I've has subclinical hypothyroidism for years... The drs and are taking a 'watchful waiting' stance.
Anyway, I've had problems with my ears for years also and I'm wondering if they're linked?
Quite frequently my ears feel blocked and no amount of nose blowing changes that. Blocked to the point where I can't really hear external noises and I can hear myself all too loudly when I speak! Often feel like I need to blow my nose but nothing happens!
I've thought for awhile it was an allergy perhaps but I can't pin it to any one particular thing.
It's very frustrating. Drs just suggested a nasal spray, which is useless. 🤷🏻♀️
If you have thyroid antibodies and symptoms, guidelines recommend a trial of levothyroxine
Add results and ranges if you have them
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
Have you had thyroid antibodies tested?
Ask GP to test vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH ....
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)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
Wow! Thank you, SlowDragon for such a complete answer! Very much appreciated.
I will look at registering online and see.
I know that I haven't had the antibodies test - the gp requested it but lady that actually took the blood didn't request for it to be done. GP won't retest until Dec which will be a year after my last test so I will look at a private test next month.
Two previous posts show levels changing ...this is typical of Hashimoto’s
Early stage Hashimoto’s frequently starts with transient hyperthyroid results before becoming increasingly hypothyroid
If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue to.
I did have low vitamin levels. I can't remember if I posted those results previously but I think they were in the 'normal' range but by a hairs breadth!
I've had two Babies in 4 years and I'm still breastfeeding one of them so would it be better to wait for thyroid tests?
Me again! I've ordered a Thyroid panel test from Thriva, which should be here today. When is the best time to take it? I know you mentioned as early as possible for the drs but I just wondered if there was an optimal time? 🤔 Happy to get up in the middle of the night if it supports my case!
Yes...and it has been horrible! My GP diagnosed Eustacian Tube Dysfunction but, ever cynical, I've never been convinced of the cause.
As a child I frequently had sore ears. The bunged up head/ears/nose started a few years ago but each time passed fairly quickly... but a few months ago it returned with a vengeance!
I was first prescribed a steroid spray which didn't help and made me feel queasy some weeks later my GP suggested nasal drops....same outcome.
A couple of weeks ago the problem started to ease. I had increased my T3 dose!
I need a huge dose of T3 following a very long complex thyroid journey and now seem to be on an optimal dose, my head is clear but I still have a discomfort around the glands behind my ears.
In essence I'm convinced there is a link between thyroid dysfunction and my ear problem!
Sadly medics know very little about thyroid function as this forum underlines and to be told for years that you have subclinical hypothyroidism doesn't sound like a satisfactory diagnosis. Do you have a high TSH....but lower than 10?
You have no doubt seen the new TUK website but in case not...
thyroiduk.org/signs-symptoms/
Subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with Hashimoto's, many find a gluten free diet helps.
I'm not a medic but I would hazard a guess that you should be medicated. Do you have any lab results that you can post.....you are legally entitled to ask your surgery for copies.
(Previous to that in June, Aug, and Oct, it was 6.03, 5.1, 7.73).
FT4: 16, -, 13.7, 14.7
Ferritin: 28.3, -, -, 16
Active B12: 51.7, -, -, -
Folate: 8.94, -, -, 4.7
Total B12: 250, -, -, 413
Vitamin D: 59.3, -, -, -
The first and third tests were thriva with the second and fourth tests being NHS.
If I'm honest, my symptoms have always been manageable and at the moment more of an irritation than a real problem but I'd like to get ahead of it if I can so that they don't become a real issue.
The ears thing though!!! OMG. If that's related I will be hammering on the door every day! 😂
It got so bad at one point which prompted my visit to the drs and I remember thinking 'I can't live with this for the rest of my life.' It was just awful. It's since eased off but it's still every day.
Igennus Super B is good quality and cheap vitamin B complex. Contains folate. Full dose is two tablets per day. Many/most people may only need one tablet per day. Certainly only start on one per day (or even half tablet per day for first couple of weeks)
Or Thorne Basic B or jarrow B-right are other options that contain folate, but both are large capsules
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
You need both Tpo and TG thyroid antibodies tested.if either are high this confirms autoimmune thyroid disease and you should be started on levothyroxine
Hi...yes I had dry mouth ,nasal passages and a full feeling in ear for years..rheumatologist said I had Sjogrens..no antibodies every showed in blood tests to confirm this..I was 40yrs old then..Now I'm 53..menopausal...and last year was hypothyroidism subclinical..GP wouldn't start treatment . I think I had been subclinical for years ..always tired ... really stiff and sore especially in the morning...full feeling in throat ...just thought it was Sjogrens...took ibuprofen when it got bad..
In February I crashed ...TSH 125 ..T4 6
Now a lot better on 100mcg levothyroxine...My advice is to get bloods done privately ...if you have Hashimoto's..you can question GP as to why hes not going to start treatment straight away ...as you have evidence your thyroid trouble is an autoimmune disease...why suffer anymore than need be ...the autoimmune condition is always going to be there...even when you start on the medication ..Good luck x
I've been diagnosed with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction by a GP. I've also been prescribed nasal sprays two or three times. They didn't help.
patient.info/ears-nose-thro...
I've had problems with my ears since childhood. The almost constant feelings of having blocked ears or trying to hear underwater has been a problem for the last decade (before that it was intermittent throughout life) and it badly affects how well I can hear. The severity of the problem varies from day to day but rarely goes away completely.
It hadn't occurred to me until reading this thread that it could be thyroid related - but it makes sense.
Yes, beginning of the year I had a sore throat (only on one side) and a binged up ear (same side). The throat has cleared up now I'm on levo, the ear still feels like there's pressure behind it, not as bad as it was at the beginning of the year though. Just a feeling like I need to hold my nose and blow. Tinnitus on that side is worse, though better than pre-levo.
I have blocked ears too. I think I posted something here some months ago describing my symptoms. It’s accompanied by post-nasal drip and copious amounts of catarrh. I have this plastic thingy that I attach a balloon to and insert into a nostril, pinch the other closed and then inflate by blowing. I immediately feel my ears pop and the catarrh flows down the back of my throat to be spat out. Sorry
It’s immediate relief but unfortunately doesn’t last long unless I repeat it several times a day, which I rarely do. I think though that if I did do it several times a day, over a period of time I’d get on top of the mucous build up in my sinuses which gets infected 3/4 times a year and obviously impacts on my ears and hearing
I find that when I go dairy-free, I secrete less mucous and my hearing improves. I never stay dairy-free long enough to get significant and lasting improvement. Goodness knows what that’s all about. Do I like having blocked ears? No but do I dislike it enough to give up dairy permanently? Apparently, no
It’s a bit like the saying: nothing tastes as good as skinny feels and eating cake anyway
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Heartbeat/whooshing sound in ears
Freezing cold AGAIN?!!!
Eustachian tube dysfunction 
Does this sound thyroid related?
Unbearable itchy ears!!
