Blurred/double vision: Can these symptoms be due... - Thyroid UK

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Blurred/double vision

Plum-tree profile image
7 Replies

Can these symptoms be due to my hypothyroidism?

I don’t get them frequently, luckily & they don’t last a long time, perhaps 10 mins before clearing up. I have had it twice this week & mistakenly mentioned it to my son, who with his wife have been urging me to see my GP. But I want to find out if other folk who are on Thyroxine 100mcg (in my case)have experienced this? I also take T3 12.5mcg.

In May 2019 TSH was 0.05 (0.35-5.50)

FT 4 13.5 (10.0-19.8)

T IgA. 0.7u/ml. (O.0-6.9)

I worry that it might happen when am on M25 or similar

busy motorway at rush hour. It’s not happened yet but.... !

My optician had no idea about it. My BP Isn’t high

I am 83.

Would be grateful to hear of anybody’s experiences

Plum-tree.

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7 Replies
Hillwoman profile image
Hillwoman

Hi Plum-tree. The first thing I would say is see a GP as soon as you can, explaining your concerns and the fact this is a new problem. That should get around their reluctance to have face-to-face contact in the current circumstances.

Episodes of blurring can have many different causes, but some of them are serious, and need to be ruled out ASAP.

Your FT4 is low, but that may be because you're on T3. Do you have a recent FT3 test result? That's essential to know really.

How are you feeling generally?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

May 2019 is a year ago and no Ft3 result

Suggest you get full thyroid and vitamin testing

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

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)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last third or half of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?

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

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Plum-tree profile image
Plum-tree in reply to SlowDragon

Thanks SlowDragon. My GP’s surgery does not test for T3 as I asked a few years ago. One locum did test for it which is result I gave but it’s not been done before or since.

At Dr Peatfield’s suggestion, back in 2012, I think, I take Nutri-Adrenal 100mg

Vit B complex, CoEnzyme Q10 30mgm

Zinc 30mgm at mo,, Selenium 200mcg

Vit C 1gm. He also approved of me taking Omega 3 fish oil & magnesium. Unfortunately I have been unable to contact him for several months as I believe he has retired.

I also get frequent headaches approx 2 hrs after taking my thyroxine & am going to ask if I can have a brand without lactose next time. I tried not taking thyroxine for 2 weeks as a test & only had one headache during that time.

I have been hypo since a baby & was only diagnosed just before 2nd birthday. then started on treatment at age 23 months.

Like a lot of people I still have various symptoms despite being on T4. I also take some T3 unofficially which has helped.

I generally feel very well. Normally go on 7-8 mile walks with a rambling club each week & often go to a Country Dancing group. I also walk

to local church/surgery, about 3/4 & 1 mile, to save fuel.

I have not specially fasted before having blood taken but will do so in future.

I very much doubt that my GP would test for vitamins as he does not seem to place any value

on supplemental vitamins.

I think he doesn’t think there is anything wrong with me as he knows the mileages I walk.

I have noticed that my white cell count has often been just below bottom of ref range, but have not had a lot of infections over time.

I will endeavour to get tests done for thyroid & vitamin status.

Sorry for late reply but have a sick cat taking

up much time & thought, also other problems

not easily resolved. Also I don’t find doing things online easy & make loads of errors that need correcting. Sorry this is so long.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Plum-tree

As you self medicate with T3 it’s essential to get full testing....frequently that means getting tested privately

You will see hundreds of posts with Medichecks or Blue Horizon results....frequently showing low vitamin levels

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

As we get older vitamin levels tend to drop...B12 and vitamin D especially

We need good vitamin levels for good thyroid levels

Recommend getting full thyroid and vitamin testing privately....if you don’t fancy doing DIY finger prick test...waiting until lockdown lifts and pay £25 extra for private blood draw at local to you clinic

When taking any dose of T3, this will cause TSH to drop....even if still under medicated

Yes Dr P has retired

Plum-tree profile image
Plum-tree in reply to SlowDragon

Will get tested but am no good doing things online. It seems I have to have username & password to access info to Genova or Blue Horizon. How do I get them? Whatever I do online is always Hit & miss! I just don’t know my way around some sites. Need help but my relation who normally helps cannot come over 31 miles as husband got heart problems. Need to find out price of tests to plan budget.

McPammy profile image
McPammy

I had blurred and double vision when I was grossly under medicated. I’m a poor converter and DIO2 gene tested positive.

As soon as my levels were brought into line With adding T3 to my T4 daily meditation, the blurred and double vision went. When experiencing it, it would last for an hour or so normally if I’d been reading or in the evening watching TV.

Plum-tree profile image
Plum-tree in reply to McPammy

Thanks McPammy, It’s good to know other people’s experiences with blurred vision. I should not be worrying as I do not get it often

& it doesn’t last very long either. I think I will have to try to get re-tested then take more

T4 perhaps, depending on test results. I would not worry but my son got wind of it & like a terrier, he has been on at me to “get it sorted!”

I am glad you have resolved your problem.

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