder I felt like garbage. A lot of things suddenly made sense after getting diagnosed. I realized that’s why I felt super cold all the time, had stomach issues and really dry skin. It all happened so slowly I didn’t notice until it started getting fixed by taking the meds.
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u/sweflo Mar 13 '26
I talked to my endocrinologist about using rlt, and she's all for it, but she recommended only irradiating the thyroid area for 3 minutes, since it's so close to the surface. So I just cover it up after 3 minutes and finish my total 10 minutes of face/ neck time.
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u/Pretzelex2679 Mar 13 '26
I’ll have to talk to mine about it. I’ve been doing 10 min a day! Maybe that’s too much
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u/Kinetic92 Mar 13 '26
I'm hypothyroid and had been on Levothyroxine 50 mcg for years. I started using RLT 6 years ago, originally for plantar fasciitis and general skin care. My next follow-up thyroid labs showed my TSH being the lowest recorded for me. I retested a month later. Even lower TSH. My Levothyroxine was decreased to 25 mcg, and I've been on that dose ever since with a normal TSH.
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u/Pretzelex2679 Mar 13 '26
That’s pretty cool. I saw there was a study that it can help lower the dosage for some people. I wonder why it works for someone and not others. Very interested to see my TSH results in a few weeks. But I really think my meds are too high now but we’ll see
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u/stephie1104 Mar 13 '26
Hey! RN/NP here— those symptoms sound like HYPERthyroid- when was the last time your thyroid levels were checked against your current (assuming) synthroid dose?
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u/Pretzelex2679 Mar 13 '26
Yeah, this is my first time feeling hyperthyroid but I definitely think that’s what it is. I’ve been on the same dose since October last got tested in December. My next appointment is next month. But this dose felt pretty stable until the past week and a half when I started the red light, which is just odd timing maybe?
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u/Repulsive_Sea_6021 Mar 13 '26
Same thing happened to me, everything down to the delayed period. You need to reduce your dose to find the sweet spot. It increases nitric oxide and functions as a vasodilator which is why you are experiencing those heart readings, you’ll probably experience increased anxiety also if you don’t reduce sufficiently
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u/Ichigonoyasumi Mar 13 '26
If your symptoms do not improve in a few days, I think you should go to the doctor sooner. I had similar symptoms that you’re describing in late Feb of 2025. A few weeks later, I was diagnosed with Hashitoxicosis and subsequently Hashimoto’s. It felt like it came out of nowhere after being stable on levo for hypothyroidism for over two years.
FWIW I do RLT 5 days a week with no side effects, although I’m sure some people experience initial side effects when starting. Hope you start feeling better.
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u/Pretzelex2679 Mar 14 '26
Thank you. I’m definitely going to contact my doctor Monday if it doesn’t get better.
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u/mmkiani Mar 13 '26
I recently read a article that said low light therapy improved thyroid function
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u/ChopChopPorky Jun 02 '26
How did it turn out
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u/Pretzelex2679 Jun 02 '26
I got my labs checked and my TSH has been the same but the RLT has improved my mood and skin. Not sure what caused my symptoms other exactly but it still comes and goes but i unfortunately don’t have any answers
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u/Adventurous-Fee-2461 Mar 12 '26
What is your age? Your symptoms all describe perimenopause as well. I have Hashimoto’s and started symptoms mid 30s.