Hypothyroidism and sweats

[Maggie45p]

Hi, about a year ago I went to drs because of my hot sweats. After blood tests, he put me on 25mg Levo for 6 months then repeated blood tests. Still at the high end of normal, so reluctantly increased to 50mg. That was 6months ago and my hot sweats have got worse not better - I have to mop my face and am clammy all over when everyone else is feeling cold. It's got so bad that I feel almost like my life isn't worth living. I have my next blood test in 2weeks, and he's asked for b12 test as well as thyroid tests. Has anyone else suffered from severe hot sweats and if so do you have a solution? I'm wondering if it's hrt I need...?

[galathea]

My hot sweats all vanished after i bought a blood sugar meter and tested my blood 2 hours after each meal. Seems the sweats for me are linked to high blood sugar. Now i dont eat starchy carbs as that is what increases my bs too much.... So no bread, cakes, rice or pasta..... And now i feel the right temperature

Xx. G.

[Karen1963]

Hi; I find I get sweats when:

1) I need more t3- or

2) I've eaten carbs - I can't do carbs - sugar

3) my b's are off

4) I've ingested dairy

5) I used to get sweats when I was estrogen dominant ( took progesterone cream for awhile) that's cleared up now

Lately my sweats have been under control since adding t3 to my NDT - upping my b12; adding selenium ...

[shaws Administrator]

It might be due to the fact that you are on a starting dose, i.e. 50mcg. and that can sometimes rebound on us.

25mcg is a supplementary dose until you feel well.

I think your doctor is treating your TSH rather than your symptoms.

25mcg will also be given to patients who are very frail with a heart disease.

Make an appointment at the very earliest for a fasting blood test (you can drink water) and allow about 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take it afterwards.

As well as B12, he should do Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. Ask him if he'd get a Free T3 test as well . He may not agree or lab might not if your TSH is in range. If he asks why just say as you're having unpleasant symptoms and you know it's T3 which is needed in all your receptor cells you want to know if your body is having sufficient T3 converted from levothyroxine.

By having as early as possible test, it means the TSH is highest as it drops through the day.

(I am not medically qualified)

[Sandra49]

Hi Maggie

Yes i suffered from terrible hot flushes , I take hrt and that's the only thing that helps me

I'm 8 years post menopausal and I'm also hypothyroid

Hope this helps you , I know how horrible those hot flushes are

Best of luck

Sandra

[Pmb57]

Could be you need HRT. I was tested for hypothyroidism & menopause at the same time. Both results were positive. I was 47 at the time.

As Galathea & Karen1963 said sugar can also be the cause. A friend of ours used to suffer sweats before he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Good luck!

[SewingBee]

My hot sweats come at night when I'm having a stressful dream or simply can't sleep or when I'm under pressure either self inflicted or if someone else is pressuring me eg. rushing me or watching over me. Somebody on here explained why that happens and I can't find it now. I wish I'd printed it off. Apparently when the thyroid can't cope it overloads the......

My skin is always cold to the touch when this happens but my forehead is dripping.

[humanbean]

You spent 6 months on 25mcg Levo??? Your doctor is a sadist! People should be put on a starter dose of levo for 6 weeks not 6 months. Then they should have blood tests, and the dose raised by 25mcg. Then do tests in another 6 weeks, and so on, and keep testing and raising dose by 25mcg until the patient's symptoms go away and blood tests show good levels of thyroid hormones.

If you live in the UK you are legally entitled to get copies of your blood test results. Ask the receptionists at your surgery for all the blood test results you've had done in the last year or two (since before you were treated with levothyroxine), and if they ask why (they have no right to know but they nearly always ask), just say you want them for your own records.

The receptionists can't give you your results without the permission of the doctor, so you will almost certainly have to return the next day. Tell the receptionists you will be back the next day to collect them. You will have to pay a small amount for the printing costs. Make sure that the reference ranges are included, and that actual numbers are given, not just the word "normal" before you pay.

Once you have your results copy them (and the reference ranges) into a new post and ask for feedback.

[sue_b]

Hi Maggie

I know how desperate it can make you feel, I always thought my hot flushes were due to the menapause. I am past that now and I still get them though not as frequent. I too considered HRT but found it didn't suit me. My body has such difficulty in keeping me at an even keel that if i am cold and put on a cardigan I am roasting hot within minutes. At other times it doesn't matter how many layers I put on I am still uncomfortably cold. Also, body temperature usually 36 degrees despite how hot I feel. So, I tell you all this because I still don't have an answer but I think I have made some progress.

I am not medically qualified. The general concensus is that it is all about the menapause and to try HRT. HOWEVER, my 21 year old daughter has hot flushes from time to time ( and so does one of her friends) and we have discovered that for her, it is a problem with stressed Adrenal glands and the beginnings of Hashimotos. I discovered at the same time that I too have a degree of adrenal fatigue ( unrecognised by allopathic medicine who think that one day your adrenals are fine and the next day they have failed and only then will they consider you need any help, or so it seems) and full blown Hashimotos

I am not medically quaified but this is as far as I have managed to get with this issue. The adrenal glands take over the production of the hormones we need, once our ovaries start struggling ( this is medical fact) . I have read that if you hit peri-menapause with poorly functioning adrenal glands you are going to have lots of symptoms of "menapause" because the adrenals can't take up where your ovaries left off. This makes logical senss to me but the research hasn't been done, as far as I aware. Who would fund it?

There is also a link between blood sugar management and the adrenals because when there is a problem with insulin (some of the people who have replied to you here talk about sugar/carb issues), the adrenals step in to help out by releasing cortisol (medical fact) because the sugar has to be got rid off. I haven't got to the bottom of all this yet but am just starting to work with a Nutritionalist (as the Drs have not been of any help).

There is also a link between thyroid issues and the adrenals.

Read about all these areas.

Dr Berg on youtube is a great source of information, uses lots of diagrams but to be honest, its so complicated I am just going to pay my Nutritionalist to sort out what I need to do. ( with the help of the 23andme genetic test). The test, plus analysis and consultation is costing about £375 each.

Your GP will not test your adrenals ( unless they think they have failed) but there is a saliva test you can get done ( discounted through thyroid uk) which will show how they are coping and then, if you choose, you can try the approach of supporting the adrenals, rather than bypassing them by taking HRT. Or go further, more tests, more info, it all helps with finding the right solution for you. Also, be aware that you are entitled to request a full copy of all your medical records ( GP) should you feel the need for more information.

All the best with your search for health

Sue