I've had symptoms of hyper for about 20 months - sweating over heating, always hot to the touch 99% of the time.
Diagnosed with hypothyroidism due to a period of thyroiditis. I've been on 100mg of thyroxine for just over 3 months, yet the symptoms still remain and have got worse at times. Skin red, and hot. Can't wear many layers. Really fatiqued and tired.
I've tested positive for antibodies, vitamins are fine and my latest bloods are.
The aim is a TSH of 1 or lower (many doctors think somewhere in the range is fine - not so).
Ask for an increase in dose.
Did you allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test? If not your results will be skewed. Also the blood draw should be at the very earliest possible?
The fact that you have thyroid antibodies, you have an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease - also called Hashimoto's. Going gluten-free can help reduce the antibodies that attack the thyroid gland (they wax and wane) until you are hypothyroid.
You don't convert terribly well. Your FT4 needs to be right at the top of the range, for your FT3 to be just over mid-range.
Have you had your nutrients tested? Vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin? These all need to be optimal for good conversion. You could also try taking some selenium and zinc.
Sweating and over-heating can also be hypo symptoms. But, it's not unusual to have hypo and hyper symptoms at the same time. The levo that your taking is not being distributed evenly across all the cells of your body. Some are getting too much, and others none at all! As you go along, this will even out.
I think what you really need is a new endo. This one is an idiot! He has no knowledge or understanding of thyroid. I expect he's a diabetes specialist, isn't he?
Most people that take zinc and selenium do do so without testing first. But, I would would suggest having a break from them occasionally - like when you've finished the first pot, don't buy another for a few weeks, then start again. Selenium is usually 200 mcg a day, and zinc 15 mg.
* If your multi contains iron, it will block the absorption of all the vitamins - you won't absorb a single one! Iron should be taken at least two hours away from any other supplement except vit C, which is necessary to aid absorption of iron, and protect the stomach.
* If your multi also contains calcium, the iron and calcium will bind together and you won't be able to absorb either of them.
* Multi's often contain things you shouldn't take or don't need : calcium, iodine, copper. These things should be tested before supplementing.
* Multi's often contain the cheapest, least absorbable form of the supplement : magnesium oxide, instead of magnesium citrate or one of the other good forms; cyanocobalamin instead of methylcobalamin; folic acid instead of methylfolate; etc. etc. etc.
* Multi's do not contain enough of anything to help a true deficiency, even if you could absorb them.
* When taking several supplements, you should start them individually at two weekly intervals, not all at once as you would with a multi. Because, if you start them all at once, and something doesn't agree with you, you won't know which one it is and you'll be back to square one.
With a multivitamin, you are just throwing your money down the drain, at best, and doing actual harm at worst. Far better to get tested for vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin, and build up your supplementation program based on the results.
I had VIT D, VIT B12, folate and ferritin tested and all normal. Thanks for your help, I'll go out and get some selenium and zinc tomorrow and give it a go. Any time indication of when to know if it's having an impact or not?
Everyone's different. Zinc had an almost instant effect on my muscle pain. I must have been very low on zinc. But, selenium didn't suit me at all, and I had to stop taking it.
So, don't start them both at once. Or, if one doesn't agree with you, you won't know which one it is. Leave at least two weeks between starting one and starting the other.
By the way, there's no such thing as 'normal'. It just means 'in-range'. But, just being 'in-range' is not the same as optimal. So, might be a good idea to post the results and ranges on here, and see what people think.
Thankas for a your help. Started on Selenium so let's see what difference that makes. Currently feeling worse and worse and skin is hotter and hotter, so fingers crossed the selenium does something!
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 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
Can you add actual results and ranges for vitamins
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.
Also what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)
Do you always get same brand of Levothyroxine?
As you have raised antibodies this confirms cause of your hypothyroidism is due to autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's
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
While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first
Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet
(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)
Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.