Temperature

[goonearl]

My temperature is low is this normal with under active thyroid

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Yes, very common

Are you correctly medicated?

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking?

Any recent blood test results?

[goonearl in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi my temperature is 35.7 and I am on 75 mg of Levothyroxine I had bloods done about 3 months go I was not told the results

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to goonearl]

75mcg is very low dose....only one step up from starter dose

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet

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 if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels and thyroid antibodies...if not been tested yet

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

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

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.

Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten.

So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

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

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

List of hypothyroid symptoms

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

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 is in top third of range and FT3 at least half way through range

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

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Guidelines on dose by weight

NICE guidelines

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...

1.3.6

Consider starting levothyroxine at a dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (rounded to the nearest 25 micrograms) for adults under 65 with primary hypothyroidism and no history of cardiovascular disease.

BMJ also clear on dose required

bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m41

Post re how to push for dose increase in levothyroxine

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

Come back with new post once you get results and ranges on thyroid and vitamin tests

[goonearl in reply to SlowDragon]

I have been on 75mg for years with no changes to my medication.... I will be ordering a copy of my blood tests today as I am 71 and not sure I will understand the results would I be able to send them to you please ..I also have high blood pressure the drugs I have been given do not agree with me so my doctor has not given me any replacements when I questioned this he said I would be ok

I started taking a thyroid support with vitamins a week ago with B12 iodine,Zinc and much more I do feel a bit better

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to goonearl]

Do NOT take any supplements with iodine in

Iodine can make Hashimoto’s much worse

Levothyroxine contains iodine anyway, you don’t need any more

drknews.com/iodine-and-hash...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Ideally we test vitamin D, folate , B12 and ferritin first and supplement as appropriate

Vitamin D test here

vitamindtest.org.uk

[PaulB]

Very common if under treated, but also can be affected by other meds. Just started taking a new medicine and although on 200 of T4 my temp has fallen to below 36c and hypo symptoms are creeping back.

[shaws Administrator in reply to PaulB]

Are you allowing a good gap between your thyroid dose and your medication. Just in case meds interfere with the uptake of the thyroid hormones.

[PaulB in reply to shaws]

Hi Shaws

Yes take them well apart. My metabolism means I have low bad cholesterol, but also low good cholesterol, so I was started on a statin to help good cholesterol levels. This seems to have caused the change, I take these at least 12 hrs after T4.

Paul

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to PaulB]

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to PaulB]

Are your vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin levels at OPTIMAL levels

[PaulB in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes these are OK. My problem is low cholesterol and is due to metabolic problem according to medics.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to PaulB]

Well, low cholesterol can be linked to being hyperthyroid....and since many of us when hypothyroid need in effect “slightly higher than normal” dose levothyroxine or especially if taking levothyroxine plus T3 ...we may have low cholesterol... in effect due to being subclinical hyperthyroid

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

An overactive thyroid might have the opposite effect and cause low levels of cholesterol in the blood. However, there is no scientific proof that low cholesterol increases the risk for health problems.