Hi everyone this is my first time on here but I was looking for a site where I can talk to people. I am a 34 year old man and the only other people I know who suffer with thyroids are women so I wanted to get some advice from both sides.
I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism around 4 years ago and to say its been bad as been an understatement but with the support of my wife and kids behind me as been great.
the doctors started me on 50nmirogram of levothyroxine but now I am on 200 and still feel far from right which is frustrating to say the least.
I have been to the doctors so many times with complaint's and they have either up my dosage or lowered it the last time I had a blood test it came back as normal but when I went to see the doctors she told me that I was on to much and that was causing my anxiety levels to shoot up but I never got a phone call back stating this after my blood test.
I suffer massively with anxiety and depression and am on 50 micrograms of sertraline I am very happy with my wife and kids but in myself at times I feel awful ( so tired , emotional , sweats , low libido etc) just wondering if there is any advice for me out there.
I was going to ask the doctor if I can see a specialist but not sure if that is right and advice is welcome thank you.
Hi Ukraine84, welcome to the forum. I'm afraid I'm not male - despite what some people think! lol But, I'd like to tell you that the first step to wellness is getting hold of your blood test results - if you are in the UK, it is your legal right to have a print-out. You need to know exactly what has been tested and what the results are. The right tests are rarely done, and even when they are, doctors have trouble understanding the results. So, never just accept comments like 'normal', 'over-medicated', etc. Always, always get the numbers: results and ranges. Then, if you post them on here, people can help you understand them.
Thanks greygoose I did get hold of my test results before and at times they have been out but when I have felt unwell it just seems like they fob me off. To be honest I don’t understand much of the results and it’s so frustrating and I am angry I do have a doctors appointment Monday and will get a printout of my results but I don’t know where to turn as when the doctors say I am ok but in reality I feel dreadful yet years ago I was a fit young man. Anyway really do appreciate you taking the time out to reply and give me some advice thank you 👍
Well, when you get those results, post them on here, and we can talk about it. If you show your doctors that you know what you're talking about, they will be less inclined to try and fob you off.
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common and often need supplementing regularly to maintain levels
All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, take last dose 24 hours prior to test, and take next dose straight after test. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
Thanks for your comment slowdragon I was never told to fast or anything before a blood test I was told I have low vitamin d as I get lots of pain in my body and with working nights I don’t see much sun light but thanks for the feedback
The fasting and early morning are patient to patient tip. Not to be discussed with GP or Phlebotomist
So are you on any vitamin D supplements?
How low was vitamin D
Aiming to improve to at least 80nmol and around 100nmol may be better (that's UK units. Other countries use ng/ml) .
Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is good as avoids poor gut function. It's trial and error what dose each person needs. Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there. Retesting twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk
Essential to test folate, ferritin and B12 as well. Always get actual results and ranges. Post results when you have them, members can advise
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's gut connection is very poorly understood
Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.
Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.
Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients
Very important how you take Levothyroxine
Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. Many take early morning, on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime. Though working nights may make routine more difficult
Thank you for all the advice I will keep all of this in mind and when I get my blood test results I will post them . I can’t remember how low my vitamin d was and I just take a multi cinnamon everyday along with my other medication
Multivitamins are not usually recommended on here as far too little of what we do need, very cheap ingredients and often have iodine in which should be avoided with Hashimoto's
Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy medication, it MUST be taken on its own, on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
No other medication at same same time.
Multivitamins at best are waste of money, but the iron in multivitamin will be stopping Levothyroxine be absorbed and iodine in multivitamins can make Hashimoto's worse. Vitamin D dose in a multivitamin is too small an amount to be useful. Unlikely to be more than 400iu, or 800iu. If vitamin D deficient, with Hashimoto's we very often need higher dose.
Better You vitamin D mouth spray is good as avoids poor gut function of Hashimoto's. Available on Amazon and most High Streets
greygoose may add some comments about multivitamins
Can you take your sertraline and Levothyroxine separately. Perhaps try taking Levothyroxine at night. But you need to not have eaten for 2 hours before and nothing apart from water an hour before
Not sure I can add anything to what SlowDragon has already said. Multivits are for the Worried Well - not that they do them any good, either - rather than people who have deficiencies. They are really a huge great con, because if they put iron in the pill, you're not going to be able to absorb any of the vitamins. So, it's more like a no-vitamin pill rather than a multi. Plus all the other points SD made. So, you might as well just throw that money out the window.
Iron will also stop you absorbing your thyroid hormone. It should be taken at least four hours away from thyroid hormone, and two hours away from everything else. Calcium, magnesium and vit D should also be taken four hours away from thyroid hormone. So, you probably haven't been absorbing any of your levo at all. Which is why it appear to be not strong enough.
It's doubtful you need calcium, anyway - or copper or iodine. The best thing you can do is get tested for vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin, and just supplement what you need, in quantities suggested by the results, along with the cofactors. A bit complicated, but we're here to help.
I’m also a man, so we are out there, but I think the illness is pretty similar for men and women. I too went from hyperactive, doing everything at a 100 mph to feeling like I was walking through mud, and then was diagnosed with this. Good luck
in reply to
Thanks mate really appreciate the heads up and to have feedback from men too 👍
Thanks I feel so I’ll at times and fed up but I am happy with my family wife and kids couldn’t be happier . Just angry with myself and frustrated as I feel so ill a lot of the time and am just made to feel like I am making this up from the doctors thanks for the advice and I knew that the medication for me is not strong enough
Welcome to the forum. You may have noticed this is run by Thyroid uk so have a look at their site. It has lots of good advice and I'm sure it will help you understand more but shout out if anything you don't understand.
The amount a person needs is the amount a person needs.
This is influenced by many factors including weight, whether they still have a partially working thyroid, genetic make up, etc.
Gender can have an impact but it is often suggested that post-menopause (assuming no ongoing HRT), there is little difference between men and women in dosing requirements.
Would Ronnie Corbett have needed more than Hattie Jacques?
That way you will be far enough away from your last meal, and you will be taking it on it’s own away from other vitamins that could interfere with absorption.
I keep mine on my bedside table, and also keep a bottle of water nearby too.
Welcome to the forum. My husband has Hashimoto’s, as do I, but sadly he’s not interested enough to read up on here and find optimal health so it's great that you’re being proactive. There’s masses of good advice here- try to read some of the latest posts each day and click on ‘follow post’ to keep track of any that you think could be useful in the future. As your knowledge grows, you will find different posts more relevant to your own situation. Regarding the timing of your levothyroxine, I find when I wake in the night is the perfect time for me, often around 4am. That way, my stomach is empty and it’s a couple of hours before breakfast resulting in maximum absorption.
Hi yeah it’s great to get lots of advice on this forum and to follow different people. I hope to get better soon because at 34 with a wife and 3 kids I want to be full of life for them but at times I feel dead and it’s so frustrating and scary . I’m on 200 mg and it still doesn’t seem like enough I used to be really fit when I was younger and know I feel embarrassed when I can’t even run or do much exercise but thanks for the advice you been great help
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