swelling of neck/thyroid gland after switching from levothyroxine to Thiroyd

[dizzy1979]

Hi Guys, i started thiroyd last wednesday 1 grain per day at 6.30am daily. the first couple of days id get a really sore throat until dinner time, which has eased however when looking in the mirror this morning it appears to me that my neck is slightly swollen i am assuming its my thyroid gland? it is just below where an adams aple would be. now is this becuause i am not getting enough thiroyd? or becuase i am having a reaction? i am slightly worried as i don't want to deteriorate. has anyone else experienced this or similar? i do still get ever such a sore throat in the mornings, after taking.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

dizzy1979

From your first post on the forum

i have been on various levels of levo for years and my levels never seem to regulate, my symptoms are all never consistant and my dr is as much at his whits end as am i.

This can be indicative of autoimmune thyroid disease, aka Hashimoto's, which is indicated by raised antibodies. SlowDragon asked if you'd had antibodies tested - Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) and Thyroglobulin (Tg).

With Hashi's, your immune system attacks the thyroid, when this happens the thyroid can become inflamed, this could explain your swelling.

If your GP can't get the antibodies tested, you can do it privately with one of our recommended labs.

If you post some of your results showing the difference in your levels, this can help us see whether Hashi's could be indicated. So that we can understand them and interpret them correctly, post the result, reference range and say how much Levo you were taking at the time of the test and whether your dose was adjusted according to the result.

To compare test results, tests should always be done under the same conditions which are:

* early morning blood draw, no later than 9am

* overnight fast, drinking water only until after the blood draw

* leaving off Levo for 24 hours before the blood draw

If you can remember if any of this applies, mention that too. Taking Levo before the blood draw in particular with give a false high FT4 which will be very different from leaving off Levo for longer than 24 hours which would give a false low FT4.

[dizzy1979 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you I haven’t had tpo or tg tested I will be going back to the dr in 6 weeks so will ask for them to be tested. If this is the case sticking with the thiroyd how is this going to effect me?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to dizzy1979]

dizzy

I don't know whether the Thiroyd is affecting you in any way. It's like any prescribed medication, some people react to a certain brand, others don't. You may be better with NDT than Levo, time will tell. You may be better with a different brand of NDT, you may have to trial a different one.

Your GP may be able to get antibodies tested. He may only be able to get TPO tested. If TPO comes back negative then Tg should be tested. And with Hashi's, the antibody levels fluctuate so you can have a lower result one time and a higher result another.

[dizzy1979 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you that’s very informative I shall be compiling a list of tests to request from the GP when I go back in 6 weeks.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

If thyroid antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's

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

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first




Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

Presumably you are now taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

[dizzy1979 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, I was tested for Coeliac in October but that came back fine apparently. I do take seeking health adeno b12 daily and natural souce magnesium Malate daily. I did try the aip diet a couple of years ago with great weight loss results but must admit to lapsing in recent months.

So if I stick with the thiroyd that I am taking and cut out gluten and dairy? Should I restrict eggs too? I try to have them of a morning to help with iron levels but happy to omit them if they could be hindering?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to dizzy1979]

Personally I only cut out all gluten and all soya

I also test negative for coeliac, but dramatic improvements on gluten free diet

Perhaps try just one option to start with. Gluten is most common