Diagnosed hypothyroid, having problems getting ... - Thyroid UK

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Diagnosed hypothyroid, having problems getting very hot, I used to be cold.

Kb0509 profile image
39 Replies

Hi, I was diagnosed as hypo thyroid. My Blood work has always been on low end of the test range. The Dr. Decided to treat my symptoms with 25mcg of liothyronine 5 days a week. I am feeling less symptoms, after about 6 months on meds., however I am now overheating. It seems my body can not regulate changes in temperature. When my heat kicks on in the house I start sweating, I have been keeping the temp at 62 degrees. I should not be overheating. Also if I start cleaning or go up and down the stairs a few times I overheat. I am not sure what to do or if the meds are causing this. Has anyone had anything similar happen? Any information is appreciated. Thanks

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Kb0509
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Clutter profile image
Clutter

Welcome to the forum, KB0509.

Can you get hold of your thyroid blood results from your GP practice manager or receptionist and post them with the lab ref ranges (the figures in brackets after your results) as it will help members to advise whether or not you are optimally or over medicated.

Do you experience the sweating/overheating on the days you don't take Liothyronine?

Kb0509 profile image
Kb0509 in reply to Clutter

I don't have the numaric numbers. I have been trying to figure this out, I will be paying closer attention to the days I don't take it. Does the med leave your system within the 24 hour period where I would notice a change? Most of my symptoms are better and I don't notice feeling sicker on the days I do not take the thyroid medicine.

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to Kb0509

Kb, Liothyronine has a very short half life and certainly will be out of your blood stream within 6 hours although it will still be in your system for at least another 24/36 hours but decreasing since your last dose. If you don't notice the lack on the days you don't take it you may well be overmedicated on the days that you do take it.

You could halve your 25mcg and take half a tablet (12.5mcg) every day of the week and see whether sweating decreases. You should notice improvement/disimprovement within a week, probably less. If you start to feel hypothyroid increase to three quarters of a tablet (18.75mcg).

It would be a good idea to get a thyroid blood test to make sure your FT3 isn't over range.

Kb0509 profile image
Kb0509 in reply to Clutter

Thank you so much. I will really pay attention the next two days I don't take the med. After hearing your information, I will be putting a call in to my Dr. to see if she can order blood tests. I wasn't sure that this was a problem of the med. but thank you for your opinion, I feel like Dr. Should recheck me. Thanks!

Margo profile image
Margo in reply to Kb0509

Kb0509 I have been suffering intense over-heating/sweating just recently, it has made me feel quite ill. Have just come to the conclusion that I may be over medicating and have lowered my dose to see what happens.

Good luck!

Kb0509 profile image
Kb0509 in reply to Clutter

My blood work was:

free triodothyonine. 3.23 2.18-3.98

Cholesterol. 207. high 0-200

triglycerides. 101 normal. 30-200

hdl cholesterol 99 high. 30-85

ldl " " 96.8. 62.-185.

Cholesterol/hdl ratio 2.3. 0-5.0

T4 free 1.02. .59-1.61

Tsh 1.39. .34-4.82

I hope this helps. Thanks for your input!

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to Kb0509

Kb0509, FT3 is over half way in range but not over and FT4 is just within the 'ideal' top 75% of range so overmedication can be ruled out. Cholesterol can be high in hypothyroid patients but usually drops when optimally medicated, which you do look to be.

Inna profile image
Inna

Over-heating's been a problem for me for quite a while now (4-5 years), its been worse-better, but did not seem to correlate with Thyroid test results. I still have no clue about the reason behind it. If someone has more info on this topic, do share it with me. Will be very grateful for any tips.

Another one here taking T3 and sweating. Even though I've reduced my dosage to 75mcg daily my body still seems unable to regulate its temperature. In Summer I become very self-conscious.

Do let us know if you manage to solve the problem!

Emidjemal profile image
Emidjemal

I've just read on another forum that overheating can be a sign of low iron or low cortiso . I take t3 and spread it out during the day for the first six months I take my temperature every three hours and take a note of all my symptoms it helps me keep a track of what I'm taking and how I'm feeling if my temps are high then I know I've taken to much

galathea profile image
galathea

I overheated for a long time, in fact, come to think of it I have only just about stopped overheating. You get to be an expert at wearing natural fibres, with open necklines, loose fitting, and you save a fortune on coats. Never really worked out why it happened, nothing to do with menopause.... I did get some hot flushes years ago but they were different to the overheating.

I have wondered whether its anything to do with being under medicated. Hypo people don't really sweat so cannot release heat that way. Much like dogs, so maybe we should pant to release heat via our tongues..... Errr... Maybe not! :-).

Cortisone levels would affect heat too though I still overheated even after I had stopped taking cortisone.

When I felt at my hottest, my body temp taken with a thermometer didn't show any significant rise.

I realise that none of this is much help, but there might be some clues?

Xx. G

Kb0509 profile image
Kb0509 in reply to galathea

It helps in that by knowing others have the same type of symptoms that my heat issues can be related to hypo. treatment. I was always a cold person, never hardly ever broke a sweat. Now I do layer clothing etc, but it is very bothersome and at times I feel sick when I over heat. So thank you!

I've had intense problems with overheating, during the Summer even temps of 19deg had me sweating so the back my hair would get wet. However I would take my body temp and sometimes it would be in the 35's! When I was on an Addison's site, the people there always had this problem, one chap changing his clothes 4 times a day. So I think it definitely could be adrenal, we just can't control our body temps. Even a warm drink would have me pouring with sweat. It really is unpleasant, and I'm enjoying the lower temps now it's Winter!

I'm not sure if you'll find this reassuring or not - I run hot all the time now. I was always a bit of a fresh air fiend (eg open window most of the year unless it was subzero out). I got hot flashes through the menopause and when I went over-active thyroid-wise about 10 years ago (just at the end of my menopause) I started to run hot all the time (long-time mistress of the layered clothing look, me). That would be a common symptom of being over-active.

RAI rendered me under-active about 7 years ago - but I STILL run hot all the time. Unless I'm very tired, then I get cold and it takes me ages to warm up again. I think (wot do I know?!) that it's a facet of the disease for some people. And can happen if you're over- or under-, or so a doctor told me. One of only two plausible pieces of information I've ever had from a doctor about thyrodism :-(

Kb0509 profile image
Kb0509

Thank you! You said it better than I did. I had the windows cracked for awhile at bedtime. Our weather in New York State,USA, has been hovering below zero so the window has not been cracked at night probably making this issue more noticeable now.

in reply to Kb0509

I'm still sleeping under a 4.5 tog duvet and have the heating turned down in my bedroom. It is a real pest at night, I so agree.

Kb0509 profile image
Kb0509

My Dr felt that my body probably could not turn the other hypo meds into the proper forms that are needed and stated that this med. would work better for me. I hope this makes sense. What would you consider a proper dose? Thank you for your thoughts!

lucindajethol profile image
lucindajethol

I more often than not wake up hot and very sweaty most nights,especially around the upper parts of my body, hair, neck etc., I have to turn my pillow over in the night, and get up to get a drink of water then settle back down again, this usually works and the sweat evaporates too. Its strange but its not an odour type of sweat, but its not like a hot flush either. I have been like this for a while now, even before I started on Levo meds. I do not carry any extra weight so its not that, and I am way past menopause, so its not that either. I also feel a very warm glow after a hot drink and have to take off an outer garment to compensate, but I just accepted that as normal. I am very fit otherwise, so maybe I should throw off that 13.5tog Duvet cover that I have on my bed, and replace it with a 10.5 this Winter. What do you think??

caps43 profile image
caps43 in reply to lucindajethol

I was experiencing the same symptoms. Female physician put me on progesterone crème, "for balancing hormones". This has worked.

in reply to caps43

Excuse the question: are you pre-, during, or post-menopause, Caps?

caps43 profile image
caps43 in reply to

I had a complete hysterectomy with ovaries removed at age 49.

in reply to caps43

Interesting. I might have a look at that cream you mention.

Thing is, I reckon that thyroidism and menopause mimic each other in some ways. I think what caused my temperature gauge (!) to get stuck was the menopause. But I do think that thyroidism keeps it stuck.

Okay, okay - I can hear the snorts of merriment from here. But 'balancing hormones' might be A Very Good Thing.

Kb0509 profile image
Kb0509 in reply to

Post.

in reply to lucindajethol

13.5 tog! No wonder you're toasty :-) I tried an old thin 10.5 the other night and was like a revolving top all night. Back to my feather-light 4.5.

Kb0509 profile image
Kb0509 in reply to

What does the 13.5 TOG mean? Are your blankets weighted?

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to Kb0509

I don't know what TOG stands for - but the higher the number the greater the amount of stuffing in the duvet, so the warmer it is.

Kb0509 profile image
Kb0509 in reply to humanbean

Thanks !

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise in reply to Kb0509

I never knew exactly what TOG meant either although I do know what the differences are re:duvets (I'm English btw.) so I was glad that question was asked because it made me want to find out.

It's incredibly interesting and apparently the word TOG is used because of the old slang word for clothing.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tog...

lucindajethol profile image
lucindajethol in reply to Kb0509

No its a Duvet rating the higher the number the more dense and warm the Duvet cover is. 4.5tog being a Summer one 10.5 is warmer and if we get a bad Winter 13.5tog is the ultimate in warmth. Think I will go back to my 10.5 Duvet and see what difference that will make to my overheating.

reneeh63 profile image
reneeh63

Liothyronine has quite a short half life and it is very odd that your doctor seems to be prescribing it in a manner similar to levothyroxine (that is, skipping days). Also, the dose is quite large. I would be wondering if he prescribed the wrong thing for you. At the very least, divide the dose in half and try to take the same amount every day, despite his instructions to skip days. SOMETHING is off - his knowledge or a mistake in how the prescription was written. Perhaps he meant to prescribe levothyroxine which is longer-acting and not as strong.

I am taking 20 liothyronine with 150 thyroxine and don't get hot. I was taking 25 of T3 before that, and not getting hot. I am the opposite, as I feel the cold intensely. Maybe it would have been better to have started you on a lower dose then increased gradually. I began on 10 liothyronine.

Also posting your blood results would be good if you have them, people will feed back to you:-)

Kb0509 profile image
Kb0509 in reply to

I will try to get info from Dr. Office.

Rudegirl profile image
Rudegirl

Hi .. I'm on 75 Levo, my job is a physical one.. Once I start working I get too hot & switch a fan on after 15 minutes of starting, & that's 12 months of the year.. Once my shift is finished, I go so cold it hurts at times!!!

fairlilith profile image
fairlilith

I have a son who is a type I diabetic and he sweats when his blood sugar goes low. You might want to keep a check on your blood sugar.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

I am surprised your doctor prescribed 25mcg of lio straight away. That's very unusual. If he thought you didn't need much he should have began on 25mcg of levo as 25mcg liothyronine is equal in effect to around 100mcg of levo. No wonder you felt hot. It has raised your metabolism instantly. Even when I was on 100 levo and 10mcg lio was added, they dropped by levo to 50mcg.

Kb0509 profile image
Kb0509 in reply to shaws

Oh wow! Today is a day I don't take a dose and my hands are freezing and I have turned up the thermostat to 68degrees. I am definately paying close attention to when things are happening.

Kb0509 profile image
Kb0509

Thank you : )

morley262 profile image
morley262

Hi I started hypo and menopause at the same time 10 years ago, and from then have been permanently hot ( not hot flushes). T4 100mcg meds when diagnosed 5 years ago made no difference, nor has T3.

I wear sleeveless tees all year round, can't wear a coat, and have had to move into a separate bed as my husband has poor circulation and is always freezing! I have to have doors & windows open all year round and can't stand the central heating on (another cause of friction in our house).

I had assumed that as the thyroid regulates internal temperature, it was yet another symptom which artificial T4 doesn't adequately manage, so I have just had to learn to manage it as best I can. The 2 stone weight gain from my pre diagnosis years hasn't helped either, but I find it almost impossible to lose it.

I sweat a lot after minor tasks & exercise like you, so I now do yoga instead which doesn't overheat me, and just have to do things more slowly.

It is a nuisance, and I can really sympathise with you. If I ever find anything which helps, I will let you know. I did find that changing from generic T4 to Mercury T4 slightly helped, but nothing else has had any effect.

Peaches71 profile image
Peaches71

Hiya

I have all these issues with temperature problems - I overheat with any activity and in the car always have air con on.....then I can be the opposite and freezing cold and can't warm up despite layers etc ...I haven't been diagnosed yet but I'm 100% certain I'm underactive - I've ordered private tests after banging my head on the wall after going to see GP a few times and getting nowhere ..I told my GP my temperature 🤒 average over a month is 34-5 gave him a months recorded 4 times a day and told him it's like my temperature switch is broken... it's got to the point I'm avoiding things/ events because it's embarrassing and uncomfortable

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