A few weeks ago I was dreadfully unwell with suspected corona (but could equally have also been flu, despite flu jab). It ended in a bacterial chest infection (doxycycline cleated it up really fast!) but I was really unwell for 3 weeks.
I was diagnosed hypothyroid last September, but had been suffering for some 2 years. It took quite a while to get my bloods stable (TSH originally over 100). However, at my last blood test I was feeling good and TSH was 0.67 (unfortunately they didn’t do T4, but as I was feeling well, didn’t feel any need to press).
My question today is whether anyone knows the impact of a nasty virus on thyroid function? I am now experiencing really extreme hypothyroid symptoms again. I am freezing cold at all times, despite the warmth this weekend. My fingers are dry and prune like (also numb, but I have been dropping things for about a year). My period was also early (a big hypo symptom for me).
Anyway, I just wondered if this was normal after a fairly nasty illness? Will things improve without a Levo increase and just recovery time? I was due a thyroid blood test in a week but my doctors surgery phoned to say they can’t do it for at least 3 months because of corona. They will of course help if I feel seriously unwell.
I just find it hard to believe how my thyroid could have so drastically gotten worse again. For reference I am on 100mcg Levo (Teva). I’ve been on 100 for around 4 months and always got on well with it.
Thank you for anyone who takes the time to help xx
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HashisKate
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I don't suppose your thyroid has got worse, or that your thyroid has anything to do with anything now that you're on thyroid hormone replacement. But, viruses can have a negative effect on conversion of T4 to T3. But, you would only know if that's the case by having FT4 and FT3 tested at the same time. Which is unlikely to happen at the moment unless your do private testing. But, things should sort themselves out with time, so you do need to be patient.
Numb fingers. Have you ever had B12 tested? It is a symptom of low levels and could be a reason for early testing. Have you ever mentioned it to your GP?
Hi, yes I have done private testing for this and I was in the normal range 🙃 I was the lower side of normal though so I use the better you oral spray too 👍🏻 I fear my hand problem is a different problem entirely 😒
Hi Kate. For me numb fingers is too much Levo or NDT. Your TSH is pretty up there too. When I feel like that I just skip a day. Most weeks I'll end up skipping a day, and occasionally two. Levo is very long lasting, you carry between 5-7 days in your organs and blood. So all you are really doing is tweaking the dose.
Hi, that’s interesting, and glad you’ve found a way that works for you! I don’t have any symptoms usually of being over-medicated - heart rate is my usual rate etc so I’m not sure it’s that 😬 before this bloody awful virus I had been feeling quite well! Altho it took a long time to get there...I think my hand issue probably predates Levo when I look back, and is now worsening. However, in the current climate I’m hoping it just gets better - or at least no worse 😭
Hi Kate. I get a series of side effects, as I over dose. starts with mild anxiety then progresses through - need to pee all the time, fingers tips hurt to type, fingers tips go numb, feet joints hurt, scalp crawls, extreme anxiety, heart palps, loose sensation in feet. I'm also far worse on Levo than NDT. I think its called T4 Pooling. Stop Thyroid Madness site discusses it . Anyway hope you workout what's happening with you.
Hi, I too have been ill since 4 March with a viral infection (maybe Covid 19 or another virus - and like you I had my flu jab). I am taking a long time to get back to anything like normal. I have been signed off for another two weeks with post viral recovery. Be kind to yourself it may take some time to recover 100%.
I felt ok before this with my thyroid function, but since the above, I suspect things have changed. I am concentrating on getting better, tackling small jobs at home, increasing walking and trying to get better sleep.
If you had what I had it was awful. Sending you best wishes for your recovery.
That’s really interesting - you’ve described exactly how I’ve felt. I was really poorly - amoxicillin and doxycycline as it ‘went west’ in the end. My initial symptoms very much like covid but who really knows ? I look forward to an antibody test becoming available 👍🏻
Trying to be kind but I have 2 young children (3 if you count my husband 🙈) so rest is not easy!!
Best wishes to you, hope you see improvement very soon xx
You can still get ill with a different strain of flu besides having had the flu jab. They prepare the jab with the most common strains that are prevalent and most likely to be around in that season, however it may still be that another strain can get you, sorry
Hiya, yes aware there’s lots of different strains & limitations of the jab etc. I’m not so concerned about what I had just wondering why I was experiencing such a flare of hypo symptoms.
There is some evidence that viruses (of any kind) can cause thyroiditis and/or interference with thyroid function, so it could be possible that you may have had a strong reaction to the flu virus and hence your function went a bit off.
Found a publication looking at viruses and their influences on thyroid function if you fancy a read
Suggest you get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing via Medichecks or Blue Horizon
Antibiotics can change gut bacteria
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common with Hashimoto’s
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?
What were vitamin results pre antibiotics?
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
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
Some individuals have reported the normalization of thyroid peroxidase antibodies following taking the antibiotic doxycycline, which is effective for Yersinia enterocolitica and borellia burgdorferi as well as other bacteria.
Thanks for the reply. I wasn’t given a print out of my results last time, just told all was in normal range, I wasn’t even told over the phone - just a text, so no time to press. I know that’s not ideal. I usually ask for a print out but unfortunately my daughter became unwell just after with a prolonged illness and that just simply took priority. I do however know that my TSH was 0.67. Unfortunately they didn’t test my FT4 or FT3 😒 however I did begin to feel very well in the following weeks (I believe it was the omeprazole making me itch - I no longer take it) so I decided to choose my battles.
My B12 was in range (active b12 tested with private blood test) and was within normal range, altho on the low side so I use a b12 cheek spray daily. That’s actually the only supplement I’ve currently been taking.
My surgery isn’t doing routine blood testing at the moment unless you are severely unwell - they said the earliest they’ll be able to do my thyroid test is around 3 months from now. Unfortunately I can not afford a private test at the moment as the current climate has left us very short financially, however, I will definitely find the money should this problem persist.
I was hoping that it was simply the virus having upset everything so much and that I’ll perk up!
Hi HashiKate, I too had a nasty virus earlier this year. It started on the 12th January and for a couple of weeks it knocked me for six! It took me a few weeks after that to feel totally normal again. I still feel quite tired at times so I think my thyroid isn’t quite as good as it could be but I can’t get a blood test at the moment. That’s fair enough I’m not complaining, just staying home and being safe & I’m fortunate enough to be able to do so. All I can say is if it is the same bug just give it some time and rest as much as you can and hopefully you will feel better soon. I don’t know if it was the Coronavirus I had and maybe I never will know but if it was it must have been in the country well before they are saying it was.
I hope you get back to normal soon. Can I ask, how did you get the bacterial infection diagnosed? I have a fear that with all the Covid 19 cases, the one's that result in bacterial infections that need antibiotics could be missed as they will just be put down to a bad case of the virus.
No problem. First course of antibiotics was given because my temp was so high - 39 - never had a temp so high. But it was only given because of terrible pain in my ear. Ear pain went after antibiotics but symptoms and being ill did not. About 1 week later I phoned because I had another high temp and short of breath. I felt AWFUL. I spoke to my GP on the phone after NHS111 said I had to speak to my own GP as I’d been ill so long. GP very confused by this response but duly phoned me. He offered me a different set of antibiotics, which I wasn’t expecting. However, within 24 hours of taking them I was finally, after 3 weeks, making progress. My GP said the threshold for prescribing antibiotics at the moment was low as they’re trying to keep as many out of hospital as poss
The general consensus from doctors seems to be that getting sick shouldn't greatly impact thyroid function but I haven't found that to be the case in practice. But for me, my TSH levels shot up but increasing my meds caused huge problems. So I suspect getting sick caused a falsely high TSH but didn't actually reflect an issue with my thyroid. Yet another reason not to just test TSH (but it is next to impossible to get NHS to test T4 and T3. Even if your GP requests it, the labs frequently don't run the extra tests). So my experience was different than yours but I just wanted to say that I think it is very possible getting sick did make a difference but hopefully it will correct itself in a bit more time, without needing to change your dose. Also, someone else mentioned it already but I will second the comment that antibiotics impact your gut and that can have a big effect on how well you absorb nutrients and how well you feel.
Thanks 😊 I’m wondering if being ill does make a difference because two different doctors now have said to me “have you been unwell??” When my TSH has crept up after being within range. I hadn’t been at those times but I thought that question was interesting. Personally, since I’ve had hypothyroid, I’ve noticed I am sick far more and more severely. It’s been a shock as I always felt so healthy before all this
Hi - that would be my experience too of any infection that I get - e.g. sinusitis, cold, earache, flu - the original symptoms go but a lasting effect of hypo symptoms hang around for several weeks after - fatigue, joint pain, poor kidney function, dizzy and ear pain to name a few. I'm on Levi of 100mcg. I now see the Hashimotos disease as linked to my autoimmune system - so if one part of my immune system is challenged another part will be also. So I'm having to work hard to support immune system after any infection: probiotics after antibiotics, sleep (I now go to bed by 10!) and more sleep, even 15 min nap in day can help, decent food and avoid sugar like the clappers as it has big negative effect on immune system i.e. inflammation. I take vitamin d spray as I came in very low on test last autumn This regime has started to help me. Wishing you the best, as a busy mum it can be so hard to give yourself a little self care each day.
Hello I think waiting for littlebit because you was in flu and you used very strong medicine antibiotics just calm down and take your normal levo and high D vitamin selenium daily 200microgramm and magnesium zink I hope you recovering soon take care
These days I too get sick more severely and for longer than others, and feel sickly for a while before coming down with overt symptoms and for a good bit after getting past them. Whether or not that's related to Hashi's or low thyroid function, I'm not sure. I do know T3 levels fall during illness, but I'm not sure how long that lasts. Like someone else mentioned, viruses/infections are thought to be a possible trigger of autoimmunity in those predisposed to it, and because having any infection will trigger an immune response, I do wonder if infections can cause a greater immune attack on the thyroid gland, causing changes in thyroid functioning and/or other symptoms from inflammation, etc. I have no medical background and don't have a great understanding of the biology of all of that so all speculation!
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