Thyroid meds and kidney problems : hi everyone... - Thyroid UK

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Thyroid meds and kidney problems

birkie profile image
8 Replies

hi everyone ❤️

Well just about had life now.. 😔 My thyroid journey as been fought with trying to get the right thyroid medication, as many on here will know due to my posts, I had thyroidectomy in 2019 after over a year of my gp telling me I was menupausal 😠 surgeon told me after thyroidectomy I'd take the wonder drug T4 and I'd never look back, and don't get me wrong it is a fantastic drug for many, but I found it was not for me, I eventually got on T3 which did restore my T3 level I did feel OK on it, unfortunately after being on it around 4 months my parathyroid hormone and calcium went over range confusing the gp and endo.. The gp blamed the t3 for my symptoms and I came of T3 to show her my symptoms were related to primary hyperparathyroidism not T3. ( bad decision as I can't get bk on T3 now) 😠

I reluctantly went back on T4 teva, when I was first on T4 teva in 2019 I had bad kidney problems with a trip to the hospital in July 2019 passing another kidney stone, I've been back on T4 since May this year and having kidney problems again ( protein in urine /PH off) pain in loin, bad metallic taste in my mouth, my kidney function was better on T3 but as become worse on T4 and just recently my gp wrote to me telling me due to my last renal blood tests (very recently and on T4) I now have CKD, can T4 thyroid medication cause kidney problems? As I've said on here I feel worse on T4, my endocrinologist recently prescribed me liquid levothyroxin as I have colitis and are lactose intolorent, I can't source it anywhere as yet, and are still struggling with the T4 teva tablets, been very unwell this last 3/4wks with loin pain feeling sick, no appetite.. And urine off with protein in it.. I'm dreading going to see my gp as they really don't want to know about my health problems, and it's a pain trying to get an appointment 😔 I wanted to hand in a urine sample today, but I'm finding it hard to get out of bed😭 can anyone on here shead any light on thyroid drugs and kidney problems 🙏 thanks in advance ❤️❤️

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8 Replies
humanbean profile image
humanbean

I am just guessing with this comment, but I would be more suspicious of low T3 as something that affects the kidneys, rather than taking T4.

Have you tried any other make of T4? Can you change to something other than Teva?

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to humanbean

unfortunately I am lactose intolorent and have colitis, I have really bad gut issues there is a lot of synthetic meds I can't take, my gp changed me from T4 to T4 T3 teva due to the gut issue, now endo as changed me to liquid levothyroxin which I'm sure I've already tried in 2019 again sure it was no good for my gut issues, still waiting to source ths as I can't get it in any chemist in my town 😠

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to humanbean

hi humanbean ❤️

Yes your probably correct in that because I'm so under medicated (waiting on liquid levothyroxin since Aug 3rd 😠) my kidney function as gone bad again, my T3 is low and my t4 his mid but my TSH is 7.4..honestly I really wonder if gps care about patients health anymore 😠😠😠

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Being HYPOTHYROID causes reversible reduction in kidney function

You know you are grossly under medicated

currently only on 25mcg levothyroxine?

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/243...

3 cases of reversible hypothyroidism-induced kidney dysfunction and review the interaction between these commonly encountered, yet seemingly disparate, conditions……

…Conclusion: Hypothyroidism and kidney dysfunction are both commonly encountered clinical entities, but the interplay between the thyroid gland and kidneys may be infrequently recalled, causing the reversible relationship between these 2 disorders to be missed.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

The GFR is reversibly reduced (by about 40%) in more than 55% of adults with hypothyroidism[40] due to several reasons

It’s now weeks you have been waiting for liquid levothyroxine

Suggest you contact your endocrinologist and say still not got prescription

Write to practice manager and PALS

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to SlowDragon

ha so it's probably because I'm under medicated slowdragon 👍 that makes much more sense, as with T3 my T3 level was restored and my kidney function was much better, its unbelievable how my surgery are treating me😠 my TSH is 7.4..no one cares... When I was on T3 my TSH was 0.05 and all hell broke loose.. Gp.. "get off T3 its the cause of all your symptoms", but now my TSH is 7.4 and gp couldn't care less... Bunch of ignorent hypocrites 😠😠😠

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to birkie

Send your kidney results to endocrinologist explaining that you’re still only on 25mcg Teva levothyroxine and GP refusing to organise supply of liquid levothyroxine

include latest thyroid and vitamin results

Unfortunately because you need lactose free T3 it’s virtually impossible to self source

humanbean profile image
humanbean

A couple of links discussing a possible relationship between kidney health and the thyroid:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/278...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Both links mention T3 (triiodothyronine) but just in passing, and not in a way that really helps us.

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to humanbean

I don't know if this will be helpful, but HU has a forum for Kidney Disease:

healthunlocked.com/nkf-ckd/...

And another discussion that cropped up on another website which is unimpressive when it comes to the patient's doctor's knowledge!

patient.info/forums/discuss...

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