Thyroid and flu like symptoms

[Paul6170]

Hi I wonder could anyone help me. I've been really struggling with my health this last 2 years. What started off as an occasional cold/bug has turned into daily flu like symptoms. I've had every test going and the oy thing that is off is my thyroid. I changed doctor a couple of weeks ago cos my last doctor just kept saying take antidepressants, you're depressed. I'm like "No sh@t Sherlock, I'm sick every day". I know I'm not suffering from depression but granted yes my mood is low cos of the constant sickness. So my new doctor has prescribed Thyroxine and showed me my thyroid readings for the last year and my tsh readings have been as high as 7 and never lower than 5. All along I've thought do I have CFS mainly cos I can't find anything else but now after finding a discussion on here re thyroid and flu like symptoms I wonder do I have Hashimotos and more than likely Leaky Gut as I'm now intolerant to gluten and dairy. Has anyone any thoughts of this being a possibility? I don't get the debilitating fatigue that most get from CFS. I get what feels like a viral fluey feeling which initially wipes me out for about 10 minutes when it hits and then I just feel really crap for the rest of the day but not fatigued. Thanks in advance and hope I haven't put you to sleep with my woes. I'm sure you all get how your health is sometimes all you can think of when you lose it

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Can you add your actual results and ranges on these tests

What dose has GP started you on, is it 50mcg, asper NHS guidelines

NHS guidelines here, saying standard starter dose is 50mcgs

beta.nhs.uk/medicines/levot...

You will need bloods retested in 6-8 weeks, likely further increase (s) in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies. Plus very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting.

If on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's.

Food intolerances common too, especially gluten and dairy, so it's pretty likely you have Hashimoto's . But it's important to get both TPO and TG antibodies tested.

[Paul6170 in reply to SlowDragon]

Feb 2017

Free Thyroxine 14.5

TSH 6.05

June 2017

Free Thyroxine 15.8

TSH 4.9

July 2017

Free Thyroxine 15.5

TSH 4.71

Sept 2017

Free Thyroxine 15.9

TSH 6.3

MAY 2018

Free Thyroxine 16.9

TSH 4.8

Thankyou for your message

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Paul6170]

Can you add the ranges on these - only once assuming they are all same ranges across different dates

[Paul6170 in reply to SlowDragon]

The range for the Free Thyroxine is 12-22(pmol/L)

For the TSH there is no range on the printout however for every TSH reading there is an asterisk which 'denotes abnormal result'

[Paul6170 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yeah it's 50mg

[Paul6170 in reply to SlowDragon]

I know these are only basic results but what do you think? Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Paul6170]

Make sure antibodies, vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin are tested, with TSH, FT4 and ideally FT3 too

Usually TSH top of range is around 4.5 All your TSH results are high

Median TSH graph in healthy population

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[greygoose]

Oh, you're hypo, alright! You're hypo as soon as your TSH hits 3! And your old doctor was extremely negligent, pushing his depression pills and ignoring your obvious hypo.

Flu like symptoms are typical - not necessarily Hashi's, but just with hypo. But, to see if you have Hashi's - and you do need to know - ask to have your antibodies tested - TPO antibodies.

50 mcg is the right starter dose, and you should get retested in six weeks. Make sure you get an appointment early in the morning - at least before 9 am - and fast over-night. Leave 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the blood draw. That way, you will get the highest TSH, and the most accurate FT4.

[Paul6170 in reply to greygoose]

Should I get tested for Hashimoto now or wait till my next thyroid blood test which is in 3 weeks?

[greygoose in reply to Paul6170]

If your doctor will do it now, do it now. Then you can start trying a gluten-free diet.

[Paul6170 in reply to greygoose]

I'm already on a gluten, dairy and sugar free diet. I started it about 4 months ago

[greygoose in reply to Paul6170]

Oh, great! Is it helping?

In any case, you need to know if you have Hashi's, so that you will be prepared for the Hashi's flares, when your Free levels will shoot sky high, and your doctor will probably accuse you of 'abusing' your meds! Because he certainly won't be prepared!

[Paul6170 in reply to greygoose]

To be honest no I haven't seen any change. I still get the flu like symptoms. When I'm well which is normally at the start of each day I feel great but no the diet hasn't got rid of the symptoms

[greygoose in reply to Paul6170]

Then perhaps you don't have Hashi's, and don't need to be on a gluten-free diet, then. Not everybody does. Try eating it again, and see what happens.

Sugar may or may not have been causing inflammation. Did you have a CRP test when eating it? Have you had one since you stopped eating it?

[Paul6170 in reply to greygoose]

No I don't think I have. I had tests 2 weeks ago. I'll check results on Monday with my doctor and see if I had and then get back to you. Thanks for your help

[greygoose in reply to Paul6170]

You're welcome.

[Paul6170 in reply to greygoose]

Hi just a quick one for you, I get flu like symptoms every day basically, is that common with hypo or Hashi?

[greygoose in reply to Paul6170]

It's pretty common with hypo, yes.

[Paul6170 in reply to greygoose]

Ok. I've been on the Thyroxine for a week now. I've heard it's slow to work. How long should it take to see some improvement?

[greygoose in reply to Paul6170]

It takes six weeks to feel the full effect of that dose. Then you'll need a retest and an increase, and the process starts again.

[Hidden]

Paul I know this post is a few months old but wondering if you found any relief or were able to get your meds right. I have dealt with flu-like symptoms on and off for going on a year we have tweaked meds a couple times and I just recently found a wonderful integrative doctor Who found a reverse T3 problem so going to tweak even more. We also are going to look at absorption Maybe my cells just aren't absorbing the medicine right. Would love to hear if you made any progress!

[Ljfaust8]

Mine is similar. I get flu or flu symptoms and then surge of inflamatiin throughout my intestinal tract and thyroid. Does anybody else get this?