Recently had coil fitted, 6 months after baby number 3. Feeling exhausted and very very forgettful. Just tested bloods and T3 is low at 3.2 and antibodies high at 488. Told by doc that the coil takes time to settle in your system but it took almost 4 weeks of a fairly light bleed before it did, It seems to have settled now but I am feeling poor. Not sure if there is a link, or whether it is lifestyle/ dietary factors that I havnt been looking after myself properly in recent months. Suddenly wondered if the coil was making things worse for me (and my whole very patient family!).
Question 2 was whether stiff joints in the hands, and a weakness there has any link to Hashimotos or related nutrient definciency?
Any information most appreciated. Thank you
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If you'd had a Hashi's 'flare' your FT3 would be high, not low. 'Flare' is not a very good name for it, because it's not a 'flare up' as you get in other illnesses. It's when your immune system attacks and damages the thyroid, and the dying cells deposit their stock of hormone into the blood, causing FT4/3 levels to rise steeply, and TSH to fall. I think a 'Hashi's 'hyper' swing' is a better name for it.
Thank you. Sorry- despite having been diagnosed 5 years ago I'm still learning what the condition is really about. Unfortunately I only really make an effort to learn about it when it's causing a problem. When you have low T3 does that mean the thyroid swings from hypo to hyperthyroid? thank you
Thank you. Yes I've been non Gluten for two years. huge help- relieved all my nasty IBS symptoms. I am now taking a 30day course of probiotics as whilst I dont have any IBS I sense my gut might not be so happy and a bit deficient right now. Is it possible to get the nhs GP to check vutamin/ minerals ?
thank you. I am on 100mg Levo since after first baby in 2013. I am hoping to be referred to an endocrinologist so that I can have regular tests as GP knowledge seems limited and Ive moved around a bit over the last few years so theres been no continuity. Looking through some ad hoc bloods over the years my TSH T4&T3 ( when tested) levels have been up and down, TSH low and T3 low of normal levels generally, Thyroid antibodies consistently high ranging from 300-500. I am intrigued if T3/T4 combination drugs could help me but also which supplements have the best impact on reducing fatigue and low mood. Any info greatly appreciated.
Your GP should be able to test your TSH, T3 & T4 without needing to go to an Endocrinologist.
Majority of Endocrinologist are useless, they are diabetic specialist and don’t have a clue.
Mine was as much use as a chocolate fire guard.
It maybe that your 100mcg dosage of Levothyroxine is not sufficient.
If I can make a suggestion, get private blood tests carried out if your GP will not test TSH, T3 & T4.
You need all three testing not just TSH, which GP’s are normally just obsessed with.
T3 is the active hormone, some patients can’t convert T4 (in active hormone) to T3 (active hormone) especially those with Hashimoto’s. Levothyroxine only has T4 in it.
Do you take selenium? This helps aid converting. Take 200mcg daily.
If your iron/Ferritin levels are low and vitamin D, B12, this will not help.
If you do have your blood taken either via your GP or privately, don’t take your Levothyroxine the morning of your blood test, don’t eat and only drink water. Book your blood test to be taken before 9am.
Why? Your TSH is always higher in the morning which enable us patients to get that much needed increase of Levothyroxine from our GP without having to fight for it.
This a tip we pass on here and we ask that it is not mentioned to your Endocrinologist/GP/Nurse.
Many GP’s state your results are normal, what this means is that your results are within the lab ranges. Just being in range doesn’t mean we feel well.
Research as much as you can, all this information I know is from the support of this forum and reading books.
If I had taken the advice of my Endocrinologist, I would of been struggling to cope with life and I hate to think where I would of been now.
Once you have your results post them on here (including lab ranges) and the experts will be able to advise.
No need to be sorry. We all had to learn at some point. None of us did it in school!
When you have low T3 it means you're hypo. The thyroid cannot swing from hypo to hyper, once it has been damaged, it is always hypo. It's just, as I explained above, dying cells dump their hormone content into the blood sending levels high - high FT3, high FT4 - but that doesn't mean you're hyper. The levels will come down again as the excess hormone is used up or excreted, and you will be hypo again.
I’m not qualified in anyway to answer this but from personal experience I would say yes!
I’ve been hypo for many years without problems. I had a coil fitted about 5years ago after my second child was born. Last year would have been the last full year of the 5 years its recommended for. However, I had a very traumatic year and initially went to my gp with terrible migraines. I’d never had one before. Two weeks later I had what I now call “my crash” where I became very ill with severe headaches, low hr, high bp and virtually unable to stand.
Although I recovered a bit, No one could (or ever has) told me what the problem was but I made the decision a few weeks later to have my coil removed as I felt I just wanted to try to return my body to its normal state. I don’t really know why I decided on this course of action, it just felt right at the time. Within 2 days I felt so much better. More energy, reduced headaches and just generally feeling brighter. It turned out to be a temporary reprieve as I’m still not great a year later. The headaches hadn’t gone completely but reduced over time as did a lot of my other symptoms.
However, the reason I am replying is because I firmly believe now that the mirena did have an effect/impact on me. It contains artificial progesterone, and as thyroid problems cause a strain on the adrenals, which then rob the prehormones to progesterone, which then knocks the whole hpa axis (as I come to learn) I think there’s no way that the coil can’t have an impact somehow, and I think the fact that I felt temporarily a LOT better once mine was removed, is proof of this.
I certainly wouldn’t have another one on the back of my experience, and as I now have endometriosis which I’ve never had, nor have any family history of, I feel their coil has had some sort of effect on this outcome. Not scientific, just a gut feeling. Ironically, one of the solutions for my monthly extreme pain and suffering is to fit a coil..... hmmm!
In answer to your sencond question, I’m sure someone else far more able to answer will be along soon but I do get very achey, sore joints and I think this is common of people with thyroid problems. I found glucosamine/chondroitin supplements to be very helpful.
I'm wondering a similar thing myself. My levels were borderline hypo about 5-6 years ago with no medication. I then got my marina put in which is due out in November. Ever since then my thyroid function has got significantly worse and I'm now on 125mcg, was this just coincidence? I always put my symptoms down to my thyroid but wondering whether my coil may have been having a large influence.
I haven't looked at any literature on this but it might be worth a look since others are saying similar thing. Think I'll try life without a coil for a bit.
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