Hypothyriodism and winter

[Rachael3000]

I wondered if there was a connection as since Christmas I have felt exhausted, hungry all the time, no energy and getting more than enough sleep.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your previous post suggests you are under medicated

Getting FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing is next step

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to retest 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?

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

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 important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Understanding Hashimoto's

hashimotoshealing.com/under...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

New NHS England Liothyronine guidelines November 2018 clearly state on pages 8 & 12 that TSH should be between 0.4-1.5 when treated with just Levothyroxine

sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploa...

[masa2333]

Hello, I also have same symptoms every winter +feeling REALLY cold all the time and extreme weight gain (approximately 8-10kg). On summer I usually slim down and my energy is up. Don’t know if this has been helpful as I don’t know the cause for this, but maybe there is a connection

[greygoose in reply to masa2333]

Some people just need a slight increase in dose during the winter. Then reduce again in the summer. This is the first winter I have experienced this - maybe something to do with getting older? - and I have been on thyroid hormone replacement for 19 years. But, I've had to increase my dose of T3 by 6.25 mcg this winter. It varies from person to person - some do, some don't.

[masa2333 in reply to greygoose]

That makes sence. I also noticed that both my TSH levels were lower in summer (0.34) than now (0.96) and FT4 also. Not huge difference, but still. I have been taking therapy for 12 years, but I’m 21 now so still have body issues and cannot say that I’m not bothered with weight fluctuations.🙂

[greygoose in reply to masa2333]

If you can, try a slight increase, and see if it helps.

[masa2333 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks!

[greygoose in reply to masa2333]

You're welcome.

[masa2333 in reply to greygoose]

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

I just randomly found this link! Might be helpful

[greygoose in reply to masa2333]

You can't replace a thyroid hormone with a fatty acid. If you need more levo, nothing else with do. Fish oil is good for general health, but it can't replace levo.

[masa2333 in reply to greygoose]

Not, of course not. I just thought that maybe this link would be helpful to maybe include omega oil alondside your medication. No supplement can replace your prescribed and needed dosage of levo! I didn’t mean to advice anyone to include fish oil and decrease thyroid meds. Just to maybe include it alongside meds.

[bookish in reply to masa2333]

Same here - there is a connection. See reply to OP. Fish oil is a good idea. I'm finding (natural) vitamin E is helping. Good luck

[Cooper27]

How are your vitamin D levels?

I've been quite exhausted this month too, a friend did tell me there was a virus going around her work leaving everyone exhausted...

[bookish]

I always feel worse in winter - memory worse, freezing cold, dry skin, more hair loss etc,. Dr P says this is common and we feel better in warmer weather because 'extra warmth in the environment means that your metabolism doesn't have to work so hard to maintain your body temperature. So you feel better altogether, your lowered thyroid output now sufficient for your needs'. (He also points out that many of us can't regulate so struggle in very hot weather too.) He said that dosage needed to be dynamic, to take account of that, for many people. Best wishes.