kidney issues with Levo

[cazza1001]

Hi

Just had a call from GP as I had a 'bad' kidney blood result ( this was taken due to a pain in the side and not related to Hypothyroidism) …. The nurse then asked me to come in for my annual check for Thyroid - including more bloods for kidney and an essential blood pressure review apparently !

Here's my issue I HAVE NEVER ( in over 7 years on thyroid meds) had an annual review on either kidneys / liver or blood pressure or anything - even thou I have been on blood pressure meds for 4 years - is there a connection to Kidney issues and Levo or liothyronine ? I know the kidneys have a lot to do with blood pressure but had no idea Kidney issues were a thing on this medication - any info welcome - many thanks

[fuchsia-pink]

I don't know of any correlation.

I am an altruistic kidney donor, and as such had to have a battery of kidney tests - both to ensure one was good-quality enough to donate and that I would manage happily with the one left. I have annual post-op urine testing. They knew of my thyroid issues from the off (it's the only medication I take) and no-one at the nephrology department has ever mentioned it as a potential complication.

[DippyDame]

This Paper might be of interest

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

"Interactions between thyroid disorders and kidney disease"

[cazza1001 in reply to DippyDame]

wow - had no idea but clearly a massive link … thanks for the link

[SlowDragon Administrator]

In particular affects GFR

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

[cazza1001 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you - can I ask you if you happen to know if subclinical hypothyroidism is the same as secondary Hypothyroidism as the study distinguishes between primary and 'subclinical' - I have secondary affected by pituitary gland - thanks

[helvella in reply to cazza1001]

Subclinical hypothyroidism is where the thyroid hormone levels are not low enough, and/or the TSH not high enough, for a diagnosis of overt hypothyroidism to be made. (At least, in the view of the person doing the diagnosing.)

You can be subclinically hypothyroid because your thyroid is not able to produce enough thyroid hormone (primary) or because your pituitary is not making enough TSH (secondary). The precise pattern and numbers might hint whether it is primary or secondary but it might not always be clear.

[cazza1001 in reply to helvella]

many thanks for that explanation

[Jmiller623 in reply to cazza1001]

Subclinical is when your TSH is mildly high but your T4 and T3 are normal. It’s like prehypothyroidism.

Secondary hypothyroidism is hypothyroidism caused by something not intrinsic to the thyroid organ itself and usually is a dysfunction in signaling pathway. Eg a pituitary tumor/stroke could abolish release of TSH and cause hypothyroidism. Whereas primary hypothyroidism would be something that destroys the organ itself like Hashimotos (autoimmune), radiation, iodine deficiency/goiter.

Subclinical hypothyroidism usually precedes full on hypothyroidism which is typically primary hypothyroidism. Rarely do you see secondary/central hypothyroidism.

Hope this helps clear things up and I didn’t confuse you more!

[Hidden]

I had a dull pain in my side for a while which I ignored. One day it suddenly developed into a severe pain. Taken to A&E by ambulance and given morphine. When accurate tests taken it was kidney cancer. Had a nephrectomy a short while later.

This was in 2011, no further developments, so should be OK.

So take great care cazza, get a scan and don't simply forget it, the longer it's left the worse it gets.

I blame the cancer on taking only levo for the absense of my thyroid. I believe my immune system was not working at full capacity.

I now hardly ever think about my cancer, I think about my thyroid issue whenever I am awake.

[Murphysmum]

Hi Cazza (spooky, that’s my nickname!)

I’m intrigued by your post, especially the pain in your side you mention.

I’ve had a pain in my side on and off for a few years but it has become worse over the last couple.

In fact, I went to the gp about it when my thyroid problems kicked off but they dismissed it as a uti. I knew it wasn’t so didn’t take the antibiotics prescribed.

Sometimes it goes away for ages but then it’ll come back and be quite painful.

I was blaming my monthly cycle but now I’m thinking maybe I’ll see the gp again.

Can you tell me what your symptoms were? Pm me if you prefer, thank you

X

[cazza1001 in reply to Murphysmum]

like you mine was an ache that came and went but now the ache is permanent and with occasional nasty stabby pain - my pain is to the right side of the breast bone - I had my first ever UTI last year but linked that to the menopause ( very common symptom ) but now my bloods are off quite badly and the pain persists - been referred under the urgent rule today - get any pain checked out asap

[Murphysmum in reply to cazza1001]

So, the pain is quite high up then?

Mine is definitely above my right hip area - kind of where you get a stitch! - but is similar in that it can be an ache or more sharp. I also get a pain sometimes after the firat trip to the loo in the morning 🤷🏼‍♀️

I hope you get sorted, at least it’s been noticed. I’m quite concerned now I’ve read all these links. Esp since I know fine it started around the same time my thyroid went on the blink.

Good luck, let me know how you get on 😊

[KayS68]

I’m interested in any links between kidney function & thyroid function as my doctors tested my kidneys at same time (diagnosed with thyroiditis) and my GFR puts me in the stage 3a of CKD. I’m a bit overwhelmed with the thyroid stuff at the moment though.