Advice and ideas

[Elaine1951]

Constant night sweats over many years so v poor sleep with low temperature of 35. What can I do. I am a 68 year old otherwise fit woman

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low B12 can cause night sweats

bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g52...

Low vitamin levels are extremely common with thyroid disease

See from previous posts you have AF...this can be linked to thyroid

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 FULL thyroid including antibodies and vitamin levels

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 .

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks currently have 25% off

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

[Elaine1951 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you- I had over active thyroid throughout my 40s and was treated with meds. My AF fortunately abate with magnesium and Hawthorn and luckily no meds save for apixaban for two months. Specialist assessments done by cardiologists etc. I certainly agree that GPS don't understand the need for detailed thyroid testing and I am def minded to get this done privately.

Many thanks indeed.

E

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Elaine1951]

So, with Graves’ disease and if you are only on just levothyroxine, very likely low B12, folate, vitamin D and ferritin

Strongly recommend getting FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

[Elaine1951 in reply to SlowDragon]

I’m not on any meds. All gp thyroid testing says normal

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Elaine1951]

So did you have RAI in past....or temporary thyroiditis?

Suggest you get hold of all historic and recent test results

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