Lost voice :(

[LadyWard]

Hi Everyone, I'm looking for any advice or if anyone else is having this issue

I have been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid about 8 weeks ago. TSH was 6.8, I have been on Levo 50gm since then. Just had blood test back and TSH is now 4.2 (They won’t do any other tests so that is the only info I have)

The main reason I went to the GP was tiredness, weight gain but also because my voice has gone so croaky, by the afternoon its so bad I cant speak. No pain, no swelling. I was referred to an ENT consultant who put a camera down and said he could see that my voice box was damaged and he thought it was related to my thyroid and once my medication is right it will get better, its still the same? Any suggestions please? Have you ever heard of this before?

Its really effecting my job as i work in a call centre, luckily theyt have put me on admin duties, but also my life! as after 4pm i cant really talk

Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

LadyWard

I used to get this when I was undermedicated if I was in a situation where I was talking more than normal. I don't get it now that my dose of thyroid hormone replacement and my results are optimal.

You are very early in your thyroid journey. TSH was 6.8, I have been on Levo 50gm since then. Just had blood test back and TSH is now 4.2. You haven't put the reference range for this result (please always include reference ranges with any results as they vary from lab to lab) but is your TSH still above range? Did you have an increase in your dose of Levo?

The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it needs to be for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their reference ranges, if that is where you feel well.

You should have had an increase of 25mcg with that result of 4.2, retest in 6-8 weeks, and continue retesting/increasing by 25mcg every 6-8 weeks until your TSH is where you need it to feel well.

Many members have to do their own tests when their GP tests don't cover all of the tests needed, for a full picture we need TSH, FT4 and FT3. Testing thyroid antibodies is also useful as that tells us if our hypothyroidism is autoimmune. And because we Hypos often tend to have low nutrient levels, and they need to be optimal for thyroid hormone to work properly, then we also need Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin testing.

If you wish to have details of private labs that many members use to do the full panel of tests, please ask.

[LadyWard in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you Susie,

That is really helpful. Unfortunately that all i was given by the GP just the TSH number and no ranges, i have actually just paid privately for all the things you have suggested, so thats good. Should get them back Monday, seeing the GP on Wednesday and i will ask for an increase on the Levo. Is there somewhere here where i can post my results as i dont know what im looking for and would be good to be prepared for when i see the GP.

Good to know i'm not alone with this voice thing, I think my husband quite likes it though

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to LadyWard]

I think my husband quite likes it though

Ha ha, that's what my late hubby used to say!

You can post your results on the forum when you have them and we can comment. You can either post a picture of your results sheet, ensuring that you don't show your personal details, i.e. name, date of birth, and just zoom in on the results and reference ranges. You can only add a picture in the opening post of a thread. Or you can type the results and reference ranges into your post.

For future reference, when having any blood tests done with your GP, ask the receptionist for a print out of your results. In the UK we are legally entitled to our results and the surgery cannot charge for printing them. Don't accept verbal or handwritten results, always get a print out. Your results will be available after your GP has seen them.

[LadyWard in reply to SeasideSusie]

Brilliant thank you, I didn't know that about printing them off, i'm going in tomorrow to ask for them

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to LadyWard]

If you're asked why you want them, just say "For my own records". You don't have to give a reason.

I'm very luck with the receptionists at my surgery. I just go up to the desk and say:

"Good Morning XXXX, I had a blood test last week for <whatever>. Can I have a print out of the results please."

The print out is in my hand one minute later, handed over with a smile and no questions asked.

[shaws in reply to LadyWard]

Do you do the following steps when getting a blood test? If not this is the method to get the most from your blood test as few doctors appear to know very much more than the TSH and T4 results.

Always get the earliest possible blood draw, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose and the test and take it afterwards.

A Full Thyroid Blood test is:-

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies (if you've not had antibodies tested before). If antibodies are present you would have another autoimmune disease called Hashimoto's.

[DippyDame]

Sounds very familiar!

My voice became very croaky but recovered once I became properly medicated. My GP was going to send me to ENT but that didn't happen in the end.

You appear to be under medicated, 50mcg is only a starting dose and your symptoms suggest your dose should to be increased

Medics are wedded to treating by TSH which is not helpful. For a proper evaluation you must have FT4 and FT3 tested as well.

bmcendocrdisord.biomedcentr...

Optimal nutrient levels are also important for adequate thyroid function....Vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin should also be tested

Unfortunately we often have to resort to private testing in order to achieve this.

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/p...

The frog will go!

Good luck

DD

[LadyWard in reply to DippyDame]

Thank you, I have actually just paid for private testing through the Thyroid UK Org website, company called Blue Horizon, have had eveything so once they come back it may explain x

seeing GP next week and going to ask for higher dose

[DippyDame in reply to LadyWard]

Progress! Put your results in a new post when they arrive and members will advise.

Hope your GP agrees to an increase, if not the paper I linked earlier -which is co-authored by eminent researcher/medic who is /was TUK advisors - should support your request for an increase.

In haste

DD

[ML44]

Hi Ladyward,

I wasn’t diagnosed for a few years and in that time I repeatedly lost my voice, sometimes just for a morning and other times for weeks at a go. I ended up being referred to speech and language and was advised to steam daily with a bowl of hot water and do various vocal exercises and warm ups. The exercises helped A LOT but I still have to do them and avoid irritants such as smoke and alcohol x

[LadyWard in reply to ML44]

Thank you x

[DIYqueen]

Hi, I had the same problem which slowly resolved as my levels steadied and I started to feel better. As a teacher that was good news.

However, my main 'hobby' was choral and madrigal singing as soprano. After the croaky time my voice had changed. My bottom range was unaltered but my top notes had just disappeared making me a fairly 'useless' alto. Mourned the loss.

After 20+ years, even though I don't croak when I talk, I can't sing at all

[LadyWard in reply to DIYqueen]

Thank you for your reply, I’m sorry to hear about your singing that’s when I first noticed my voice going was when I sang in my own in the car! Luckily I don’t actually sing in public ! 😉