Can’t tolerate my thyroid meds

[Itols]

I have been trying for a year to get up to an optimal level on my thyroid medication. I have tried all of them for long periods of 3 months at a time with no dose change. Synthetic T4, T3, T4 & T3 and now I’m on armour which I had high hopes for but still feel terrible if I increase past 1/4 grain. If I increase any of these medications I feel like my brain is being crushed and my eyes feel bruised I get bad headaches feel very depressed and tired. When I’m hypothyroid like now I feel very heavy, weak and tired all the time. It’s terrible if I do or I don’t. I’m in a catch 22 scenario. I’ve seen a naturopath that overdosed me on vitamins and 2 endos they both don’t know why I’m reacting in this way. One is trying to do everything but has no idea what to do the other gave up and said I was fine on T4 because my blood test was good but he didn’t hear me say I feel bloody terrible and it ended with him saying its not an endocrine problem. This has been going on for a year I need help I can’t work and I need my life back. I’m seeing another doctor on Thursday I hope he knows something. If anyone knows what is going on or who to see please let me know.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You have high thyroid antibodies so this is Hashimoto's

Are you on strictly gluten free diet and/or dairy free diet?

Presumably you are supplementing B12? Are you also taking a good vitamin B complex with folate in it? This keeps all B vitamins at similar levels

There's no vitamin D test? Do you supplement and have you had recent test

Read you previous post. You only tried Teva Levothyroxine? Is that correct?

Many, many patients on here have had terrible trouble with Teva

Suggest you perhaps try different brand of Levothyroxine and increase INCREDIBLY SLOWLY.

You may need to take beta blocker (usually propranolol) to enable getting dose increased

[Itols in reply to SlowDragon]

I have reduced my gluten to almost none and very little dairy. It’s a very occasional thing. I’ll look at reducing to 0

Yes vitamin b and d are supplemented although I have stopped the b vitamin complex it was a very good brand as it got to high.

Vitamin d has been tested and is within range.

I have only used Teva with the synthetic thyroxine.

I will try a different brand of thyroxine as you suggest and build up slowly.

Thank you very much for your input

[Jazzw in reply to Itols]

“Almost none” as far as gluten goes isn’t going to work, I’m afraid. If you are gluten intolerant, even a tiny bit, like a crumb in a jam pot, will make you feel awful.

Might be worth going strictly gluten free (which is a right pain, I know - I *have* to be gluten free otherwise I get very ill). So that means being very strict about keeping your food separate from everyone else’s.

If you feel it isn’t that, then by all means disregard.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Itols]

Vitamin D needs to be around 100nmol, not just "in range"

Would agree that gluten free needs to be absolute, even a separate toaster if you want gluten free toast. Watch out for cross contamination in shared butter, jam, cutting boards etc etc

It can feel difficult to stick at strictly gluten free when you don't get immediate obvious "illness" when glutened. But it can bring antibodies down slowly if really stick at it

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

[Itols in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you I had no idea about the gluten. I can cut it out no problem. I still need to increase vitamin D so still taking supplements.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Itols]

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You works well with Hashimoto's as it avoids poor gut function

How low was it at last test?

It varies how much each person needs/absorbs. Typically 2-3000iu to increase, but you might need higher or lower.

Just depends how badly gut is affected and if not absorbing little or anything from vitamin D in food

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

[Itols in reply to SlowDragon]

It was 46 in October with no supplements

[Itols in reply to SlowDragon]

Vitamin D is at 93.2 currently

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Itols]

Pretty good then.

Just work out a maintenance dose that keeps it around that level

Do you supplement magnesium?

[Itols in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I started magnesium about 2 months ago but don’t know my levels I’m waiting for the test

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Itols]

It always comes back "in range" when tested. Likely would test high if supplementing

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Hello - did you ever get anywhere with tolerating your medication? I also can't tolerate any thyroid medication