Interested if anyone else has had 3 day headaches - Thyroid UK

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Interested if anyone else has had 3 day headaches

Obvs profile image
Obvs
17 Replies

Recently started taking Levothyroxine, started on 25mg, just had it increased to 50mg 2weeks ago (too soon for blood tests to show changes). I am being treated for Subclinical Hypothyroidism (probably auto immune related despite no serum antibodies).

I have suffered serious headaches since being a teenager, but they have in the last 6-8 years become longer lasting ( 3 days). Just thought it might be worth knowing if this is common and whether it has been researched.

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Obvs
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17 Replies
Rosie2m profile image
Rosie2m

Headaches have been a massive symptom of my thyroid condition, I honestly felt like I had one for 2months straight, once the levo kicked properly in they got a lot better however my dose is too low and they’ve started to return 😔 hope yours improve xx

Obvs profile image
Obvs in reply to Rosie2m

Thank you, and I hope you too get your dose increased so you get some relief as it is a really underestimated symptom. X

Obvs profile image
Obvs in reply to Rosie2m

And did you ever find it relates to increased blood pressure? It does with me when I remember to check.

Rosie2m profile image
Rosie2m in reply to Obvs

No I have never had high blood pressure that I’m aware of, I’ve always personally suffered from low bp when tested in the past. X

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Looking at previous post your TSH was 17

Standard starter dose of levothyroxine is 50mcg (unless very elderly)

Headache is extremely common hypothyroid symptom

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Likely to need further increases in levothyroxine

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

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.

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood 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)

Obvs profile image
Obvs in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you, and yes will make a note for next appointment with dr. The penny is just starting to drop about these symptoms and to look for them until the dosage is correct.

E_lizab8 profile image
E_lizab8

I had three day headaches for years before being diagnosed with Hashi and they continued after when I was on Levo( dose starting at 50 and then bit by bit to 100)after 3 years on Levo I decided to go gluten free and have never had those 3 day headaches/migranes again, Im now on NDT and still headache free.

Obvs profile image
Obvs in reply to E_lizab8

Thanks for your response, and interesting that you had 3 day ones too. Wonderful that you’ve managed to get rid of those 🤞. And you seem to put it down to going gluten free? Did anything else change?

E_lizab8 profile image
E_lizab8 in reply to Obvs

Within 3 days of going completely gluten free I started to feel miles better than before, my upper arms stopped aching,I began to sleep better among other things and after a couple of weeks I suddenly realised that Id not had a headache, that was the best for me as they were so bad I could hard

E_lizab8 profile image
E_lizab8 in reply to E_lizab8

Sorry I was saying...I could hardly function. At that time I changed nothing else so think it must have been the GF. My endo wanted to give me a celiac test but I was terrified that the headaches would come back if I ate gluten for the test.Three years later I was seriously glutened and got Dermatitis Herpetiformis so my doc classes me as celiac now.

Obvs profile image
Obvs in reply to E_lizab8

Yes you have to try to get to the root cause or causes. I think it’s one thing then another and it might be lots of things. And to other people it looks like I’m cranky.

Well done for finding out what triggers your system. I’m trying gluten free at the moment, after various dietary changes. We shall see.

Liyaelize profile image
Liyaelize

Have you thought that it could be due to high histamine levels. Look at the foods you are having and try a low histamine diet.

Obvs profile image
Obvs in reply to Liyaelize

Thank you for your reply. I did wonder about that and took antihistamine on the last one along with the ibuprofen but it didn’t change the nature of the headache. I have to say I am more allergic these days, and have to steer clear of a lot of food and drink.

Liyaelize profile image
Liyaelize in reply to Obvs

Histamine tablets triggering mast cell activation with me and make it worse. Doing the lower histamine diet even stopping my 5 year struggling with restless legs. The herx effect the first few days must be toughed out

Obvs profile image
Obvs in reply to Liyaelize

Thanks for the insight. I’m going to look into all this as it could be helpful.

Liyaelize profile image
Liyaelize in reply to Obvs

mthfrsupport.com.au/2016/09...

Something to read..

Obvs profile image
Obvs in reply to Liyaelize

Thanks

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