Vaccine Reaction : Hi there, Please can someone... - Thyroid UK

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Vaccine Reaction

Soprano67 profile image
29 Replies

Hi there,

Please can someone help offer my advice or have had a similar experience as myself? I received the Pfizer Vaccine about two weeks ago. Last week I was sent to Casualty with heart palpitations and chest soreness plus swollen lymph glands. I still have the palpitations and chest soreness I feel awful. I asked if there was any possibility my thyroid could have flipped into over active but was told no. My thyroid was not tested or my iron just my platelets.

Please can someone help offer me some advice?

Many thanks as always much appreciated.

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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Are you taking EXACTLY same dose T3 every day (last post you weren’t)

Suggest you get full thyroid and vitamins tested.....ideally you would wait another 3 weeks, but you might feel you need to test sooner

Soprano67 profile image
Soprano67 in reply to SlowDragon

Hi Slow Dragon,

Hope you are keeping well!

Yes I am since we last chatted taking 10mg of t3 and 100mg T4 , the only thing I have added in is 50mg of Riboflavin and Eye wise tablets by lamberts that have omega 3 and Lutein in them.

Thank you 😊

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Soprano67

So how much was that a reduction in T3?

Do you split the T3 into 2 x 5mcg

Or as 3 doses - 5mcg, 2.5mcg and 2.5mcg?

Perhaps you have reduced T3 too much.....

Low Ft3 can cause palpitations

Soprano67 profile image
Soprano67 in reply to SlowDragon

I was taking the t3 10mg twice a day off and in when I needed energy but now since March I have been taking just 10mg I still have the vertigo.

I spoke to my consultant in March he prescribed ferrous simulate which isn’t finished for a month. He also told me to take 50mg Thiamine and pyridoxine and I take my own folic Acid.

The GP said it was reaction to vaccine and the consultant in casualty said the same and wouldn’t test my thyroid. My glands swelled double they are still swollen just not as bad.

Many thanks .😊

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Soprano67

Getting full thyroid and vitamin testing done

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)

When on T3, day before test, split dose into three smaller doses roughly equal 8 hour intervals. Taking last dose T3 at roughly 8-12 hours before test

So day before test.....5mcg waking, 2.5mcg mid afternoon and 2.5mcg 9pm ...assuming test at 9am

You might need increase in Levothyroxine or T3

Eg T3 as 15mcg - 5mcg dose 3 x a day rather than currently twice a day

Soprano67 profile image
Soprano67 in reply to SlowDragon

Hi Slow dragon,

Could I ask why do I split the T3 the day before the test I thought it was best just to not take it the day before? I am stopping all vitamins today for a week to see if I can get my bloods tested . I am not sure but I think riboflavin might be causing the palpitations.

The doctor doesn’t want to see me to see if it settled as he thought I was best to rest. I am terrified of getting second injection in July.

Many thanks

Angela

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Soprano67

No you can’t just stop T3 day before test...you would get false low result

Similarly you don’t want to take the whole dose 8-12 hours before test...that would give false high result

So even if normally don’t split T3 dose, on day before blood test you should split into 3 and take last small dose 8-12 hours before test

Personally I find it essential to split dose T3 everyday.

Soprano67 profile image
Soprano67 in reply to SlowDragon

Gosh I’m so sorry I had no idea as I sometimes still take the t3 the day before in the past and just didn’t take it that morning as test is usually first thing in morn. I usually take T4 in the morning so am I right then if I have a test I don’t take T4 the day before ? I usually do the same with T4 don’t take it that morning before test..

Do u split t3 into 5mg?

At the start I tried to split it into 5mg twice a day but at that time I was so unwell it was doing nothing for me and consultant said just Said try 10mg once in the day and then he said try twenty split into two when u bed it ?

Thank you so much slow dragon I would be lost without this group. My vertigo has not left in two years.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Soprano67

T3 is short lived in blood....from point of view of testing

Leaving longer than 12 hours between last dose T3 and test will always give falsely low test result

So day before test (even if you don’t normally split dose) you should split into 3 smaller doses spread through the day....7am, 2pm and 9pm (if testing 9am)

Levothyroxine is slow storage hormone, so yes, last dose of levothyroxine should be 24 hours before test

Yes, I split my T3. Currently taking 25mcg T3 in total each day

10mcg 6am, 5mcg noon, 5mcg 5.30pm, 5mcg 11pm

Plus 112.5mcg levothyroxine at 11pm

Day before test....I adjust T3 timings slightly so last 5mcg dose is 8pm and I test following morning at 8am

As I take levothyroxine at night normally.....I adjust as follows

If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal

Always same brand levothyroxine (Mercury Pharma)

Always same brand T3 (Morningside)

REMEMBER.....very important....stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS as biotin can falsely affect test results - eg vitamin B complex

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Soprano67

Vertigo often low B vitamins

When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Are you on absolutely strictly gluten free diet

Soprano67 profile image
Soprano67 in reply to SlowDragon

I had my bloods tested in February results were as follows:

Ferritin 80 Range 13-150

B12. 839 Range 197/771

Folate 11.8 range 197/771

TSH 0.02 Range 0.27-4.2

T4 21.7 Range 12-22

T3 5.8 Range 3.1-6.8

Harmoglobin 13.4 Range 120-150

Vitamin D 94

Magnesium 0.91 range 0.7-1

I spoke to my consultant in March he prescribed ferrous fumigate 210mg 84 tablets 1 per day not ended yet another month to go.

Also pyrodixine 50mg one per day

Thiamine 50mg one per day

Folic acid I bought myself one per day as my GP wouldn’t prescribe it and didn’t want to argue with him.

I bought riboflavin 50mg three weeks ago to help migraines and also Eye wise by Lamberts for my vision with lutein and omega 3.

Since I took the flu in 2019 I have constant vertigo shakiness very fatigued and brain fog plus now palpitations shakes and feeling weak and dizzy.

I do take gluten I tried to stop it but it made migraines shakes worse.

I have never tested my T4 or t3 correct as I did it wrong so sorry about that. It’s not normal I feel so shaky have been house bound since 2019 as pick up infections constant.

I need three teeth taken out which might help vertigo.

Thank you so much.😊

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Soprano67

Come back with new post once you get results of next test

You might be better with slightly lower Ft4 so small reduction in levothyroxine

And slightly higher T3 dose

Suggest you experiment with splitting T3 into 5mcg twice day

Vitamins

Are you currently supplementing B12?

Level is quite high

Rather than just taking folic acid you might be better with good quality vitamin B complex that contains biotin

Difference between folate and folic acid

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

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 is another option that contain folate, but is large capsule

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Soprano67 profile image
Soprano67 in reply to SlowDragon

Do u think I should start splitting t3 from tomorrow before I get bloods tested next week? There’s something not right I’m so dizzy was getting migraines each week twice a week since 2019.

I take b12 off and on as I am scared of it being too high and it’s cobalamin they gave me not methycobalmin and I know it is useless.

I was taking Igennus b complex but consultant said there wasn’t enough thiamine or folate in it and suggested I take thiamine and b6 separately plus riboflavin.

Since I turned 41 I have never been well and feel staying in the house and not working is going to get my life. I was doing yoga twice a week which floored me up to three months ago. Now I can do nothing I sleep so much but then at nite not so much.

Thank you .😊

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Soprano67

Probably don’t want to change anything before blood test next week

But do split T3 day before test

Soprano67 profile image
Soprano67 in reply to SlowDragon

I just want to check with you to make sure I get this right please? I normally take 10mg t3 at eleven or ten in the morning , so if I have blood test the following day in the morning say at ten or eleven. All I need to do is not take t3 or T4 the day before?

I think u might be right as I feel wired shaky dizzy tired head pressure palpitations . I didn’t see my consultant from 2019 until March this year but only via the phone. The consultant thought it was my ferritin not being high enough or folate that was causing the vertigo. I am a Singing Teacher and really hope to be back by September and part time working. I think that’s possibly why the goitre has formed too.

My consultant told me if I wanted I could but iodine but I haven’t as I think it would need tested first.

What do u think about electrolyte powder as I was trying to order it through Dr Izabella though she only ships it to America?

Many thanks 😊

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Soprano67

No

Blood test should be 9am latest (ideally)

Day before blood test ....Assuming test 9am

Take levothyroxine 9am day before blood test

Day before test Split T3 into 3 smaller doses - cut with sharp craft scalpel

Approx 5mcg 9am.

2.5mcg at 3pm and

2.5mcg at 9pm

You’re likely under medicated, if endocrinologist wanted you on 20mcg daily

See what results show

we need all four vitamins optimal

Soprano67 profile image
Soprano67 in reply to SlowDragon

I have no idea to be honest if I’m under or over medicated I just feel wired and so forgetful brain remembers very little. Could I ask what I’d a sharp craft scapel? I use a pill cutter though I find sometimes it doesn’t cut exactly in half!

Thank you 😊

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Soprano67

Feeling wired is often under medicated symptom too

If you have pill cutter that’s fine.

I prefer a scalpel

uk.rs-online.com/web/p/scal...

Soprano67 profile image
Soprano67 in reply to SlowDragon

Yes it’s a strange feeling shaky wired vision blurry feel like my brain could explode. I must check out the scalpel thank you. Hopefully my consultant will reply or ring me as he’s bound to realise heart palpitations not normal .

Can the goitre be due to under medicated too?

Many thanks 😊

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Soprano67

Definitely, goitre can be because thyroid swells as trying to compensate for lack of thyroid hormones

Soprano67 profile image
Soprano67 in reply to SlowDragon

I didn’t realise that at all- it just feels like I’m flipping between under and over active thyroid and vaccine didn’t help. I hope the consultant understands as GPS do not and the consultant in hospital just looked at me when I said it could be my thyroid. Many thanks .

in reply to Soprano67

I had a similar reaction after Pfizer, at least zi thought it was the jab, my antibodies jumped by 30%, had a test few days after the jab, but my free hormones were not high, I had neck swelling lymph nodes swelling, dizzy etc. But unfortunately I am still very hypo and that wasn't the vaccine at all as I also had rising tsh before I checked antibodies few weeks ago, they normally increase with higher tsh for me

Soprano67 profile image
Soprano67 in reply to

Hi Swampyswamp,I am so sorry to hear you are having the same experience. I had my vaccine 16 days ago like you I think it’s my thyroid . I had no tests done in hospital other than pulse , ECG , chest X-ray and blood test to detect platelets. I was told my heart rate was a little high though no cause for concern.

The dizziness is awful isn’t it? Hope you get some relief soon.

in reply to Soprano67

Yes, unfortunately hypo is terrible. I have mistaken it many times for overdose too and now sort of paying for it

Soprano67 profile image
Soprano67 in reply to

I have had the vertigo since 2019 took flu and not been well since. I do believe the vaccine might have triggered what was already there. I still can’t believe they didn’t test my b12 or iron or thyroid even though my glands are very swollen.I hope you get well soon and feel better.😊

magsyh profile image
magsyh in reply to Soprano67

You sound like you need your adrenals tested. Low cortisol can cause a lot of problems.

Soprano67 profile image
Soprano67 in reply to magsyh

Hi Magsyh ,

Thank you I didn’t think of that I will try and get my adrenals tested.

Lynneypin profile image
Lynneypin

I had AZ in Feb and experienced tachycardia and palpitations. The racing heart continues. I’ve had an ECG and waiting for cardiology appointment. Not having the second dose until after then (if at all). I’ve had full blood work done and my thyroid levels are stable. I would have thought your gp should have had all your bloods checked. x

Soprano67 profile image
Soprano67 in reply to Lynneypin

Hi Lynnepin,

I am sorry to hear you are having such an awful time , hopefully you feel better soon and get some results.

My Gp was only concerned with blood clot in my lung and then is now saying it’s Costco condritus. They are certain it’s reaction to injection I’m just not so sure. I sent an email to my consultant yesterday for advice hopefully he will respond.

My GP said to give it three weeks and then get bloods done but I’m going to stop all vitamins for a week and see what happens. I couldn’t believe that in casualty they did no other bloods or checked my thyroid as it’s so swollen. Many thanks .😊

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