When I started taking Levothyroxine last summer I suffered with a loss of smell, nothing smells as it should, I also had phantom smells such as burning wood. Additionally certain foods taste awful, salad peppers now taste fusty/mouldy. Cucumber seems so intense I can’t eat it, greens generally taste off. Fruit is also affected. Coffee just tastes burnt (just some examples).
I work in the food industry part of my job is deciding what to present to the supermarkets for sale during the next season, for this as well as shelf life analysis I have been specifically trained for organoleptic analysis of food! Basically I have been struggling to do my job since taking the medication! Is it just me who has this, or is it more common? Any feedback would be appreciated. It’s worth mentioning that I have not knowingly had covid that may affect my sense of smell/taste.
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Doddy72
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Welcome to the forum 😊great knowledge here.I have to say I personally have not noticed any change in sense of taste or smell. However there may be other people who have and I’m sure they will answer shortly.
Meanwhile have you tried the search bar to see if there are previous posts on this issue?
There have been quite a few posts here over the years about phantosmia - getting the sensation of a smell when it doesn't really exist. All too often, the reported smell is some sort of burning, often tobacco, but can be anything.
I used to be convinced I could smell someone smoking in circumstances where it was impossible!
Here are a few previous posts - but there will be others. I try to keep adding when new posts on the subject are posted. You will find many cross-references between posts.
Thank you for these links, much appreciated. I do often get the sense of petrol when it’s not possible! I’ve even jumped out of bed in a panic thinking my house was burning down. I will have a good read through these 😊
Funny how petrol, tobacco smoke (specifically) and all sorts of burning seem the most often reported (in the context of thyroid).
Have added this thread to my prepared list of links.
Have never been able to abide green peppers - raw or coked (red, etc. are OK). Greens (assuming you mean pretty much cabbage family), also cannot stand - other than raw white.
It is difficult, though, to know how much is a return of our individual gustatory and olfactory functions. And how much is something going "wrong".
Now been on levothyroxine for over ten years and feel that my sense of smell is better now than for many years. But having given up smoking, and moved to a less heavily built-up area might well have been nearly as, or more, important. If I go for a walk, I'll smell flowers, etc., which once I might have missed.
I havent had this problem or heard of it before.. As you've recently started on them you could try a different brand.
The other thing to consider is that Hypothyroidism is called the great mimicker for good reason - can cause all sorts of very weird and wonderful symptoms. If this is the case it should go as you become optimally treated.
I’m on 125mcg Levothyroxine. I think the brand is Wockhardt 25mcg and Almus 100mcg. It’s been about 5 month since my blood tests (I don’t know the results, do I just request them from the GP?). Will I be able to ask the GP for a different brand, or do I need to go Private?Thanks for your advice.
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.
You have a right to all copies of blood tests so yes ask your GP surgery for a copy. Secondly is it 5 months on this dose? If so its definately time for them to check your thyroid level. Your GP will check TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) & if you are lucky your Ft4 (which is for your T4 level which is a thyroid hormone storage form). The other thyroid hormone is T3 (blood test Ft3) this is the usable form of thyroid hormone and isn't often tested sadly on the NHS. Checking for your thyroid hormone levels is important. When you get the results from your GP post them on here with the reference ranges, number in brackets. You can also test thyroid hormones privately using a finger prick method. If you look on Thyroid UK website they have the places to go to.
I really feel for you as in your job your sense of smell is so critical.
I'm sure I've read on here that mixing brands can cause problems.
Better to get one brand and cut up to make required total. Also once you've found a brand which you prefer stick to it, if necessary insist that the brand is written on your prescription. You may find that it's worth chatting to your pharmacist to choose the best option. Don't let them just give you whatever they've got in stock at the moment.
This page from the Thyroid UK website lists medication for hypothyroidism so you can compare the ingredients.
I'm sure I've read on here that mixing brands can cause problems.
I think this gets taken a bit the wrong way at times.
If you do not mix them, you know any issues must be due to the one brand you are taking.
If you do mix them, you cannot readily decide whether it was A or B causing the issues.
But if you tolerate both, there is no deep reason not to mix. I usually do mix brands - within the ones I find OK. However, I do my best to keep the bigger tablet the same (100 microgram Accord) at all times so any slight variation will only be in the lower dose tablet (25 microgram). I am not aware of any that mustn't be mixed because they interact in any way.
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