Low thyroid levels

[Duck33]

Hello everyone,

my latest bloods have shown low thyroid levels. They're going to retest soon, but I'm wondering if this is caused by my scleroderma (limited). I have been lightheaded for a while, along with bad sleep & IBS type symptoms but thought that was post-covid troubles, or menopause. Has anyone else got thyroid problems?

Many thanks.

[pinkcat26]

I have an underactive thyroid, as well as scleroderma, but I had this a long time before i had scleroderma, so i am not sure that it is linked

[Duck33 in reply to pinkcat26]

Thanks for the reply. Really appreciate it. I think mine may be overactive - low TSH levels, apparently means overactive thyroid, but I'm not sure. Seems very complicated. Hopefully find out more after next test. But appreciate you getting back to me. Thanks again.

[SBQ1971]

I, too have an underactive thyroid, diagnosed a long time ago, but can't remember whether it was before or after Scleroderma diagnosis, but again I had that a long time before it was diagnosed.

[Duck33 in reply to SBQ1971]

Thanks so much for replying. Maybe it's not linked? I'm seeing the rheumatologist in September and will hopefully find out more. Thanks again and all the best.

[Deby177]

Had same symptoms actually never even though about thyroid problem just put it down to mctd, IBS and leaky gut.

[Duck33 in reply to Deby177]

Thanks for getting back to me. I guess it's hard to know what is linked and what is just something else. I seem to be at the age where all the bits start to fall off! Not to worry. Got to stay positive. Thanks again for replying. Take care.

[LadyTrundle]

Hi Duck33. Like others, I too have underachieve thyroid and am on Levothyroxine - since long before Scleroderma. Maybe with auto immune things, if you're in for one you're in for many! Good news is that once they get the level of meds right you can feel fine ... and in my case (in UK), it unlocks free prescriptions for everything. A massive saving given how many I take!! BTW I had blood testes every month for several months till they were sure the med level was right. Didn't make me any less wussy about needles 😱

[Duck33 in reply to LadyTrundle]

Eek! I agree on the needles!! Always awful. I can't watch!! Such a chicken. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and great to know they can treat with medication. I'm in Wales, so thankfully the prescriptions are free, too. Thank goodness. As for the thyroid, it's so hard to know what is caused by scleroderma and what is just the aging process. 🤔 Plus our old friend the menopause!! Thanks again for replying. I'm so grateful. Take care and hope you're keeping well x

[LadyTrundle in reply to Duck33]

Take care of you too. Hope you're one that could welcome the heat not suffer too much from it! As for menopause, after Prof Denton said HRT was fine, I rushed back to my GP, got the Evoril Conti patches - within 3 days the sweats were gone and I'm getting chunks of 4 hours unbroken sleep twice each night. Feel like a new (well, more like the 'old' old woman)! As it kicked in just before my holiday, I was able to enjoy myself and not feel awkward with my friends. Happy days - grab them while we can!

[Duck33 in reply to LadyTrundle]

Oh that's brilliant to hear. I'm so pleased. Yeah I'm still thinking of going for the HRT. Had to cancel my GP appointment to talk about it as I caught COVID. Then had a wee wait to be able to get another appointment, then my bloods came back with the thyroid issue!! It's like spinning plates 😀 But hopefully it'll all get sorted soon!! In the meantime, I really am so pleased you're getting some relief. And that you could enjoy you're holiday. Wonderful to hear. So lovely to be in touch with you again. Take care x

[Redwine53]

Hi Duck33 like the others I have an under active thyroid about 20+ years ( after my third child was born), before being diagnosed with scelerderma, lupus and myositis. Funnily enough my thyroid level went a bit crazy about a year before my diagnosis. It’s under control now, , with levothroxine. As mentioned , one autoimmune disease can lead to others :(My friend had an overactive thyroid ( she was very hyper and lost weight) and had to have a radioactive drink which must have done something to her thyroid, she is now on levothyroxine and is fine, so whichever one you have, it can be treated. Hope you are all sorted soon, good luck.

[Duck33 in reply to Redwine53]

Oh thanks so much for your reply. It's so reassuring to hear that it can be sorted through some sort of medication. I've got to have another blood test to check it again in a month or so, but even if it does stay a bit all over the place, it's good to know it can be managed. Thanks again and all the very best to you.

[Glow-worm]

Did you say you'd got the diagnosis following a Covid infection? I have seen it suggested elsewhere that a thyroid illness, such as thyrotoxicosis (overactive), can occasionally follow after a viral infection.

[Duck33 in reply to Glow-worm]

Thanks so much for your reply. Yeah, it was after I had Covid, so maybe that’s what’s triggered it. I’ll definitely talk to the doctor about that. Thanks so much for the suggestion. Much appreciated.