So since I was diagnosed in May 2020 I have rarely been on the same strength of levothyroxine, let alone the same brand. At present I am on 75mcg of levo. (25 wockhartd and 50 accord). I feel unwell on Teva so refused to take another prescription with it. Teva seems to aggravate my migraines more than other brands. As well as lethargic, not sleeping, constant ringing in ears (although less than with Teva) I can't even remember character's names in my novel - (that's a pain in the **** as a deadline is looming.) I am now generally very forgetful and have become tearful and angry. And the lump in my throat - a "goitre is common and nothing to worry about" is stopping me sleeping on my back. So knowing GP is unlikely to do anything until after I see consultant in September, is there anything I csn do to help myself.
I take b complex, b12 and d with k2. Magnesium on alternate days.
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66olives
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I’m so glad that you’ve reached out to forum members 66olives, as depression is truly awful 🦋
Can you share your most recent thyroid blood tests with us, so we can offer better advice about your thyroid health. If you are not adequately medicated (and remember ‘optimal’ is not the same as ‘within range/ normal’ as advised by many GPS) then this will affect both your physical & mental health. Likewise, when did you last test key Thyroid vitamins (folate, ferritin, B12 and vitamin D)?
I have not measured other vitamins since January. D was low then everything else in in ranges and healthier than before. I will add I weigh 13stone. GP is adament that my TSH must not be that low, so keeps reducing my levo to 75mcg. March is the only time my free T4 has been measured higher than 25% through range. I generally test private 2 times a year, so intended to do NHS approved tests before seeing consultant.
It’s definitely a good idea to test FT3 alongside FT4 and TSH, for a ‘more complete’ picture of your thyroid health. If your GP is unable to test FT3, I’d do this privately (as many members do) and share results with us.
Are you seeing an endocrinologist on the TUK approved list (as opposed to a diabetes- only specialist)?
GP my gp never gets T3 measured .not sure she is allowed to. I have no idea what vonusltsnt. Whom ever the GP has referred me too. Probably the latter. Maybe, I should make appointment with TUK one privately.
I simply cannot go on like this put on stone already this year.
I would ask your GP surgery who they have referred you to and (if a name is given) you can then ask forum members to comment (although replies need to be via private message, as per forum guidelines).
Before considering a private endo appointment, do get thyroid bloods tested as it is more costly to do this at a private hospital. If you go down the private route, it’s a good idea to ask forum members for a specialist recommendation in your area.
Thanks Slow Dragon, I do follow all your recomendations, well I lay off my B bits for at least a week,as I believe my first 6 week TSH test result was suppressed. So I'm extra careful. I'm also picky about using a daily pill box to make sure my levo is taken daily, 45 mins before my coffee.
When I've been on current amount for 6 weeks. Did them January. Was going to wait until late August early September pre seeing consultant. But way I feel it will be sooner.
No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.
Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away
(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood 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
Similarly if normally splitting your levothyroxine, take whole daily dose 24 hours before test
Increasing number of members find it smoother/more tolerable to split levothyroxine as two smaller doses, half dose waking, half dose at bedtime.
It is dreadful, isn't it and doctors don't seem to understand or care.
Have you had a sleep study done? I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism years ago and later sleep apnea. Right now I am trying to get optimal on both. I am so tired and can get tearful very easily. Hypothyroidism can be the cause of sleep apnea.
I am sure others will be able to offer more advise, but just to let you know that hypothyroidism and sleep apnea can share many of the same symptoms, especially mood, fatigue, and even weight gain.
I generally don't sleep on my back, therefor don't normally snore, (only in hayfever season.) I asked hubby about my breathing he said ny breathing is pretty regular. He has never noticed me not breathing.
Since meds went down I have trouble getting to sleep often gone 1 am, then waking up at 5.30 to 6am.
Snoring and noticeable signs of stopping breathing are not the only symptoms of sleep apnoea. I have been told (after finally being able to work with the sleep apnoea machine and now being able to get my driving license returned - yippee, that will help get me around as my hypothyroid myalgia makes that difficult) that I was previously having ‘episodes’ 47 times a minute putting me in the severe category. With 47 times per minute I was getting no helpful sleep AT ALL! Honestly my experience so far of diagnosed hypothyroidism and the medicine regime from hopeless and hapless NHS has been well overtaken by this CPAP machine (also NHS). This department employs truly empathic staff! A far more noticeable improvement. However I might never have noticed it/been able to do it, without advice from this forum to abstain from messing about with my medication to let ‘things’ settle. P.S. my husband describes me as purring like a contented cat, not a snorer as such. Just saying it’s a possibility, as apparently it’s an often overlooked condition and there are lots of people driving and have no idea they have it. Whilst I knew there was something wrong I too had no idea. It’s just been the biggest help with my fatigue, excessive night time urination and dare I say I have finally reached some relaxation.
I was on 100 mcg buy my TSH was suppressed and my free T4 was over range. I was disappointed GP took me down to 75mcg. On 75mcg my TSH was too high. so we tried 75/100. But still tsh too low for her comfort.
As the results are all over the place she refered my to a consultant. Letter has just arrived and the consultant is a diabetes specialist.
I need to go private. Where do I find the Thyroid UK list of consultants for south of England? My friend has recommend one from Portsmouth.
I’d be interested to see your t3 level - if it’s not high I’d ask for a referral to an Endo to see if liothyronine might help. You do seem to have all the symptoms of being under medicated.
Hi 66olives. Migraine is the symptom that bothers me most because it stops me living my life. I think my meds are almost the right level now, and i rarely get a migraine at the moment 🤞so hopefully when your thyroid is adequately treated yours will improve as well. Just to mention, i took Topiramate for several months for migraine, and it worked well, but i suddenly got terrible depression right out of the blue. If you are taking it, maybe think about weaning yourself off it (dont just stop suddenly). Good luck.
It seems like at some point with my hypothyroidism I have experienced a long list of extreme symptoms - not all at once thankfully. I went to chiropractor because I’d had a heart attack and my chest just could not relax (all hypo symptoms I now totally understand). My migraines, which I suffered for twenty years or so, disappeared. Might be worth trying.
My migraines have alwayd been hormone related. I am lucky it that I can getnerally head them off with a a mixture of paracetamols and ibuprofin. I have been offered a prescription by the gp, but at the time, this had worked for 30 yrs. Now I only seem to get them when i change dose or manufacture of prescription. BUT they are more aggressive with Teva ... not sure why.
66olives mine were hormone related too. Always just before my period, but since menopause they have been a lot more random, and triggers have changed every few months.
I may be totally off here, but I was crippled by migraines and it turned out that gluten caused them. I'm not saying all migraines are caused by gluten, but there's a link between thyroid problems and gluten intolerance (particularly if you have hashimotos, like I do). I really regret not getting screened for coeliacs, as it's clear I do have it. So could you ask for a coeliac test?
I'm gluten free, and it made no noticeable difference.I am aware my migraines are related to hormones ... teenage years, pill, pregnancy, menopause, every change in thyroid meds and for some unknown reason teva is worst meds for setting them off.
And if you're asking for tests, I'd suggest full iron test. I was SO ill from Sept-Feb, then tested to find that my iron was in the low-normal range in Feb, but far from optimal. My symptoms were so severe that I was contemplating having to get signed off sick from work. Nightmare. Doing better now I'm supplementing and working to get my levels normal
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But I also wondered if I was misunderstanding!
Is thyroxin a lot more expensive than depression medicine.
Different brand of Levo each time
Undiagnosed as yet but getting more symptoms.
T3 two times a day or more?
Any advice gratefully received... Could this be more than depression/anxiety?
