Needing advise

[shyster]

I am new and I have hypothyroidism with goiter. I was diagnosed 35 years ago and honestly I haven't been on meds for at least 25 yrs. I was just diagnosed with COPD and I have had some really bad breathing issues in the last 3 months. I almost feel like I came close to death. I quit smoking, but guess it was too late , cause I am literally at the edge of feeling like the fish out of water. Can my thyroid be making the COPD symptoms worse? Maybe my thyroid has stopped working and I am reaping what I sowed by not taking meds for all these years. I am thinking that this diagnosis of COPD, shouldn't have affected me this quickly. I never got sick and I am not getting this, because I am beat down like never before. I am going to go back to the ER, but should I bring up the thyroid issue again. They ignored it last time, but my goiter is really whitish and my glands are swollen. They always overlook thyroid problems here.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Sorry your post got missed, this is an extremely busy forum

How long since you quit smoking?

Essential to get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing more frequently in the two years after quitting smoking

verywellhealth.com/cigarett...

Very common for thyroid levels to change, sometimes dramatically, and need dose increase in Levothyroxine

Not unknown on here for people to get a very high TSH soon after quitting

How much Levothyroxine are you currently taking ?

When were bloods last tested

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that 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)

Is this how you do your tests?

If in the UK

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

Low iron or ferritin can cause breathlessness

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Just realised you said you haven't been on Levothyroxine for 25 years?

Why not?

Hypothyroidism rarely recovers.