Test results and sore throat

[Cade83]

My recent TSH is 1.3 miu/L

Normal range 0.35-4.94

I’m on 75mcgs a day, is 1.3 low enough, I have had a an improvement on energy but not 100%, I would say 30-40% better. I can’t tell you what my FT3 or FT4 is as lab doesn’t check unless TSH is out of range which is useless.

I just wondered if many people suffer with reoccurring sore throats. I keep getting them for a 2-4 days and then they disappear. I think I probably get them 1-2 times a month. Is this a common side effect of being underactive? I even had a throat mri couple years ago because I have swollen tonsils but nothing was picked up and there isn’t any sign of infection i.e white spots. The pain radiates to my glands and ears, although I do seem to have a bit of a runny nose. I did wonder whether it was due to post nasal drip but I really don’t know. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Obviously you need full testing......it's not an exciting Christmas present, but it might be a useful one

Vitamin levels perhaps need retesting too

Results from 5 months ago

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Are you on strictly gluten free diet ?

Or dairy free?

Many Hashimoto's patients are lactose intolerant or dairy intolerant

Mucus and/of post nasal drip can be dairy intolerance

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

[Cade83]

Yeah I get that I need full testing to really see where I’m at I just don’t have the funds to do it and my doctor isn’t likely to let me do what blood tests I want.

I’m not gluten free or dairy free.

Interesting to know about the dairy and post nasal drip link though. Anything to get rid of this sore throat it’s horrible and can’t stand being in pain. I hate taking tablets as it is.

Thank you for the information.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Cade83]

Cheaper test for just a TSH, FT4 and FT3 here £29

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

75mcg Levothyroxine is only one step up from starter dose

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

NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Like Minimouse1 i was astonished at improvement going strictly gluten free. It's much easier than you might imagine

Dairy free is perhaps harder

But many, many Hashimoto's patients find they do need to do both

Perhaps start with dairy

[HashiFedUp]

If you still have symptoms then arguably you need more Medicine. I need my TSH below 1.0 to feel well.

[Minimouse1]

I have these symptoms too. I don't know the cause but am interested to know what other people say about it. I've always put it down to high antibodies and the condition itself. I went gluten free to see if it made a difference & now I get it much less frequently and less severe but it hasn't stopped completely. Do some research on going gluten free, I haven't found it as hard as I thought it might be, but I haven't yet been able to bring myself to go dairy free as well!

[Cade83]

It’s driving me nuts to be honest, my throat is so sore today and feel like an idiot to go to my doctor and complain I have a sore throat as it’s so trivial but the pain is getting worse but I’ve only had it for about 3 days. I’ll look into going gluten free again.

[DeeFish71]

Hi there. I have had constant sore throat for 8 months now. I too have had ENT look down it with a camera - "swollen lymph nodes which should go in a couple of weeks" and told to take Difflam throat spray. It was useless and nothing went away.

I had a thyroid/throat scan in August - my thyroid was "very small" but nothing was ever done.

I hope you get more luck than I have had getting help. I too have the pain radiating to ear and I think I have post nasal drip too.

Hope you get your problems sorted, sorry cannot give you any handy advice, just my support.

[Cade83 in reply to DeeFish71]

My GP prescribed difflam throat spray when I first complained about it. Totally useless. I just bought ultra chloraseptic spray to numb my throat as it’s getting really painful and it’s only taken the edge off. It’s so frustrating. If it’s not gonna by the end of the week I shall be asking doctor again. If I have to I’ll opt to get my tonsils out this time.

[DeeFish71 in reply to Cade83]

Yeah i was told to try that other one as well but since that is basically the same as Difflam under a different name, I didn;t bother. Just not got the money to spend on stuff that will use a few times then it rots in a cupboard! I have tried everything - Lockets, gargling salt water, Strepsils - the relief is never more than about 10 minutes. Best of luck with your appointment,

[Cade83 in reply to DeeFish71]

Well I phoned my GP and he’s prescribed antibiotics without even seeing me. As much as I hate taking tablets I’m going to give them a go and see what happens. I doubt the swelling will go down as it didn’t last time but if it gets rid of the pain I’ll be happy.

[ZeilaJee]

I have had post-nasal drip for 2 years or so. I have been prescribed Avamys which is a steroid nasal spray which does dry up the drip and has improved things. I stop it when things improve.

I also have lung congestion (wheezy short breathing) for which, when it's bad, I take a steroid inhaler (preventer) morning and evening, one for an asthma attack if I have one, and one anti-allergy (Intal) . Not generally all together though - depends what I think is going on! I am much more allergic than I used to be and the Intal is brilliant. Some ideas to try maybe.