Covid and hypothyroidism

[Shenka]

I've found the last year really lonely and depressing. I'm sure I've missed taking my hypothyroid tablets numerous times. I just don't feel well

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Sorry you’re having such a tough time

It’s certainly an extremely challenging year

Do you have a weekly pill dispenser so that you can make sure you do take your levothyroxine EVERYDAY

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine too?

What were your most recent thyroid and vitamin results

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

Are you currently taking any vitamin supplements?

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)

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 antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Also vitamin D available as separate test via MMH

Or alternative Vitamin D NHS postal kit

vitamindtest.org.uk

Depression is extremely common hypothyroid symptom. It makes it hard for you to feel bothered to get your levothyroxine dose fine tuned

Extremely important to regularly test vitamin levels

[StitchFairy]

Shenka this has been an awful year for so many people. You are not alone. There's a lovely forum on here called Positive Wellbeing where lots of people are sharing and supporting eachother. Take a look and maybe join in healthunlocked.com/positive...

[JAmanda]

Hi, I put out my pills every night and take them as soon as I wake up then wait at least an hour before eating or drinking - if they're still next to my bed I know I've forgotten to take them!

It's probably worth getting private blood tests done to check your tsh t4 and T3 then posting the results here to see if your meds are optimal. X

[cardmaking]

Depression is one of the symptoms. So you shouldn't stop taking your tablets. I was born with Congenital Hypothyroidism so I would know they didn't discover it until I had a convulsion when I was 4 months old. My hair thins out occasionally. But it grows back.

[hels333]

hi Shenkasorry to hear you have had such a tough year.

Like others, I have a lot of meds to take and sometimes forget or am too ill/in severe pain to remember to take everything on occasion.

However, the thyroid meds are my Essential baseline meds. They are the ones that I never neglect to take because without them, my thinking is really affected.

As SlowDragon suggests, I recommend a pill dispenser. And keep it by your bedside as recommended by JAmanda. Then you know that they have been taken.

Maybe you can look into joining an online support group, I've found that invaluable myself in the past when struggling with various issues.

Also make time for yourself to do something lovely - make a list of what would bring you joy. On my list are such things as: hot bath; curling up with cat on sofa with heated blanket; playing favourite classical cds; calling a dear trusted friend; watercolour painting/pencil drawing; that kind of thing.

Even little things can help lift the spirits for a while.

Can you have a browse on Amazon for self help books / cds to support your low mood, and to give you something more positive and hopeful to look to?

Keep chatting to us here and there's always someone about to reply :0)

sending you a big cyber hug

Hels x

[shaws Administrator]

When we feel very unwell we can also get fed up taking tablets that seem not to be doing us any favours and, in fact, we may feel worse. I'm not surprised.

Buy a pill dispenser and they are relatively cheap and top up each week with your tablets once a week. Then you don't have to remember if you've taken tablet or not. I have one that gives 7 containers for each day of the week.

As it is nearly a New Year' make a resolution to be determined to recover your health - which you can do with the help/advice of members. These members seem to be more highly educated than many GPs or Endcrinologists.

amazon.co.uk/stores/page/BF...

[HashiFedUp]

Sorry you have had such a difficult year. Pray next year is better- it has to be!

Sending christmas merriments and a big hello from Bristol to wherever you are x

[Lily288]

I’d like to tell that I felt very sick this last month. But now that I know that I was in fact holding or keeping my body all tensed up, I relaxed my body by telling myself to trust in higher power and I cooled it .. bed early .., had a great sleep and feeling totally better today..,