Advice on navigating Long Covid and hypothyroidism with a bit of adrenals etc

[Eimear78]

Hi again

You may remember this post of mine from a few weeks ago healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

1 - my thyroid and other things

my endocrinologist started me on 30mcg of Thybon which hasn’t made a difference in symptoms so far. I am starting 100mcg Levothyroxine this weekend too so fingers crossed it will help.

I have struggled to feel well for ages and my endo wants me to go for a functional medicine package but can’t afford it in one go so I am going to do it myself. I am going to check for food intolerances (fine with gluten but maybe other stuff) and check my adrenals ( I have tested low for cortisol before). Using the tests recommended on Thyroid UK. Should I pay for a micro biome test too?

What test would you recommend doing first and any advice on what to look for?

2 - long Covid

I had my 2nd dose of Covid in June and this version is hanging around. I am exhausted, breathless, getting tingling in my hands and feet and it’s making my thyroid symptoms worse. Has anyone got any tips on trying to get rid of it. It’s not getting any better and as a change in medication isn’t giving me a boost I think it’s making it worse.

I am self employed and both issues are making it hard to work.

I appreciate your advice. Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after increasing levothyroxine to 100mcg

Make sure you get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

You could try splitting levothyroxine into 50mcg waking and 50mcg at bedtime

Do you split T3 into 3 x 10mcg doses…..waking, mid afternoon and bedtime

Are you on strictly gluten free diet or dairy free diet

If dairy free, you will need lactose free levothyroxine

Your Thybon Henning T3 is lactose free

[Eimear78 in reply to SlowDragon]

I can only take Mercury anyway so it’s all I’ve asked for for ages.

The endo has said 20mcg in the morning then 10 at lunch.

Tried a gluten free diet and it made no impact. Dairy free is on the list but I know it’s harder to do because dairy is in all sorts of food stuffs.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Eimear78]

Suggest you try splitting T3 more evenly

10mcg 6am, noon and 6pm

After 6-8 weeks retest

Then try splitting at 6am, 2pm and bedtime

Many people find T3 at bedtime improves sleep. But not everyone does

Splitting levothyroxine dose waking and bedtime worth trying too

Essential all four vitamins are OPTIMAL

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

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

[Eimear78 in reply to SlowDragon]

Currently taking

Better Health vit d and k spray 3000iu per day

Igenus methylated Vit B complex

2000mcg - flaxseed oil

Garden of Life probiotic

3 capsules Bio care magnesium malate

1000mg - EPO

40mg - zinc

200mcg Selenium with ACE

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Eimear78]

What were most recent vitamin results

Test vitamin D twice year and folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually

[Eimear78 in reply to SlowDragon]

Copied from my previous post so will duplicate some of the answers above.

I probably have a gut issue I’d say because I am on top of taking nutrients.

Inflammation CRP HS 1.46 mg/L (Range: 0 - 5)

Iron Status Ferritin 83.8 ug/L (Range: 13 - 150)

Vitamins Folate - Serum 10.43 ug/L (Range: > 3.89) - Daily methylated Vitamin B Complex with folate. I've also cranked up my green veg intake so I have some with lunch and dinner now.

Vitamin B12 - Active X >150 pmol/L (Range: 37.5 - 150) - as above. My endocrinologist tested homocysteine levels and I am fine.

Vitamin D 74 nmol/L 75 - 200 Optimal (Range: 50 - 200) - Better Health vitamin D & K 3000IU daily spray.

Thyroid Hormones TSH X 0.13 mU/L (Range: 0.27 - 4.2)

Free T3 4.73 pmol/L (Range: 3.1 - 6.8) - 45mcg Receptura Lio (25 in the morning, 10 at lunch, 10 at teatime)

Free Thyroxine X 11.7 pmol/L (Range: 12 - 22) - 75mcg Mercury Pharma Levo- take in the morning on an empty stomach, an hour before coffee

Autoimmunity Thyroglobulin Antibodies 12 IU/mL (Range: < 115) Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies <9.0 IU/mL (Range: < 34)

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Eimear78]

Free T3 4.73 pmol/L (Range: 3.1 - 6.8) - 45mcg Receptura Lio (25 in the morning, 10 at lunch, 10 at teatime)

Free Thyroxine X 11.7 pmol/L (Range: 12 - 22) - 75mcg Mercury Pharma Levo- take in the morning on an empty stomach, an hour before coffee

Assuming test was 9am

Day before test did you take last dose T3 at least after 9pm

Last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

If last dose T3 was 3-4pm day before test, Ft3 result is falsely low

Ft4 is below range

Suggest you try increasing levothyroxine by 25mcg and retest in 6-8 weeks

Many members find they need BOTH Ft4 and Ft3 at least 50-60% through range

Vitamin D. Currently taking 3 sprays per day….suggest you increase to 4 per day

Perhaps try splitting levothyroxine. Taking 50mcg waking and 50mcg bedtime

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

Similarly if normally splitting your levothyroxine, take whole daily dose 24 hours before test

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

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

[Eimear78]

Assuming test was 9am

Day before test did you take last dose T3 at least after 9pm

Last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

It was a Medichecks test I did at 7am. My last Levothyroxine dose was at 6.30am the day before

If last dose T3 was 3-4pm day before test, Ft3 result is falsely low

The 10mcg T3 was taken at around 5.30pm the night before

Ft4 is below range

Suggest you try increasing levothyroxine by 25mcg and retest in 6-8 weeks

My endo has increased it from 75mcg to 100mcg. My FT4 has been at the lower end of the range or below for ages, probably at least 3 years and neither of the two last endow took it seriously. They are more concerned about me being over replaced

Many members find they need BOTH Ft4 and Ft3 at least 50-60% through range

Vitamin D. Currently taking 3 sprays per day….suggest you increase to 4 per day

Perhaps try splitting levothyroxine. Taking 50mcg waking and 50mcg bedtime

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

Similarly if normally splitting your levothyroxine, take whole daily dose 24 hours before test

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

I take the Levothyroxine in the morning but will look at trying all of your recommendations.

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

I stopped the B complex for two weeks as recommended by Medichecks as it makes the B12 ineffective.