Some basic info needed!

[dougal7]

hi, sorry, really clueless about all of this and would really benefit from someone being able to explain it more simply. I currently live in a country where I don't speak the main language well, so can only have basic/functional conversations with the doctor.

I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid 3.5 years ago. Meds slowly increased to 150mg of levothyroxine, which I've been on for 1.5yrs. Been feeling really ill recently, mood swings, depression, exhaustion etc etc. Got my thyroid checked again and now I've gone the other way and we are trying a reduction of 125mg for a month before checking again.

I see online however, that being ill can affect your levels, and I've had a terrible virus for about 3 weeks, 'just' a cold but it's really knocked me for six. Could this have an impact? And how does this impact it?

I'm also being sent for an ultrasound of my thyroid but what is the ultrasound for? The doctor said to check for 'lumps' but why would it have lumps if it's been managed for the last few years?

Also, what is Hasmimoto's disease? I Keep seeing this referred to online as the most common cause of underactive thyroid but no doctor has ever mentioned / explained this to me.

I'm aware these are probably really basic questions but I keep seeing so much conflicting information online I'm not sure what to trust!

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Dougal7.

If you post your recent thyroid results and ranges (ranges are the figures in brackets after results) we can advise whether you were optimally dosed or overmedicated on 150mcg. I presume you mean dose has been reduced to 125mcg, not by 125mcg?

A virus can cause T4 and T3 hormones to drop and TSH to rise. That is nature's way of telling you to slow and rest to recuperate.

90% of hypothyroidism is caused by autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's). This is usually diagnosed by thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibody blood tests but occasionally patients are sero negative and may have Hashimoto's diagnosed by ultrasound scan showing typical autoimmune damage of the thyroid.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Ultrasound will image and measure your thyroid gland showing whether it is enlarged or atrophied, whether the texture is smooth or coarse, whether there are nodules or cysts on the thyroid and, if so, will measure what size they are. Nodules rarely affect thyroid levels, they're just lumps which develop and it is rare for anyone to die of old age without having developed some nodules.

Hypothyroid patients are often low/deficient in ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate which can cause symptoms similar to hypothyroid symptoms. Ask your GP to do blood tests and write a new post with the results and ranges and members will advise whether you need to supplement.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[dougal7 in reply to Clutter]

HI

Thanks so much for the reply.

TSH Results Reference range

0.296 mIU/L 0.550 - 4.780 mIU/L

0.30 uIU/mL 0.55 - 4.78 uIU/L

The doctor did full blood tests, that all came back ok,

including Ferritin - 89.50 ng/ml (range 10 - 120ng/ml)

I don't think my TSH results are that low, in some places that would still be in the normal range, so I'm worried about the effect reducing the dose will have. And yes, I meant it's been reduced by 25 so I'm now on 125. Last time i was on that dose, i got really ill and my TSH spiked to around 30, but I had recently given birth, which i know can affect levels.

[Clutter in reply to dougal7]

Dougal7,

TSH is below range but suppressed. It's a pity your doctor hasn't tested FT4 in addition to TSH because low TSH alone doesn't mean overmedication.

Make sure you have a follow up thyroid test 6-8 weeks after reducing dose in case 25mcg is too much.

Ferritin 89.50 is good.

[dougal7 in reply to Clutter]

yep, have already got blood tests booked. Will try and see if doctor will test for FT4 and the other vitamins etc mentioned in other replies.

[Mary-intussuception]

I think you mean a reduction to 125mcg and not of?

Hashimoto's is an Autoimmune Disease whereby our own antibodies attack healthy tissue of the Thyroid gland which causes it to be Underactive. The hormone, Thyroxine, which is produced by the Thyroid is needed by every cell in the body. No organ or body part can function properly without it. So it's the Hypothyroidism which is caused by the Hashimoto's Autoimmune Thyroiditis that is treated with the replacement synthetic hormone Levothyroxine.

So when we are unwell with any infection, our Thyroid comes under more attack as our antibodies increase to fight the infection.

To confirm diagnosis of Hashimoto's you need Thyroid Antibodies TPO and Tg tested (Thyroid Peroxidase and Thyroglobulin ).

Ideally get some nutrients tested as well: Vitamin D, B12, Folate and Ferritin.

[dougal7 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Thanks for the reply. I'll ask my doctor about testing the Thyroid antibodies when I go back next month.

[EbonyEvans]

Hello 👋🏾 Dougal7,

Which country do you live in?

[dougal7 in reply to EbonyEvans]

Spain