Covid and thyroid hormones

[Jamima]

I got Covid for the first time 2 weeks ago, still testing positive although the line is very faint, but still there. I didn’t really need the test to tell me that as I’m still feeling utterly crap. My thyroid problems have been ongoing for around 4 years now (no formal diagnosis) and I’ve also had low SST results. I’ve experimented with Levo but it ends up making me really ill. I’m currently using 3 x metaviveI per day and was doing quite well with this until I got the virus.

I did a quick internet check on thyroid hormones and C19 and it said the virus can reduce T3 in some people - is this the case? Because it certainly feels like it for me.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Jamima

I did a quick internet check on thyroid hormones and C19 and it said the virus can reduce T3 in some people - is this the case?

I think that like everything thyroid-wise it's a case of it can affect people differently.

I had Covid earlier this year and it happens that I did a thyroid panel a month before I tested positive and about 3 weeks after I tested negative. I was testing due to a small tweak in my dose. My FT3 results wer 5.2 and 5.3 (range 3.1-6.8) respectively. During that time I'd increased my Levo by 5mcg daily but no change to my T3 dose.

[Jamima in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you SeasideSusie - it’s such a pain because I’d only just re-started the metavive and it seemed to fit quite well but then a rash of symptoms hit me and it was difficult to tell what was what, particularly the grinding fatigue. I’ve kept going with the metavive and luckily had a gp blood test just before the infection and due to test again soon so it’ll be interesting to see what the results are. Are there any reported cases on here of c19 having a longer recovery time with low thyroid?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Jamima]

Are there any reported cases on here of c19 having a longer recovery time with low thyroid?

Not that I am aware of. Some members have had it very mild, others were more badly affected. What hung on with me was the fatigue, I was nodding off on the sofa at all times of the day for weeks after I tested negative.

[Jamima in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ah, thank you, I’m getting a little concerned as I’ve known people with quite serious underlying illness who’ve just shaken it off in comparison. Who knows, maybe they’ll discover that insulin and heart meds are quite useful for Covid at some point in the future.

[Hedgeree]

Hi Jamima,

My endo surgeon said that some of her patient's thyroid levels haven't recovered after they had Covid. Not sure if she was refering to T4 or T3 levels though (possibly T3 though brain sludge so not sure) I've another appointment soon so will ask her again.

I had Covid for the first time in April, felt terrible; surprised how painful it was 😐 I tested positive for nearly two weeks. Tiredness took a long time to leave. You have to build up slowly again doing small amounts and not over doing things. Any small exertion meant rest the next day as felt easily drained.

It really annoyed me as I was and still am titrating up my levo so it felt like a huge set back.

[Jamima in reply to Hedgeree]

Thank you Hedgeree - you’re absolutely right, the day before I posted this was the 1st day I felt vaguely ‘normal’ still testing positive but had the energy to do more. Obviously, I did too much and came crashing down the following day. It’s hard trying to juggle low thyroid + an infection like c19, it’s a brutal virus. Thank you.

[Decant]

Hi

I had covid last week. From positive to negative in 3 days. I put that down to decent thyroid levels but also for vitamin D. A friend who doesn't take D caught it at same time and it's still struggling, still in bed. My case is only one data point. Plenty of information saying D is very good for C19 and many many things in general. I'd get a supplement ASAP (with K2 co factor ideally) and get pumping that up. I'm on 3,000IU/day maintenance but you're safe to go up to 10,000/day for some weeks. Watch some Dr John Campbell videos to get more idea. Also get into the sun, there's emerging thought that melatonin (generated in large quantities in sunlight) is essential. Melatonin is a very powerful antioxidant.

[Jamima in reply to Decant]

Thank you Decant and I agree, vit d + k2, vit c+ zinc is essential, I’ve been using both at big doses. I caught what I thought was a cold about 2 months before this and in hindsight, I think it was probably Covid, and that’s caused this horrible 2nd infection. Both were caught I think, on flights, so anyone taking a flight, mask up. Thank you.

[Batty1]

When I caught Covid last year my pulse started running 24/7 at a 130 bpm lost 13 pounds fast as soon as my covid subsided my HR dropped down to 70…. Covid in my opinion does effect thyroid function.

[Jamima in reply to Batty1]

Yes, I think it does I’ve noticed some of the low thyroid problems creeping back in, it’s getting better, but it’s set me back. Thank you.

[Luckyclaire]

I have had C19 four times in the last two years and I have had a two month recovery period after each. Extreme tiredness, high blood pressure and fast heart rate, as well as being the only one in my household getting COVID for three of the four times. The third infection check up for "do I have long COVID?" Led to my diagnosis for poor thyroid function. I found iron, vit D and b12 post COVID did help a lot, which now makes sense. I was monitoring my pulse and blood pressure during my last infection and rate was twenty beats per minute higher, and pressure was twenty points higher too. It's a big pressure on your system! Now I'm in levo I got better so much quicker, ie four days to normal. Good luck.

[Jamima in reply to Luckyclaire]

Thank you Luckyclaire, I don’t do very well on levo but have settled nicely with metavive. I agree, it’s messing about with vitals, for me it’s low bp, hypotension on standing and sudden fatigue. I’ve had this for a while but it was getting better and now I seem to be back where I started. Oh well, keep plodding on.

[Mistydeb01]

When I had Covid it really messed with my thyroid. I felt over medicated, had to reduce my levo quite a few times. Can’t remember exactly how long for but it was for more than 3 weeks. It settled again after that period

[Jamima in reply to Mistydeb01]

Thank you Mistydeb01, now that the worst symptoms of the infection have gone, I’ll monitor more closely how I feel, it’s just so difficult to know if it’s the infection or low thyroid but I’m testing again soon so hopefully that should clarify things.

[Leothelion]

Hi my husband and I both had covid 5 weeks ago, I seem to have recovered but still tired most days, but my husband who has been borderline thyroid for some time and not on meds, is now been told it’s long covid, we have just got his blood test back and his Tt4 is 8.1 range 7.9-16. He is fatigued/ exhausted all day every day for the last 4 weeks, is taking vitamin D & co factors B12 & folate vit c, a slight improvement from 2 weeks ago, but going to do private test for Ft3 to see what that is doing, he is also hashimotos ..