Sore throat

[Deni1080]

Hi i have an under active thyroid and take 150mg levothyroxine for the last 2 weeks I have woke with a sore throat and am having trouble sleeping , I have made a doctor appointment for next week but In the mean time wondered if anyone can give me some advice , do I need to reduce the amount of levothyroxine I'm taking ?

[shaws Administrator]

Hi Deni1080

It could be that you need an increase in your hormones, rather than a decrease.

I think you should make another appointment due to you not feeling so good and ask for TSH, T4, T3, Free T4 and Free T3. GP may request these but lab may only do TSH and T4 if these are in range.

However, you could get a private blood test from one of our recommended labs which can give you a bigger picture.

The appointment should be the earliest and fasting although you can drink water. Allow about 24 hours gap between your last dose of levo and the test and take it afterwards. Get a print-out with the ranges and post on a new question.

Also if it has been some time from these tests ask for B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate to be tested as we can have deficiencies which also make us feel awful.

[Clutter]

Deni1080,

Levothyroxine doesn't cause sore throats so there's no point in reducing your dose. I find a slice of lemon and a teaspoon of honey in a glass of hot water soothing for a sore throat. Your pharmacist will be able to recommend over the counter remedies.

[MidnightBlue]

Do you have hashimotos? The sore throat could be a symptom of the antibody attack. I had a terrible sore throat for months before I was diagnosed.

[Deni1080 in reply to MidnightBlue]

I'm going to get another test for hashimotos because I have been reading alot about the symptoms , I was recently diagnosed with acid reflux and feel much better the sore throat has gone.

[Deni1080 in reply to MidnightBlue]

Maybe I need another test, however my sore throat has gone after being diagnosed with acid reflux.

Thank you for your reply

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As my reply to your previous post ....you need to get levels of vitamin d, b12, folate and ferratin checked

These all need to at VERY 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 in UK of being hypo.

NHS rarely checks TPO and almost never checks TG. NHS believes it is impossible to have negative TPO and raised TG. It's rare, but not impossible, there are a few members on here that have this.

ALWAYS Make sure you get the actual figures from tests (including ranges - figures in brackets). You are entitled to copies of your own results. Some surgeries make nominal charge for printing out. Alternatively you can now ask for online access to your own medical records. Though not all surgeries can do this yet, or may not have blood test results available yet online.

When you get results suggest you make a new post on here and members can offer advice on any vitamin supplements needed

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. (£99)

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 ALL thyroid tests, (home one or on NHS) is to do early in morning, ideally before 9am. No food or drink beforehand (other than water) If you are taking Levo, then don't take it 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

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

You do not need to have ANY obvious gut issues, to still have poor nutrient absorption or low stomach acid or gluten intolerance

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, low stomach acid, leaky gut and gluten connection to autoimmune Hashimoto's (& Grave's) too.

hypothyroidmom.com/92-of-ha...

vitamindcouncil.org/tag/aut...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...