About 3 months ago I had a few weeks of feeling dizzy, faint, low resting heart rate and brain fog. All these coincided with me losing weight - this may or may not be relevant. My levothyroxine dose got changed from 75 daily to 4 days of 75 and 3 days of 100, I also started taking multivitamins and my weight went up a few pounds. Things improved dramatically until 2 weeks ago when the same thing happened again. All the same symptoms returned. I had a blood test and the results were T4 20 and TSH 1.98.
Could all of this be thyroid related? Or perimenopause? Or something else?
Please help
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Tigertummy
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What were most recent vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 results?
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s
Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.
Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease
20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis
In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)
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)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options and money off codes
Thanks for the detailed response. One of the tablets I take says levothyroxine sodium on it. Could that mean something?
The test results I posted are the only ones that were done. I’m going to push to be sent for more.
I can’t afford to go privately sadly.
Today my heart is racing which is the opposite to what has been happening recently. Could this mean my dosage is too high? I can’t get an appointment with a dr.
Thank you for all your help!! The test was the week before last. I tried to get a drs appointment today but instead of seeing me they’ve sent me for more blood tests so I’m going first thing on Friday morning. I’ll do exactly what you said with regards to meds.
Not had thyroid antibodies test. Hoping when I pick up my blood test form tomorrow all those things will be on it. It’s a nightmare all the back and forth with them.
I’m supposed to take the higher dose tomorrow but this racing heart has stressed me out. Should I take the lower dose tomorrow?
Ok. Thank you for all the help. I desperately need to feel normal. I have 2 young children and I feel so inadequate at being a good mum when I feel so unwell all the time
Being unwell doesn't change that, it just changes what life looks like for a bit.
Are you still feeding them? Keeping them warm and dry? Loving them? Getting them to bed each night? The you're a good mum. Do not let yourself think for a minute that you're not.
Little kids are hard work. Even harder when your thyroid goes on the blink. Be kind to yourself.
This is just a season you're in. It will get better.
So we can offer better advice, we really need to see blood test results (with ranges in brackets) for:
TSH
FT3
FT4
Plus any antibody and key vitamin tests (ferritin, folate, vitamins D and B12)
Can you supply ranges for the tests you’ve got, as these can vary between laboratories. Only retest 6-8 weeks after you have been on a consistent dose.
If your GP is unable to complete all the above (eg if TSH is within range, some surgeries may not be able to access FT4 and FT3 tests), you could look to do this privately, as many forum members do, for a better picture of your thyroid health:
Regarding peri menopause, it may be useful to have a look at Dr Louise Newson’s free Balance App, as I find it really useful for investigating HRT medications & having up to date research articles. There is also an ability to post questions.
As your FT4 and TSH are within range, it is unlikely that your GP will test FT3,
I know you said that testing privately would be difficult, so in the first instance, I would ask your GP to test key thyroid vitamins folate, ferritin, B12 and vit D as these need to be optimal to support thyroid health. Regarding the thyroid test (we really need to see FT3 alongside TSH and FT4 to get a complete picture oh your thyroid health), I think Medichecks have 20% off at the moment, so perhaps you could investigate this.
I have Dysautonomia (POTS) and it causes me to have a fast heart rate, feel faint, nauseous and shaky. It is worse when I am less hydrated. It has not been my experience that it is related to my thyroid, I got it after an illness. It might be worth reading about. Hope this helps.
Thank you so much for your reply. Weirdly today I do have a fast heart rate but usually I have the opposite problem. I will do some research about this though - thank you
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