Coughing and Swallowing ( I not all is Thyroid related :) Just wondering )

[Quest2019]

Hi

Any comments appreciated. I seem to cough alot at night to the point that I feel like I am going to get sick (vomit - sorry)

During the day - it feels like my food gets stuck in my throat. I do have a non sliding hiatus hernia - however this has never been an issue.

When I drink liquids - about 30% of the time its like it goes down the wrong pipe and I choke?

Any one see this related to my thyroid?

TIA

[greygoose]

Sounds like your thyroid is slightly swollen. Are you under-medicated for your thyroid?

[Quest2019 in reply to greygoose]

Hi Grey Goose. I would say I am not . I was over medicated about a month ago . TSH was suppressed( although it does not count much) . T4/T3 in the high % off the range. I decreased Levo by 12.5 mg 4 weeks ago.

[greygoose in reply to Quest2019]

Do you have Hashi's? Were your FT4/3 over-range?

[Quest2019 in reply to greygoose]

I have Hashimotos. They were not over. But in the high range of normal. I was getting over medicated symptoms so I reduced 4 weeks ago.

[greygoose in reply to Quest2019]

Have your coughing, swallowing problems started since then?

What do you call 'over-medicated symptoms'? We have to be very careful with symptoms because so many can be both under and over-medicated symptoms.

And, of course, your high levels could just have been caused by Hashi's fluctuations, doesn't necessarily mean you were over-medicated.

[Quest2019 in reply to greygoose]

No they have been before then. Over medicated symptoms were severe he aches . Period stopped. I did get it back after reduction. Going to the loo from once a day to 6/7 times a day. ( it was a runny stool most times ) Rapid heartbeat. Severe sweating and hot flushes. I had all my hormones looked at also. All were in order. Thank you

[Quest2019 in reply to greygoose]

Free T3 was 6.37 pmol/L

T4 was 20.80 pmol/L

TSH 0.02 mIU/L

I am replying on my phone at moment and I cannot upload my sheet with my last years results. I think it would be easier to see why I think I was over medicated...

[greygoose in reply to Quest2019]

Sorry, but we need the ranges to be able to interpret those results. Ranges vary from lab to lab, so we need the ranges that came with your results.

Very often the top of the FT3 range is 6.8 and FT4 22. So, whilst your results were high, they possibly weren't over-range. And, some people would need them even higher. The thing that stands out for me in those results is that you would have to have perfect conversion to be over-medicated. So, that makes me suspicious that they were high due to Hashi's fluctuation, rather than your dose being too high. If that is the case, then they will come down again by themselves. However, it is possible that hypo symptoms will linger despite the Hashi's fluctuation levels, and the continual dry cough, and the lump in the throat do tend to be hypo symptoms. Which is why I asked.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Acid reflux causes coughing...and is frequently a hypothyroid symptom....suggests dose levothyroxine too low

Low stomach acid is most likely cause when hypothyroid

Are you on strictly gluten free diet

Are your vitamin levels optimal

Getting thyroid and vitamin levels tested 6-8 weeks after any dose change

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially as you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

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)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

[Quest2019 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you very much. My Levo dose is correct. I test every 8 weeks with Medi Checks full thyroid panel. I am gluten free. I have Hashimotos

[Lora7again]

I am the same and I have to bite small amounts or I will choke. Steak is the worse and I love it especially a fillet steak with chips ... so I only have that as a treat and it takes me ages to eat.