Dark nights and mornings!

[beanyjeany]

I have Hashimotos and find that when the clocks change in October, I have a flare up of symptoms, aching muscles and joints. Same every year. Does anyone else experience this, and what do you do to alleviate it? I can only assume it is caused by the lack of light. Thank you

[Hormone-hell]

Me too, carries on until March every year!

- Have you had your vitamin D tested? It could be due to a drop in levels, it helps me with general aches.

- There is also a SAD light you can get which can help with mood too due to lack of sunlight.

- Have you had a blood test recently? I have seen on this forum most people find they need a slight raise in medication in the winter months.

[beanyjeany in reply to Hormone-hell]

I did have my Vitamin D tested some years ago, and it was fine, probably not now though. Maybe I should visit GP for a retest.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to beanyjeany]

Ask for vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin to be tested

All these are often too low when on Levothyroxine

You can test just vitamin D for £29

vitamindtest.org.uk

Or full Thyroid and vitamin testing privately

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

All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

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

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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

[greygoose]

Some people need a slight increase in dose in the winter - and a slight reduction in the summer. It's all to do with the colder weather, and needing more hormone to keep you warm. Have you tried increasing your levo a little bit?

[Simplyred57]

I use a sad lamp every morning in the winter I just switch it and doze for 1/2 hour - gets me through winter . Worth a try 👍

[beanyjeany]

Thanks for your help folks. I am already slightly over medicated according to blood results, I take 125mcg in the week, and 100 at weekends, to keep bloods just in reference range. If I take any less I cant get out of bed, and I dare not take any more cos GP would not agree x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to beanyjeany]

If GP is only testing TSH or TSH plus FT4 that's not enough. You need FT3, antibodies and vitamins tested

Vitamins should be tested annually

[Kalicocat]

My FT3 dips below normal every winter, this year it started in September when usually it doesn't start until October or November, but then we also had colder weather earlier this year. I have now switched from 100mcg T4 only to 75mcg T4 and 6mcg sustained release T3 (compounded) and will add a second 6mcg sustained release T3 in the afternoon soon. I hope the 2nd pill doesn't over-medicate me. I'm thinking of reducing my T4 down to 62.5mcg when I add the extra T3. So far, I feel MUCH better, a whole lot less muscle, tendon and joint pain, better sleeps, no more constipation, no more "freezing to death" and much less brain fog.

I may need to reduce my T3 around May which is when my metabolism speeds up again. Have you had your FT3 measured? It's likely due to that, my FT3 is always at the bottom of the range, and below range during the winter.

[beanyjeany]

Thank you, no i have never had my FT3 tested, It is not done routinely at our local hospital, neither is Vitamin D.