Feeling pretty scared. I bought a bp monitor this week. My doctor had sent a text a few months back saying I had a slightly raised bp. I cannot honestly even recall it being done at the surgery but after trying to get an appointment and failing I forgot about it until this week when I had a migraine ( not had any for a long time) After that I got the monitor. Well I am in shock. Readings of 151/88 this morning, one of 190/? at lunchtime then 166/101 this afternoon ( about two hours after a 20 min walk) I have always had blood pressure which was either low or normal. I am continually trying and failing to get weight down, have prediabetes score which keeps rising each year and on 150mcg levo. Doc prescribes 125 alternating with 150 but am still v symptomatic especially feeling very cold all the time, unable to get warm except in bath, dry skin, headache ( new sympton), fatigue. I have zero faith in doctors after several late diagnoses of other conditions, and they just dont listen. Have been asking for trial of T3 for decades as I think I am just not converting. Please advise me what to do. Am female, 59
Recent onset high blood pressure: Feeling pretty... - Thyroid UK
Recent onset high blood pressure
Try not to worry about it as it will affect the readings. Mine was 180/90 when I got in a state 😱 it was 141/70 when the surgery started filling me full of terror saying it was too high. It used to always be 110/70 so I did get in a stew about it however, it goes up naturally with age and is protective according to Dr Malcom Kendrick who is very expert on heart disease I . I get my pal to test it every so often and I’ve had pretty consistent readings around 120/70 so I’ve put it out of my mind. White coat syndrome can really elevate it! I try to keep fit and eat sensibly but it’s getting harder and harder to keep the weight off.
I hated alternating Levo doses (120/125) I still felt awful on it whatever I took and with a low TSH (0.2-0.5). I don’t know if NDT has improved my blood pressure but it stopped all the horrible heart pains and I stopped feeling cold for the first time in years on it , so I’d say t3 ought to help reduce the cold feeling .symptom. I’m sure it is better for blood pressure, but it’s powerful especially if your body has been starved of it for a long time, so you must start it very gradually and build up slowly.
You could get a private blood test to find out if you’ve got a conversion issue there are ways to work it out but if you just posted the results people here in the know would soon get back with helpful info about your conversion rate. It would also help determine how under medicated you are. You’d need free t 4 and free T3 which come with TSH. It’s not too expensive.
My diastolic is too low for statins/bp medicine I’d start passing out if I was taking them so I was delighted to be deemed unsuitable 🤣🤣🤣
Thanks for your reply, come to think of it, I did have very high bp but that was during energency admission to hospital for acute pancreatitis caused by gallstones (which I had for years- gp wouldnt refer me for surgery when if they had my pancreas would have been fine- see why I have so little faith in doctors?) Like your surgery, high bp is a natural protective response but I have never heard this in other day to day situations. I have thought about trying NDT but how do you get consistent dose, also where do you buy from? Dont post here, private message only please! Have only seen it on a US site before and I worried about whether it is legal to import it. I work in criminal justice sector😅. I have had private testing done but not recently so need to arrange that. Was also wondering if it is worth homocysteine testing- would my GP do that one? GP has never checked my cholesterol either, never had an over 50 check up, they are just plain minimalist at offering anything useful! Asked for ultrasound scan when I kept getting goitres ( none recently) - refused. I dont want to just keep throwing money at different options in the hope something works, so which do I do? I cant afford private testing every few months plus NDT plus vitamins plus ultrasound test. Would i be better off just seeing a recommended private endo who may give me a T3 option? I honestly have not felt well ( and seem to be getting more ill) with each passing year on levo. Glad ndt helped you and agree about statins- i wouldnt take them if offered
It is legal to import it for personal use (to the U.K. and I think also for family members) but you can get customs charges this end. It’s getting harder and harder to source too. There’s a very good guide to dosing I used. In the old days, pre blood tests and when NDT was the only treatment, titrating up was done gradually until symptoms ceased. I think the guide I used must have followed this protocol I found immediate improvements as I increased the dose I felt much better until I felt quite normal and stopped on that dose. I saw huge improvements in the long term too. I’ve been on it for about 8 years now. If you can afford it it’s probably better to go through private endo route rather than the NDT on line lottery.
I hope the bp is ok. If it remains high you will have to get it checked out just to be on the safe side.
I know what you mean about not trusting medics I went to hell and back with my thyroid disorder and was gaslighted for decades. I may not have suffered so terribly had it been addressed in a more timely manner.
Hi 👋 I'm 60 have had underactive throyid for just over a year. Now on 100mgs after recent blood test 2.14 I have increased cholesterol now have you had your blood test for that to see what your cholesterol is. Mine increased and they have put me on statins. Also had to do blood pressure readings for a week and hand them into the doctor. I did them first thing in the morning and last thing at night before any excersise, I too have problems loosing weight try not to get to down its ve0ry hard not to I know. Sometimes I shiver then boiling hot. From what I understand this throyid condition fluctuates. Maybe of some help 😀
Sorry to hear about your cholesterol, mine has never been tested so far as I know. I really dont want another drug to take having only stopped aromastase inhibitor a couple of years ago. My dad ended up on 20 different meds before he died of heart failure, many of them to rectify conditions caused by some of the meds! I would much rather look for root cause and treat that properly as lots of these issues- diabetes, cholesterol, bp, metabolic syndrome are ultimately linked to poor thyroid understanding and treatment iMHO.
High BP isn't anything to worry about so long as you do something about it. Make appointment with GP to discuss. They will probably have you do regular readings for a while before putting you on any medication.
About your FT3 level. Have you thought about or are able to pay for a private Endo? I have found adding T3 has helped my high BP.
I have thought about private endo, mentioned in another reply. Its more a case of what is best option out of various money drains as I dont have lots of spare cash, like lots of people at the moment. I look forward wistfully to being able to retire! Interesting that T3 helped blood pressure, I read that it helps reduce stiffening of arteries so that could be why
Previous post year ago with thyroid and vitamin results
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
have you retested since this?
Have you gone on strictly gluten free diet since last post ?
I confess I havent gone gluten free to be honest, slow dragon. It just seems too much of a challenge, life has had a few challenges, plus I have never had raised antibodies. I know its unusual but I dont think mine is autoimmune related. I need to book retesting but should I just pay for private endo instead as they will probably order bloods anyway ( dont want to pay twice)
ALWAYS get blood tests BEFORE booking any consultation
A) otherwise consultation is waste of time and money
B) always test early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
C) if did bloods via private endocrinologist, likely much more expensive
D) if vitamins are low, work on improve levels and retest thyroid and vitamins again in 2 months before booking consultation
Thanks you always have sound ideas. Have got back on my vitamins, forget to take them sometimes. Igennus Super B complex, Magnesium ( lamberts as they ran out of usual and vit D/k2 spray. I only take one magnesium and one B per day but should I take more?
Depends what vitamin test results show
As your hypothyroidism started after pregnancy and your mum also hypothyroid, it’s pretty likely you’re hypothyroidism is autoimmune
20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies
paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...
You won’t know if gluten (or dairy) are an issue unless try at least 3 months cutting out completely
The first time I used my blood pressure machine I gave myself a scare because I didn't know how to use it properly and had the little tube in the wrong place. I went to a pharmacy and got them to test it instead and the results were much better.
Made me laugh! Sort of thing I would do 😄. But I know its working ok, as used it first on my friend ( what fun we have these days- hey wanna come over to get your bp checked?) Her's was a perfect 120/70.... Btw I did make her a nice biriani too 😃
I think their is so many things that can raise blood pressure.. pain, stress, walking, eating and for me its the blood pressure cuff tightening at the doctors office that does it to me every time because of my joint pains it squeezes to the point that Im in tears. I think its a problem when it never drops down to normal levels after doing things that raise it… but Im not sure.
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