Hypothyroid and feel hot

[Ali8655]

I have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism (also have antibodies although GP says it's not Hashimoto) except the feeling cold. In fact I can have the occasional hot flush (not menopause as had full hysterectomy 20 years ago). Is this okay when hypo?

[puncturedbicycle]

Sometimes we get 'heat intolerance'. Thyroid problems mess w your internal thermostat so I can see this being a variation on that theme.

After I started levo I went from feeling nauseatingly cold all the time to feeling like I would suffocate as soon as I warmed up. If I had to wait in the hall all dressed and ready to go out (coat on etc), like if my partner had left something upstairs or if I was waiting for a minicab to arrive or whatever, I'd have to shoot out the door or I felt like I'd suffocate in the hall.

What do your bloods look like? If the gp says it isn't Hashi's, what do they think it is? Is it possible you're actually hyper (Graves')? There is a lot of crossover in symptoms and you can actually have both.

[Sewnsew]

Hi Ali, regarding GP comments, I asked my GP that, as I had raised antibodies did it mean I had Hashimotos? She said " oh no, that's much more serious"! I can only think that their training was minimal and they generally won't admit that they don't know.

I don't fully understand about the temp, I can be cold but I also get hot sweats. I'm sure someone else will answer.

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Sewnsew]

Hashi's causes underactive thyroid in the vast majority of those who have it. I don't understand the 'much more serious' comment except as you say they often just don't know much about it.

[humanbean]

From my personal experience I've had problems with feeling cold and also overheating all my life.

I can be in snow, shivering with cold, and yet my armpits are pouring out sweat by the bucketful.

There is a relationship between thyroid levels and cold or heat intolerance.

There is a relationship between adrenal health/cortisol output and cold or heat intolerance.

(Cortisol is a stress hormone - and any kind of stress can cause it to be increased in output, including physiological.)

If you have a combination of the two problems - both thyroid and the wrong levels of cortisol I think this can lead to hot flushes, feeling the cold intensely, sweating massively and inappropriately. It is only since I started treating my thyroid and my high cortisol that I have reduced my sweating to "normal" amounts, and I also have far fewer hot flushes. (I had a surgical menopause many years ago.)

It isn't okay to have hot flushes. It means something is wrong. But the difficulty is in finding it. The most likely cause would be incorrect levels of Levo (I'm assuming you are treated?) and/or incorrect levels of cortisol.

It is possible that if you got your thyroid hormones to a level which is optimal for you, and got your nutrients optimised, then your cortisol levels may adjust by themselves. But if you still appear to have adrenal issues once you get to that stage then you can have your cortisol levels tested and treatment given. Most of us with cortisol problems find we have to test and treat ourselves.