Tremors: I’ve noticed several postings on here... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

137,155 members160,837 posts

Tremors

Shondarella3 profile image
3 Replies

I’ve noticed several postings on here about thryroid medicine and tremors. I have started in the past two months getting tremors in my jaw occasionally in my thumbs both hands. I have taken thyroid medicine for years and the generic version for probably 5 years. My dose has not increased in a couple of years. Just trying to see if there is a correlation between them and my meds I take. Any info is appreciated. They are super annoying feel like my teeth are chattering and it’s not cold. The thumbs are very very occasional. Either my meds are off or I have the beginnings of Parkinson’s and from what I’ve read online I am too young (not that it can’t happen at any age but usually in older adults).

Written by
Shondarella3 profile image
Shondarella3
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
3 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

First thing is, do you have any actual blood test results? if not will need to get hold of copies.

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

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?

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

If you add your most recent blood test results and ranges members can comment

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

It's time you had a in-depth blood test.

If you've had a recent blood test for your thyroid hormones have followed the advice below, get a print-out of the results, with the ranges and post them (on a fresh post if you don't have them today).

This is the procedure for blood tests:-

The earliest possible - fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take afterwards.

Most doctors only do a TSH and T4 but ask if he will do a Full Thyroid Function Test which is:

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies (if you haven't had antibodies tested before). If GP wont do all of these, the ones he hasn't you can get privately - we have several private labs that do home pin-prick tests.

Get a print-out from the surgery of the results with the ranges each time for your own records and post if you have a query.

Yes I developed resting tremors over a year ago when I felt a bit undermedicated and foolishly started taking an extra 25 mcg Levothyroxine every other night.

My new practice only test my TSH and this was actually a bit less suppressed than I like it to be or than the Endo recommenced. The shakes/ tremors continued for a year and the neurologist I see for a related condition (Sjögren’s) said they were one of several functional overlay symptoms I was showing. Wrong!

She put me on Carbamazapine (for Trigeminal Neuralgia) just before Christmas and they stopped immediately and haven’t returned. I have since worked out that Carbamazapine inhibits the effectiveness of Levothyroxine so I’m actually on the right dose now by default.

It’s worth checking your own thyroid bloods if you can because being slightly overmedicated can sometimes cause tremors and similar symptoms to Parkinson’s ie Parkinsonism. I know you’ve been on it a long time and I have too but we change as hormonal changes kick in or other conditions can start to surface eg Graves, Sjögren’s or other autoimmunity or even Parkinson’s or MS (which is autoimune of course)

Alternatively you could request a referral to a neurologist who would hopefully be able to identify early stage Parkinson’s or exclude MS.

However the problem with all neurologists I’ve seen (3) is that anything they can’t identify as a primary neurological condition gets relegated to a conversion disorder which they now call functional neurological disorder/ FND. And once you land this- if you do- then it’s really hard to get doctors to take you seriously ever again!

But you shouldn’t have to live with essential tremors without finding out the reason underlying them so, if you can’t work it out from your thyroid bloods and with your GP then it’s worth getting more expert opinion I think.

You may also like...

Tremors

wondered if anyone else experiences tremors with Hashimotos? I know tremors are common when hyper...

Hyperthyroid and tremors

tests and scan do not correspond. I have tremors which are very fine it is hardly visible to eyes...

Nervousness and slight hand tremors

propranolol to relieve my nervousness and slight hand tremors. Do I need to take it long term?

Involuntary body jerks/tremors

random all over body involuntary jerks/movements & tremors? Have been referred to a neurologist...

Tremors and the dizzy's

be very up and down. I also notice when I feel very tired I get a dizzy feeling and have tremors in