I’ve noticed that for the past week I’ve been coughing when lying down, but the mucus in my throat doesn’t seem to shift.
I was wondering if others had experienced this as a side effect of the Levothyroxine, or if it was a symptom of the autoimmune disease? Alternatively it may have nothing to do with my thyroid problems and be more about my diet as I’m a huge bread and cheese lover!
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Regards
Rob
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DaddyCool2001
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Which brand of Levothyroxine are you currently taking?
Different brands can affect people different ways
50mcg is only a starter dose of Levothyroxine. Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised
Have you had thyroid antibodies tested yet?
Or vitamins, if not request they are tested at 6 week test
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly upwards from 50mcg in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range
All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels
NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.
Other medication at least 2 hours away, some like 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. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet.
The box says Actavis is the manufacturer. I note that my T4 is in the lower part of the range, and my antibodies seem ridiculously high at 600 instead of below 34. I wonder if that has anything to do with it?
Not sure there is a test - just try going without and see what happens. Also phlegm is a way of ridding the body of toxins ... Had a snotty nose for most of my life and was teased at school for never leaving base without a wad of tissues !
Dark pee - well it should be the colour of champagne by 3pm - so drink more water - or as someone once suggested here - why not just drink champagne
Has your weight changed at all over this time frame? My weight changes with use of differing thyroid medications, which makes me wonder if it is fluids shifting in compartments that cause the thickening of these secretions. I have noticeable secretion build up to some extent too, but never thought to relate it to thyroid medications. In my case it may be thyroid medication’s effect on my overall fluid volume.
Something else I have noticed is my wee is very dark too. I know that if you become dehydrated, your mucus can get thicker, which, in turn, may make your cough worse. I wonder if you need to drink more on these meds? Any thoughts?
Your antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
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.
I believe you'll find that post nasal drip is one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism and, as a consequence, mucus builds up in your throat leading to coughing. It's something I have which I didn't until I became hypothyroid
Hi SD, I don't have hashis but do you think that I have developed an intolerance to lactose now that I'm hypo? I have never suffered from it before, even when I was hyper. It would be very difficult for me to cut out lactose ☹️
I've never tried a decongestant, it may work. I'm just hoping that it will go alongside all my other symptoms once I'm optimal in all respects - I should rattle with all the tablets I'm taking 😄
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Thyroid and sticky mucus pooling in throat 
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