Mood swings

[Jimmy69]

Hi everyone

Ive been on medication for my underactive thyroid for some years now but just have this feeling of lethagy and mood swings, which i beleive is linked to Levothyroxine, any one else suffing.

Ive tried talking to my GP with little success and now trying to get a private appointment with an endocrinologist to discuss. My brother who live in the US also has the same condition and managed to switch his meds to another type of Levothyroxine that made him feel loads better.

Any help/advice would be very welcome and i can't keep going on like this.🙁

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

First step is to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

Ideally via GP, but may need to test privately

Do you currently take any vitamin supplements

If yes, what exactly

When were vitamin levels last tested

Please add most recent thyroid and vitamin results and ranges

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

You know already you have Hashimoto’s

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[Jimmy69]

Thansk for you reply.

Yes i normally get the same brand, this very much depends on what the Pharmacy have in stock.

I currently on 800u Vir D again on prescription and vit C OTC, i'm also taking ashwagandha.

i'm going the request another blood test today and see what the results are.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jimmy69]

that’s very small dose vitamin D

Quite likely not enough

[DippyDame]

How much levo are you prescribed?

[pennyannie]

Hello Jimmy and welcome to the forum ;

The minimum blood test you need is a TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 reading and range.

If you can this from your NHS provider - well done you :

Many of us are forced to pay privately for our thyroid function test and should you have to go this route, you owe it to yourself to also run the thyroid antibodies, inflammation, plus ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D - as if these vitamin and mineral co-factors are not maintained at optimal, levels your ability to utilise and convert well the T4 - Levothyroxine into T3 the active hormone which runs the body, can be compromised.

The full thyroid panel is around 10 blood analysis and sometimes called an Thyroid Extra or an Advanced thyroid blood test or

Conversion of T4 into T3 can also be down regulated by any physiological stress ( emotional or physical ) depression, dieting and ageing.

If you go to Thyroid UK - the charity who support this forum you will find a whole page of Private Companies who can undertake the blood tests for you and then when with results, just start a new post with the results and ranges and you will be talked through what it all means and given considered opinion.

I see SDragon has already given you al the necessary information:

Presume your brother is taking some T3 - Liothyronine or maybe Natural Desiccated Thyroid - these were both available from your doctor if T4 didn't totally restore health and well being up until around 20 odd years ago but now becoming increasingly difficult to get on the NHS due to cost rather than medical need.

[Jimmy69 in reply to pennyannie]

Thansk for your realy, Lookd like this is the routre i need to go down.

[pennyannie in reply to Jimmy69]

Well - you could be lucky and get all this on the NHS -

I now just arrange a yearly full thyroid panel and pay for a nurse home visit to draw my blood as it's the least stressful option -

I believe between them Medichecks and Blue Horizon cover the country and offer this service.

Read how to take your T4 medication - everyday - and on the day of the blood - and if supplementing anything leave off for around a week before so we measure what your body is holding rather than what you have just ingested.

[Jimmy69]

Hi

On 125mg.

[pennyannie in reply to Jimmy69]

Just looked back as see you have Hashimoto's auto immune disease and mood swings are well documented -

You might to read around on the research and suggestions of Dr Izabella Wentz - thyroidpharmacist.com

[Jimmy69]

Yes i beleive i do have Hashimoto's, i'll give this a read, thx.