Hi, I have hypothyroidism (for decades), on levothyroxine. Recently I was off sick for a year with what was eventually diagnosed as hyperventilation syndrome (caused by repeated respiratory infections). That's now been treated. But during this period (and I've been getting something similar since, and occasionally before), I was getting extremely cold after walking. Of course I was breathless during walks and had to stop very very often, and would get very fatigued. Once I'd stopped afterwards I'd cool down and then (even if I had a hot snack to eat and a hot drink, or had a hot bath) I'd get very cold, like I was really cold inside, so even if my environment and clothes were warm I'd still be freezing inside. Even after a meal that evening. Then suddenly, about 3 hours after the hot evening meal, it'd be like someone had turned on my internal radiator and I'd suddenly warm up. So I thought all this was due to my hyperventilation syndrome, but when I saw the Lung Clinic they said no. But I assumed that'd be it since my breathing improved. But this week it's been happening in a different way. It's been below zero most days here for the past week. I have an active job. In work I'm warmer than most people so I'm not wearing a hoodie (unlike others) until I go outside for my breaks (I sit in my car and this week I'm wearing a thick coat too). Then in the evening I have a 10 min drive home. Feeling cold once I get home (despite layers), start feeling colder and colder. Have a hot meal soon after I get home but still don't warm up. Feel very cold afterwards for some hours until I eventually warm up again (when the food kicks in?).
I've just twigged that this is my first week back at work after some weeks mostly off (just in for the odd day), so my activity level has been a lot higher this week than for some time. So it might still happen when it's cold, not just when it's freezing, I don't know yet.
A recent test (was with other bloods, so taken about 4pm and I'd had my levothyroxine that am) showed
Serum TSH level
0.47 mu/L
0.27 - 4.20 range
Normal
Serum free T4 level
22.0 pmol/L
11.3 - 21.6 range
Abnormal
I'm on 100ug levothyroxine . (Bloods will be re-done in a few weeks, I've got an early appointment.) They don't normaly do FT4, just TSH (new lab, I think).
Does any of this feeling-cold-at-the-core ring a bell with anyone? Even when on levo?
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As hypo people we get low vitamin levels due to low stomach acid. Low vitamin levels mean that our thyroid hormone doesnt work properly. Get your GP to do bloods for ferritin, folate, B12 and D3 then post the results here.
As far as your thyroid results noone can really tell whats happening without an FT3 result that the NHS never does. Most people here buy private tests for this. Monitor my Health is the cheapest.
Your FT3 is very possibly low and may have been slowly reducing for some time until it has now become too low when the body is active....as you describe.
Because the thyroid hormone T3 helps to control cellular metabolism throughout the body, when there is not enough, for any reason, this metabolic function slows and becomes impaired....and you feel fatigued and cold amongst other symptoms
A full blood test will reveal all!
The above labs show high FT4 which suggests your T4 is not being converted to T3
Your FT4 to FT3 conversion is impaired
To support thyroid function/ conversion you first need to optimise vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin
You most likely need to add T3 to your levo dose because your T4 is already out of range
But first we need full labs to be sure....if you can post these members will advise.
I'm not a medic this is based on personal experience and research....following very poor thyroid health.
Thank you, I'd heard there were private tests but had no idea where to start with them so all the info youse have all given is very useful 😀
I'm in my fifties. I don't feel cold all the time (I was very nesh when I was younger, lol), I often don't need a jumper when I'm moving around unlike my colleagues. I am overweight, not sure if that makes a difference, but I'm fitter than my weight would suggest. Past year or so my weight has been dropping (yay!) probs cos I've come off antidepressants. Anxiety has been a problem since then so I'm just now on HRT (my decision, GP said it wouldn't help with the emotional stuff (get with the 21st century please)). The feeling-cold seems to come after exercise, which now seems to include after work (but it's colder than when I was last in work).
I do take multivitamins, would that keep the levels of the important ones up to scratch?
As I said, the test was in the afternoon and I'd had levo that day as I didn't know they'd be doing thyroid too (the doc didn't seem to think this was relevant when we talked about it 😒), so I've sorted an early appointment for when they're redone and will skip the am levo dose. I asked about (F)T3 but he said the lab won't do that unless they think it's needed (but they didn't do it with the last result 😒).
My brand of levothyroxine changes frequently - I get my prescriptions delivered and I guess it's whatever they have in stock, they don't specify the brand when you order.
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