Advice please can't tolerate thyroid meds

[summer1953]

Please can you help me I don't know what else I can do to help myself, I feel like I'm dying. Dr tryed me on both levo thyroxine and Eltroxin, both made me very ill. Advices take quarter of 25 but so ill I stopped. Last week after loads research I bought METAVIVE 1 15mg, after preserving for 4 days I've had to stop because I feel like I'm dying. On top of that my throat is dry and feels odd. I don't see my Endo again until 28th sept. Do u think my nhs Dr will write me a prescription for ndt if I go and see him? I been so ill I haven't been out for days now, my legs won't carry me, I'm so frightened please help me if you can. Thank you

[Nanaedake]

I'm sorry you feel so unwell. NHS doctors don't prescribe NDT as a rule but I think you should go back to your doctor and talk to him/her about what's happening. They should be able to help. I would ring up and book an appointment tomorrow before you run into the bank holiday.

There are a number of reasons why you might not be responding to levothyroxine. If you need it then the problem needs to be investigated sooner rather than later and you can't wait until you see the Endo. The doctor can contact the Endo for advice if he doesn't know what to do.

When you return to your doctor, ask for a print out of all your thyroid blood tests and keep a record from now on.

[Nanaedake]

What happened about the Addisons investigations?

[summer1953 in reply to Nanaedake]

The nurse rang me Friday to say the test was normal but my blood thyroid levels were worse. She asked me to try again on quarter but I started METAVIVE instead. Do you know what could be the reason I'm so ill on levo meds? I will ring surgery in the morning. My head and heart are both pounding I feel I'm dying I really do.

[greygoose in reply to summer1953]

Could be low nutrients. Ask your doctor to test your vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin. The all need to be optimal - not just in-range - for you body to be able to use thyroid hormone.

[summer1953 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you, I've just posted all my blood results on a new thread. I hope someone can tell me if it shows a problem, but my dr said there ok.

[Nanaedake in reply to summer1953]

No, I don't know the reason. Have you posted your thyroid blood test results here yet?

[summer1953 in reply to Nanaedake]

I will have to post them on a new post as I don't know how to link them to my reply sorry. I will do it now thank you.

[Munchlet]

I'm no expert but from what I've learned on this forum sometimes it can be to do with vitamin/mineral deficiencies. Have they checked things like your Folate, B12, Vitamin D etc? I believe if any of these aren't optimal it can affect your response/tolerance to meds but I'm sure someone who is a lot more experienced than me will be able to point you in the right direction.

[summer1953 in reply to Munchlet]

I'm posting them now thank you for replying to me.

[humanbean]

I thought Eltroxin was just another brand name for a make of levothyroxine. If it isn't levothyroxine what is it's active ingredient?

[summer1953 in reply to humanbean]

Your right, it is just same but another brand name. My Dr said some people tolerate it better then levo.

[MikeM46]

As well as this possibly being under optimal with the vitamins , minerals etc already mentioned, you might be one of that small percentage whose body for one reason or another just doesn't convert the inert T4 prohormone into the active T3 hormone either enough or not at all.

But yes, your symptoms are so acute you need a solution asap!

[shaws Administrator]

You may have a problem converting T4 (levothyroxine) into sufficient T3. T3 is the only active thyroid hormone needed in all of our receptor cells.

Your GP will not prescribe NDT - they have been told not to even though many feel very unwell.

If you cannot convert T4 - NDT also contains T4 (as well as the other thyroid hormones) you may need T3 only but that will be difficult to prescribe but shouldn't be if you have a clinical need..

levothyroxine made me feel much worse too and it took a while to learn what was available.T3 made me well but there is difficulties recently on prescribing it but it could be for a clinical necessity.

Have you tried taking one anti-histamine tablet one hour before taking levothyroxine and if you have no reaction you have to change to another make and hope that works.

I know what you are going through we we are completely puzzled that we feel worse when we thought we were going to feel better.

[Clutter]

Summer1953,

If you are in the UK there are four makes of Levothyroxine tablet:

Mercury Pharma 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg

Actavis 50mcg and 100mcg

Wockhardt 25mcg

Teva 12.5mcg, 25mcg, 50mcg, 75mcg and 100mcg.

If you've tried all of them and had adverse effects it is likely due to the fillers in the tablets. Ask your GP to prescribe liquid Levothyroxine which has no fillers.

[pinkjess17]

You need adrenal support asap, as feeling like that taking thyroid medication you obviously need is not normal. Dr Peatfield is great if you could see/contact him. He recommends Adrenavive ii or iii for the adrenals to help with low cortisol. Have you had a adrenal saliva test?

[summer1953 in reply to pinkjess17]

Thank you for your reply sorry late back, it probably is my adrenals even though hospital tests came back normal a week ago. To see Dr peatfeild is so expensive, you have to have follow up up appointments plus blood tests etc so unless I win the lottery it's not possible for me sadly. I have appointment on 2nd with my GP and I'm struggling to think of what to say to him to get the help I so badly need.

[dtate2016]

Here in the US my doctor says the number 1 reason why most people cannot convert T4 to T3 is a lack of digestive enzymes. It is also very common for people with Hashimoto's to have low stomach acid . And again the number one cause of low thyroid is Hashimoto's disease which is a auto immune disorder . It is highly recommended that you try digestive enzymes - find a good one as quickly as possible . Regardless of which thyroid meds you take - digestive enzymes may help. Also, try Selenium. Same results are often achieved re: regardless of which thyroid supplement you take selenium will help it get to where you need it at the cellular level .