Stomach pains while taking Thyroxine

[Bean101]

I have been taking Thyroxine for 18 months split twice a day.. in that time I have had bloating and stomach cramps.

At present I am taking mercury pharma, I have tried wockhart, Accord and Vencamil.. all causing the same issues

The last two nights I have taken T4 split morning and bedtime ( normally I take it morning and 2.30pm.. I have woken up with worse stomach issues.

I’m not sure how to solve this problem! I have some Erfa I could try.. but it’s such a big change for my body to start a new med..

I would appreciate any advice

Thank you

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Two months ago your ft4 was quite low. Have you considered a Levo increase?

Have you tried a strictly gluten free diet, possibly dairy too?

[Bean101 in reply to Jaydee1507]

I have increased to 68.5 mcg plus gluten and dairy free for many years

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Bean101]

2 months ago you were on 62.5 so how have you increased only 6 mcgs?

Retest in 6-8 weeks but that’s still a very low dose of Levo in a combination dose. Near 100-125 is where many people are at.

[Bean101 in reply to Jaydee1507]

I will put Thyroxine up to 75mcg.. thought the tummy ache was because I couldn’t tolerate it! I have both the D101 and D102 genes

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Bean101]

Low FT4 can cause almost as many issues as low FT3.

You might also look into the low FODMAP diet that helps many people with tummy cramps. monashfodmap.com/ibs-centra...

[Anthea55]

A different suggestion. Many of us take levo with food. This was recommended to me by Dr Barry Peatfield. I take half my levo with breakfast and half with lunch.

Worth a try. It seems to help the pills to move on through. I know this is not the usual instruction but it works for me and others. You may or may not need a slight increase in dose, but if you do the same all the time you'll soon see if it works for you.

[Bean101 in reply to Anthea55]

Thank you so much, I will definitely start taking my T4 with food

[Bean101]

I weigh 9 stone

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Three months ago you were taking T3 and levothyroxine

62.5mg T4

15T3mcg

Are you still on BOTH Levo and T3?

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

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

On T3 - day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day with last dose 8-12 hours before test

[Bean101 in reply to SlowDragon]

I am still on both T4/3 my TSH is very always 0.01 even when hypo!!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bean101]

Yes suppressed TSH is typical, when taking almost any dose of T3

Most important results are always, Ft3, followed by Ft4……and optimal vitamin levels…..and symptoms

what are your thyroid and vitamin results

[Bean101 in reply to SlowDragon]

FT3. 6.1. (3.1-6.8)

FT4. 17.9. ( 12-22)

TSH 0.01

Cortisol 457( 133-537)

Ferritin 109(24-150)

Folate 6.8(2.1-26.8)

B12 434(197-771)

Vitamin D 100

CRP <0.06

Test when taking 62.5 T4 & 15T3

Tested 24hrs after taking Thyroxine and12hr after T3

Symptoms

Very hard to wake up

Exhausted all day

Stomach ache

Shaking

Tinnitus

Started working on B12 and folate

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Bean101]

These are quite different to the results you posted 2 months ago:

TSH. 0.01. (0.27-4.20)

T4 86.7 (66-181)

FT4 14.9. (12-22)

FT3 5.76 (3-1-6.8)

Which is the most recent results and I'm trying to understand how your FT4 is so different?

Your FT3 is likely too high in the results you have just posted.

[Bean101 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Blue Horizon

FT4 14.9

FT3 5.76

T4 86.7

B12 2952

As I was worried about the high B12 my Dr re tested within a couple of days

So the ones I have just posted above was NHS my FT4 is always 17.9 on 62.5 T4

I did complain to Blue horizon about the huge difference in B12 and FT4 but they were not interested

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bean101]

Which brand of levothyroxine

Which brand of T3

Do you normally split your T3?

[Bean101 in reply to SlowDragon]

T4. Mercury pharma

T3 Thybon Henning

Split T4. 37.5 mcg 7am. 25T4 2.30pm

T3. 7.5mcg 7.30am 5mcg T3 2pm 2.5T3 bedtime

I feel the T3 run out.. struggle to get up in the morning and feel slightly better at 11am.. for a couple of hrs, then at teatime after the T3 has high I feel drugged and need to sleep.

I do think taking such a low dose of T4 62.5mcg and having a atrophied thyroid my FT4 should not be 17.9.. it feels like it’s all in my blood and going nowhere

I’m really stuck and not sure what to do

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bean101]

Mercury Pharma contains lactose and you’re on dairy free diet

Suggest you change to

Teva

or

Aristo (Vencamil) currently 100mcg only

See how that is

Retest 6-8 weeks later

Perhaps then try increasing levothyroxine

[Bean101 in reply to SlowDragon]

The T3 is keeping me awake at night so I will have to think about how to dose it

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bean101]

Or being on incorrect dose levothyroxine or T3 is resulting in higher cortisol/poor sleep

[Chicken26]

I have to take np thyroid as I can take it sublingually..bypassing digestion worked for me..I can also eat and drink immediately and all my number were perfect 2 weeks ago at my endo visit..im.fortunate to have found best endo ever too!