Sweats

[HBL1]

Hi I had a total throidectomy 2 weeks ago and have been on levothyroxine 125 mg since . I had dreadful sweats before the op and was hoping that this would improve post op however to no avail yet can anyone tell me if this is s normal side effect of the thyroid problem as I cannot seem to find a connection anywhere .

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low B12 can be linked to night sweats

extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g52...

Did you have thyroidectomy due to Graves' disease?

Low vitamins are common with Graves and Hashimoto's

[HBL1 in reply to SlowDragon]

TT was due to multi modular goiter thankfully non cancerous but it caused swallowing difficulties and kept getting palpitations with horrific sweats hourly sometimes with breathlessness yet I put on weight so symptoms of both over and under active thyroid very confusing . The sweats and sudden tiredness that are causing me the most aggravation any ideas on self help would be most welcome.

[shaws Administrator in reply to HBL1]

I am not medically qualified but without a thyroid gland you're body may not yet be on a sufficient dose of hormones. They have to be gradually increased. However as you have no thyroid gland whatsoever you may need a combination of T4/T3 for an improvement but - if you're in the UK - they have now withdrawn T3 from being prescribed and there is a case before the House of Lords who were astonished that this has happened.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/campai...

These are symptoms of hypothyroidism. You re now hypo due to your gland removal. I really do not understand why patients are not treated optimally when their gland has been removed, considering that our body cannot function when T3 is too low.

T4 also known as levothyroxine is an inactive hormone. It has to convert to the Active one T3 - also known as liothyronine. It is T3 which is required in our body and we have millions of T3 receptor cells - the heart and brain have the most. Last year T3 was removed from being prescribed leaving many pateints in the lurch and having to source their own.

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

You take thyroid hormones, usually when you get up, with one full glass of water and wait an hour before eating. Food interferes with the uptake. Many people can convert levothyroxine (T4) into sufficient T3 but many cannot which leaves us unwell but it does take a while for dose to be gradually increased until we feel well again.

Always get a print-out of your results with the ranges for your own records and you can post for comments. Ranges are important and they are in brackets after the results.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to HBL1]

You will need Thyroid bloods retested after 6-8 weeks on constant dose of Levothyroxine

Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. Many take early morning, on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime.

verywell.com/should-i-take-...

Other medication at least 2 hours away, some like HRT, iron, calcium, vitamin D or magnesium at least four hours away from Levothyroxine

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients

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

You could ask GP to test these now.

B12 can be lowered by anaesthetic

Or get just vitamin D test now if GP unhelpful and get rest tested with thyroid in 4-6 weeks

£29 NHS postal kit

vitamindtest.org.uk

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose 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 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