This is my first summer taking levothyroxine and I am struggling! I know it is very hot but usually I have no problems.
But have been feeling very hot, headaches, dizziness. My knees joint hurt and I have very heavy legs I don't feel like walking (I am 28 by the way). Also having a funny tummy.
I have been drinking plenty of water.
Is this heat related or could the thyroid be playing a part? The way we have cold intolerance do we get heat intolerance too?
Thanks
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Dewberry1
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Thanks for your reply. That's interesting! Any tips on how to deal with it? Last summer I was undiagnosed and my blood pressure dropped to under 100 in the heatwave. Would not like a repeat!
Oh, well, I didn't have that problem. I always had high blood pressure before I was diagnosed.
I don't know what you can do to deal with it, but perhaps stay indoors as much as possible, have an electric fan in every room, always carry a small fan and a water spray when you go out, run cold water over your wrists whenever possible, a cold pack on the back of your neck - or even a packet of frozen peas! And, of course, drink lots of water. I'm sure there must be other tips, but can't think of them at the moment.
How long since your last blood tests and what dose of Levothyroxine are you on? Are you still only on 75mcg?
Have you had vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested recently?
I had quick look and couldn't see any vitamin test results at all
And, if you have Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease) diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
I see you had borderline TPO. But have you ever had a TG antibodies tested?
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and 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
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 are very common too, especially gluten. So it's very important to get both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
Beginning of june my tag was 1.35miu/l which is also what it was in april.
Last lot of other bloods were april via medicheks
T4: 20.4 pmol/l (12-22)
Free t3: 3.64 pmol/l (3.10-6.80)
Tpa: 10.6 iu/ml (0-34)
Thyroglobulin antibody 10 iu/ml (0-115)
B12: 83 pmol/l (25.10-165)
folate 13 ug/l (2.91-50)
Ferritin 30 ug/l (13-150)
Since this I have been taking ferrous fumerate and vitamin b complex.
I am actually seeing a consultant privately in a few weeks about my female horemones. As I feel they could be contributing to me feeling very up and down still.
Your FT3 is too low, needs to be over 5 minimum for most patients
TSH needs to be lower for most, under one, sometimes lower than 0.5
Getting vitamins optimal is first step
Have you considered trying strictly gluten free diet?
Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,
"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.
In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.
Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.
This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."
You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor please email Dionne at
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
Also request list of recommended thyroid specialists, some will prescribe T3 if necessary
Professor Toft recent article saying, T3 may be necessary for many otherwise we often need high FT4 and suppressed TSH in order to have high enough FT3
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