Levothyroxine and headaches

[Maggiemay12]

I am on 75 Levothyroxine ,my tsh was 3.31 ,T417.9 , my dr decided to up by 25mg a week as I get really bad sinus and headaches few hours after levo ,I take a 75 in wockhardt if I do this for more than 2 nights I get the headache and sinus problem ,when they start getting worse about 2/3 nights If I take a 50 mg off activitas and one 25 wockhardt I get no headache for again about 2 nights then I start again so have to keep changing ,totally fed up with this and can't take Mercury ,I think it's hormones as when I try up even by 25 a week after 4 weeks I had to stop , my energy isn't bad at all , but doctor isn't bothered as long as I take my Levothyroxine ,need help to why this is happening .

[greygoose]

Well, you could be sensitive to the fillers in one or both of them; or you could have nutritional deficiencies. Have you had your vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin tested?

[Maggiemay12 in reply to greygoose]

Had those tested few months ago ,there are not any other Levothyroxine available ,

[greygoose in reply to Maggiemay12]

I thought there were several brands of levo in the UK. Are you not in the UK?

So, what were the results of your nutrient tests?

[Maggiemay12 in reply to greygoose]

Vit D 67 ,B12 660,folate 12.1 ferritin 2.03. In Jan

[greygoose in reply to Maggiemay12]

Vit D is too low, it needs supplementing. About 2000 iu daily. With the D3, take vit K2, to get the increased calcium into the bones and not the tissues.

Optimal for B12 is 1000, so it would be a good idea to take 1000 mcg sublingual methylcobalamin daily, plus a B complex with methylfolate to bring that folate up a bit.

Ferritin 2.08? Really? What was the range? It needs to be at least mid-range. Has your doctor seen that result?

[Maggiemay12 in reply to greygoose]

Yes and said they were fine , will try that ,when I take Vit d it gives me energy and seems to make me feel hypo ,does that make sence

[greygoose in reply to Maggiemay12]

Ummm... no. lol In what way does it make you feel hypo?

Do you have a range for that ferritin, because that looks really worrying to me.

Doctors know absolutely nothing about nutrition. Anything in range is fine by them. They do not understand the meaning of 'optimal'! But, surely, that ferritin is below range, isn't it?

[Maggiemay12 in reply to greygoose]

Sorry got ferritin wrong it was 203 and range is 13--300

[greygoose in reply to Maggiemay12]

Ahhhhh well, that changes everything! Your ferritin is fine, then. lol

[Maggiemay12]

Almus is same as activis , only Mercury and there worse ,

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How long ago were these vitamin tests done? Do you have the ranges.

If several months ago you need to recheck levels of vitamin d, b12, folate and ferratin. These all need to at good (not just average) levels for thyroid hormones (our own or replacement ones) to work in our cells.

Also have you had thyroid antibodies checked? There are two sorts TPO Ab and TG Ab. (Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin) Both need checking, if either, or both are high this means autoimmune thyroid - called Hashimoto's, the most common cause of being hypo. NHS rarely checks TPO and almost never checks TG.

If you have Hashimoto's then you may find adopting 100% gluten free diet can help reduce symptoms, and lower antibodies too.

If you can not get GP to do these tests, then like many of us, you can get them done privately

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Blue Horizon - Thyroid plus eleven tests all these.

This is an easy to do fingerprick test you do at home, post back and they email results to you couple of days later.

Usual advice on this test, (home one or on NHS) is to do early in morning, ideally before 9am. No food or drink beforehand (other than water) don't take Levo in 24 hours before (take straight after). This way your tests are always consistent, and it will show highest TSH, and as this is mainly all the medics decide dose on, best idea is to keep result as high as possible.

Assume you know that Levo generally should be taken on empty stomach and no food or drink for at least hour after. Many take on waking, some prefer bedtime, either as more convenient or perhaps more effective. No other medications at same time, especially iron or magnesium, these must be at least 4 hours away

Best advice is to read as much as you can. Vitamin and minerals levels are very important, but standard NHS thinking, doesn't at the moment seem to recognise this. You will see, time and time again on here lots of information and advice about importance of good levels of B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D - not just at bottom of range ......

Also gluten connection to autoimmune Hashimoto's, if you have high antibodies, and not gone gluten free already then you may find this helps reduce symptoms and lower antibodies

[Maggiemay12 in reply to SlowDragon]

I took my thyroid medicine around 10 the night before and bloods done before night .if I don't take my thyroid tablets then I can't take them afterwards ,also not sure how this would effect my results ,on gluten free diet as well .

[Maggiemay12 in reply to SlowDragon]

Got ferritin wrong it is 203 so looks ok ,range is 13 to 300

[puncturedbicycle]

I haven't any extra info to contribute but am interested in your post because I've also been having non-stop sinus headaches. My tsh was high so I wondered if being a bit hypo was responsible for a chronic infection or something. I've increased my levo but the headaches are at least as bad now on the higher dose.

I'm really hoping to not have to ensure I get the same brand every time as that was a monumental problem last time I tried and it made me lose the will to live.

[Maggiemay12 in reply to puncturedbicycle]

I feel headaches are because off slightly too much Levothyroxine ,but then I'm not full off energy on lower dose

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Maggiemay12]

Ok have just had a better look at your results and your tsh isn't brilliant. Do you have the ranges for your tft results? According to your tsh you don't look like you're on too much levo, but you could use more, esp if the test was done within 24hrs of your last dose. But ranges would be helpful to see where your t4 is.

[Maggiemay12 in reply to puncturedbicycle]

This is the problem ,if I take more levo I get worse headaches

[Maggiemay12 in reply to puncturedbicycle]

I would agree that it's to do with maybe slightly too much levo , as never had this problem till I up them

[SlowDragon Administrator]

It is recognised that it is not good protocol to mix brands or swop brands

best advice is to find one that suits you and stick to it

thyroid-fed.org/tfi-wp/wp-c...