Feeling desperate :(

[Kati49]

Hi everyone, I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid in 2016, my free t4 level was 7.9 however my tsh was 3.17,i had all the symptoms so my gp put me on Eltroxin 50 micrograms. I'm on the same dose ever since. This October I started to get bad diarrhoea and have it on and off since, my health really deteriorated since, extremely fatigued. My body is freezing, can't get warm at all no matter how much I cover up, hair is falling, pain in my joints, Aching in legs and arms. Brain fog, weakness. Wanting to sleep all the time etc. The hospital told me my thyroid is fine, but never told me what my levels are nor what tests they've done. I'm after sending off bloods to get them checked privately. To me it seems like it's my thyroid, at least partially. Is it possible that I didn't absorb the elthroxin with all that diarrhea?

Got the bloods back.

Free t4 levels lab range( 12-22)

Mine is 18

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Hi kati49I think you’ve made the right decision testing privately, so when you get the results do post them in the forum (with ranges) so members can better advise. You are probably under medicated. Have you had key vitamins checked? I didn’t start to feel better until ferritin, folate & vit D were optimal. I get my thyroid levels & key vitamins checked together.

[Kati49 in reply to Buddy195]

Thank you for your reply Buddy195, I didn't get them checked recently as I was so fatigued was unable to go to the Dr.I was taking vitamin D for some time now as I also have Fibromyalgia

When I get some energy back I will ask my Dr to do those tests

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Kati49]

If you can afford it, I’d recommend you take matters into your own hands and test privately, then you get T3 and T4 checked, plus key vitamins. Medichecks often discount on Thursdays.

My aches did not subside until B vitamins high in range. I take Thorne Basic B every day.

[Kati49 in reply to Buddy195]

I'm living in Ireland, I've sent the bloods away privately for the full thyroid panel, I should have them back in 2-5 days.I will post the result then My problem is that right now I can't take much supplements orally as it aggravates my diarrhea

I have to wait until that settles down

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Kati49]

I’d read some of SeasideSusie posts re vitamins, as I’m sure there are brands that are gentler on the stomach. However, I would test key vitamins first, before supplementing, then you have an accurate starting point.

[Kati49 in reply to Buddy195]

Thank you

[FancyPants54 in reply to Kati49]

When you do have a picture of what vitamins might need working on, look at the BetterYou web site and brand of oral spray vitamins and minerals. Absorbed through the mouth into the blood stream they bypass the stomach completely.

[Kati49 in reply to FancyPants54]

Thank you so much

[jimh111]

Diarrhoea could cause malabsorption of levothyroxine (Eltroxin) and other medicines / nutrients. You should get the cause of the diarrhoea identified and this will be a first step into getting thyroid and nutrient levels back to normal. You certainly seem hypothyroid (and possibly anaemic) so a blood test for these will be useful.

[jrbarnes]

If you think that's the reason for feeling so suddenly unwell you may be able to increase your meds for 3-4 days and see if it helps. If so then perhaps you need an increase. Pills can be split to make 75mcg. I had a friend that developed coeliac disease out of the blue and it affects absorption. The classic symptom is diarrhea. I'd suggest seeing a gastro doctor to see what's going on. Sorry you're feeling so unwell 🌼

[Kati49 in reply to jrbarnes]

My gp refereed me to a gastroenterologist but with covid there's nothing done, I'm trying now to see one privatelyThey said it may be IBS, my Dr thinks it may be colitis, he tried putting me on steroids but I couldn't take them I was that weak

I will wait for a few days for my bloods to come back for my thyroid, I will have a better idea then

[Mostew in reply to Kati49]

Have you tried eliminating foods that might be aggravating you ? And keeping a food diary..

dr can certainly do a stool test . E. coli can cause diarrhoea

[Kati49 in reply to Mostew]

Had stool tests done, I'm on a gluten free diet for years, now dairy free too, my diet is just bland foods and yet the diarrhoea continues

[Mostew in reply to Kati49]

Do hope you get to bottom of it

[Kati49 in reply to Mostew]

Please God

[Goldengirl01 in reply to Mostew]

Excuse the pun 😁

[jrbarnes in reply to Kati49]

I was given steroids for neck pain because my doctor didn't realize the pain was due to being undermedicated so the steroids made me even more hypo. My temperature dropped really low and I was bedridden.

[Kati49 in reply to jrbarnes]

Gosh, maybe that's why I got worse, I stopped taking them now, so hopefully I'll get thereThanks for sharing that, wouldn't you know the doctors would know that