Extremely cold

[Suzanam]

Since I started taking euthyrox (levothyroxine) I feel extremely cold. More than ever. I have 2 pairs of socks and my feet are FREEZING. I am wearing a jumper over t-shirt and covered with a blanket, heating on but I am so cold. Is this a side effect?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Post your results and members can advise

What dose are you and how long?

Have you got High Thyroid antibodies? This is autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

Have you had vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

Post results and ranges if you have them

Likely to be too low if you have Hashimotos and/or under medicated

TSH should be around one, FT4 towards top of range

[helvella Administrator]

Suzanam,

With very low doses of thyroid hormone (levothyroxine), the effect they have on your own thyroid hormone release can be more than the dose you are taking. That is, maybe you take a 25 microgram tablet, but your own release of thyroid hormone drops by MORE than 25 micrograms.

(Don't be too, too literal, you won't actually absorb all the levothyroxine you take.)

So the effect of low doses can be to worsen your thyroid hormone levels. I wouldn't class it as a side effect in the conventional sense - it is more how your body reacts to an inadequate low dose.

[Kitten44 in reply to helvella]

that's very interesting. Is there a scientific paper or clinical guidance document or similar with that info? It would be useful when speaking to gp about increasing dose. Thanks!

[helvella Administrator in reply to Kitten44]

Kitten44,

No paper of which I am aware. More a case of observation - where people on low doses all too frequently report feeling worse and lower FT4 levels (if measured).

Quite why it seems to occur is not clear - it might or might not be due to the impact of the levothyroxine on the pituitary.

[Kitten44 in reply to helvella]

thanks Helvella. Shame GPs in general don't know much about thyroid problems!

[Suzanam]

I am on 25 micrograms at the moment but work up slowly to 62.5 micrograms. My last TSH was 4. 48( 0.27-4. 20) this was the only thing out of the range. I hope when my dose is higher I won't feel this cold and tiredness. I feel more tiered than before starting levothyroxine.

[Debsoxford]

All good advice from people on here as always happens have you tried strong ginger tea? I have a recipe for when you have a cold (which you could dilute) if your interested? I was told by a Chinese Dr to drink it in winter and have baths to warm your body rather than a shower, I was also told (by a nutritionist that coconut is cooling to your body

Good luck hope you feel better soon

[foxglove in reply to Debsoxford]

Would you be kind enough to tell me your ginger tea recipe? Thanks

[Debsoxford in reply to foxglove]

I've posted ginger tea on a separate post

Best wishes

Debs

[foxglove in reply to Debsoxford]

Thanks!

[Treepie]

Are you taking beta blockers .They cause cold feet.

[Suzanam in reply to Treepie]

I am taking metroprolol (egilok) cause I had palpitations and doc said to take them until we get to the right dose of levo and then slowly get off them cause we want to conceive also after my levels are ok.

[Treepie in reply to Suzanam]

That will probably be the cause .I have the same problem.Body is warm feet frozen.Had cold feet before diagnosed hypo .Levo should have helped but went on beta blockers soon after because of chest pain.