Feeling cold

[oscar100]

Hi everyone recently gone on thyroxin after finally a good doctor saw what was wrong with me after 3 years of he'll but I want to ask other underactive thyroid sufferers if they feel the cold like I do I never seem to get warm day or night why?

[shaws Administrator]

Hi Oscar

When we are hypothyroid, everything slows down, from head to toe. Our metabolism has to be brought up to normal by sufficient thyroid hormones. If not on optimum we will still feel cold (a clinical symptom). If you have a recent print-out of your blood test results, please get a copy, with the ranges, and post on a new question so members can comment.

Some of us need a very low or suppressed TSH as doctors treat us according to the TSH level and not how we are feeling, so we have to go with our symptoms which is the best way to try to recover.

If you haven't had a vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate tests ask for these to be done too, as we are usually deficient. This is another list of essential vitamins/minerals.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

Also in the winter we most probably need a rise in our medication and in the summer (if warm) a slight reduction.

[oscar100 in reply to shaws]

I am not due any blood tests until early February so will I have to suffer this extreme feeling of cold ?

[Treepie in reply to oscar100]

I have been on thyroxine since May. Body much warmer but hands and feet still cold ,but I have always had poor circulation.

As Shaws says if hypothyroid your metabolism runs slower ,the thyroxine will speed it up and eventually you will feel warmer if you can reach the optimum dose for you. But you have no doubt been started on a low dose which will be reviewed after next blood test.

There is not a quick fix! My doc reckoned I would take as long to get right as I was going wrong. Just hope I have enough years left.

[shaws Administrator in reply to oscar100]

If you are feeling cold, you should get a blood test now. Make an appointment with GP saying you are getting the clinical symptom of being very cold, you would like a blood test to see if you need an increase in levo. He should do a TSH, T4, T3, Free T4 and Free T3, B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

If he doesn't agree with you, just up your levo by 25mcg to see if you improve but it would be best if you knew the whereabouts of your hormone levels before the increase.

Most of us need a TSH of 1 or below, plus vitamins/minerals towards the upper range.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

Taking vitamin C with levo helps convert it to T3, which is the Active hormone we need to drive our metabolism.

[oscar100]

Hi thanks for your reply but my cold feeling is like being frozen through to the bone it's awful ?

[shaws Administrator in reply to oscar100]

You sound to me as if you are very undermedicated. Usually, you have a blood test every 4 to 6 weeks initially with an increase each time until you reach an optimal dose where everything is back to normal although sometimes that doesn't happen particularly if the GP isn't knowledgeable about the thyroid gland. You have to have an earlier blood test now, don't wait till Feb. Make an appointment as I suggest above. Even if, eventually, you are on an optimum dose, whenever you feel symptoms that's when you have a blood test and consultation.

You take levo with 1 glass of water and wait approx 1 hour before eating but on the morning of the blood test you don't take it before but afterwards. You also have the earliest blood test as TSH is highest then. Don't have any medication/supplements until 4 hours after levo.

[oscar100 in reply to shaws]

Thank you I have had none of that advice are you saying that normally each day take Levi with glass of water then have breakfast an hour later ?

[shaws Administrator in reply to oscar100]

Yes it is a recommendation. Some say leave half hour between taking levo and eating but some foods may interfere with the uptake so:- Excerpt:

Dr. Lowe: As a rule, our patients take thyroid hormone only once per day. An advantage of this one-per-day schedule is that it’s easier to find a window for good intestinal absorption—when the stomach or small intestine doesn’t contain food.

Most of our patients wait at least one hour after taking thyroid hormone before they eat. Or they wait at least two hours after eating before they take thyroid hormone. The two hour wait is a rough estimate of the time it takes for food to pass through the stomach and small intestine. It’s worth noting, however, that several factors can increase the time a patient should wait before taking thyroid hormone.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

Taking levo with one glass of water takes it directly into our stomach and prevents the possibility of it sticking in our gullet and swelling. Excerpt:

It is very important to take Levoxyl with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. The Levoxyl tablet can dissolve very quickly and swell in the throat, possibly causing choking or gagging.

rxlist.com/synthroid-drug/p...

[oscar100 in reply to shaws]

Thank you very much for the advise I didn't know that

[harleychick]

i am always cold. i have an under active thyroid.

[oscar100 in reply to harleychick]

Are you on medication ?

[harleychick in reply to oscar100]

yes i am.i am on the highest dose

[shaws Administrator in reply to harleychick]

If you are on the 'highest' dose of levo and are still cold, I doubt you are on sufficient for your body's needs.

Do you have a print-out of your latest blood test results for your thyroid hormones? If so, post on a new question with the ranges for comments. If not, ask GP for a new blood test. Request TSH, T4, Free T4, T3 and Free T3. If you haven't had a recent B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate ask for these to be done.

Also state when you were diagnosed and the dose of levo you are taking.

I am warm, feel well and healthy and on a dose of medication that allows this (not necessarily high).

Before the blood tests were introduced in the 60's along with levothyroxine, the normal dose of NDT was between 200mcg and 400mcg.

[oscar100 in reply to harleychick]

So my condition could be a friend for life yuk !!!!