Parmamently freezing cold! Any remedies? Plus is colloidal silver a no no? And Radiation recovery?

[Pinktijen]

I am always cold... to the core. Even in summer I wear down coats. Also, since my my TT 3 weeks ago I have been utterly freezing - even worse. Thoughts welcome please as i am fed up of being so miserable for years.

I am also looking at colloidal silver and heard it interferes with thyroxine. Views welcome please. Good and trusted brands?

Final question.....any thoughts on thyriod radiation treatment recovery please?

Thank you

[Hillwoman]

I've no experience of radiotherapy, I'm afraid, but your feeling cold all the time, even in warm weather, is a classic sign of hypo. Are you still on levo, and if so, what is the dose? Have you been offered any T3 in addition to the T4 since your thyroidectomy?

[Pinktijen in reply to Hillwoman]

I am on 100mg of liquid levo T4 only. Not been offered T3. Thank you.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Pinktijen

Before considering colloidal silver, the first thing you should be doing is a full thyroid panel to check your hormone levels:

TSH

FT4

FT3

and for a full picture, and for any thyroid hormone to work properly, you need optimal nutrient levels so also test

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

Post results, including reference ranges and units of measurement for B12 and Vit D, and members will comment. Also tell us what thyroid meds you are taking at the time of the test.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much Levothyroxine are you currently taking?

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 you had Graves or Hashimoto's before thyroidectomy

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)

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

Ask GP to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 NOW

Vitamins need to be optimal for thyroid hormones to work

Come back with new post once you get results and ranges

[Angel_of_the_North]

I've never heard that colloidal silver interferes with thyroxine (but I wouldn't take anything within a hour of levo) Used silver for years for cuts, colds etc but that is basically topical (although you do swallow some even if only by accident). I doubt anyone has actually studied it. No idea about RAI, I'm afraid.

[humanbean]

I have found that I feel colder than normal when I am short of iron. (I rarely feel warm at all.) The odd thing is that improving my iron levels doesn't actually improve my body temperature, I just feel warmer.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to humanbean]

I consider that a vital distinction.

Our measured temperature does not always correlate with our perception of temperature.

At my most hypothyroid, even though it was only just into symptomatic zones, I felt as if even being in a warm-enough room didn't actually make me feel warm. Now, I can feel cold as in knowing the room is pretty cool and my skin can be cool to touch, but they are just the normal feelings in under-heated rooms in winter!

Still not perfect but not that far off what I used to be.