Constantly overheated

[Patricia19]

I’ve had hypothyroidism for over 10 years and first few years struggled to get my meds correct in terms of ‘ how I feel’ (unbelievably sluggish and tired) which has meant fighting my Gp to allow TSH to be on low side (0.03). As I’m in UK they won’t test T3 levels only TSH and sometimes T4 (which last test indicated16.7). I’ve fought to get and keep my Levothyroxine up to 100mgs even though my TSH is in the low side because I realise that sometimes T4 might not perform correctly (making T3 ) which is why I go by how I feel. Over last couple of years I’ve experienced constant overheating (all over not just hot flush). It often happens around same time of evening or whenever I do any moderate exercise (rushing about/gardening etc). I expect it at the gym, but then I have perspiration soaking my hair on the cross trainer. Overall it is a nuisance and not ‘normal’ for me. I am 73 yrs, active, yoga & Pilates every week 1 hr gym & 20 min swim twice per week. I went back onto HRT 3 yrs ago which has helped with sleeping and other more personal issues. I’m on 50 mg Estradot patches & 100mg. I realise overheating is usually attributed to hyperthyroidism, but my pulse rate is in normal range and no weight loss, no palpitations (andno ‘poppy’ eyes as I had after the birth of first child when I did suffer from hyperthyroidism for 3 yrs before it resolved itself. ) So I am aware of what to watch for. It’s very difficult getting an appointment even to talk to a GP and frankly , without being disrespectful, I probably know more about thyroid problems than them. You guys are so knowledgeable about this subject so I would really appreciate your comments.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Do you have the reference range for your FT4 test? It looks on the low side by some labs ranges.

Are you supplementing key vitamin levels to optimal? WE need OPTIMAL levels of vitamins for our thyroid hormone to work well.

Many thousands of members in this group buy private tests to get what they need tested to feel well, most are in the UK.

Suggest you get a private test run and follow the protocol:

Test at 9am (or as close as possible), fasting, last levo dose 24hrs before the blood draw & no biotin containing supplements for 3-7 days (Biotin can interfere with thyroid blood results as it is used in the testing process).

Testing like this gives consistency in your results and will show stable blood levels of hormone and highest TSH which varies throughout the day. Taking Levo/T3 just prior to blood draw can show a falsely elevated result and your GP/Endo might change your dose incorrectly as a result.

See link for companies offering private blood tests & discount codes, some offer a blood draw service at an extra cost. thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

There is also a new company offering walk in& mail order blood tests in London, Kent, Sussex & Surrey areas. Check to see if there is a blood test company near you. onedaytests.com/products/ul...

Only do private tests on a Monday or Tuesday to avoid postal delays.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

yes, significant minority of hypo patients struggle to tolerate heat and feel too hot

Come back with new post once you get FULL thyroid and vitamin test results

[Patricia19]

thank you for your advice, I will pursue the advice to get a blood test to check vitamin levels. I note from a recent full blood count that lab recommended “Macrocytic red cell indices, suggest check B12” (which was marked ‘no action’ by GP. )

To answer your questions, recent test found serum ferritin was 14 ug/L (30-204) in Dec23 it was 24ug/L (15-200). I don’t know what the ‘ug/L’ signifies, or why the range ‘()’ is different in one to other.

Serum TSHwas last taken Dec 23 and was <0.03 my/L (0.35-494)

Serum free T4 was 26.0 pool/L (9 - 19) “result borderline”

I was put on ferrous numerate 210mg 12 months ago because of anaemia and have requested them twice since when I’ve found my energy levels noticeably down.

I hope you can make sense of this information. Is there anywhere I can look to help me understand all this terminology? I would be grateful if you could suggest what test I should look for from a private laboratory. Very much appreciate your help and knowledge.

[Puddleperson]

Hi Patricia 19, I don't think I can add much that is helpful but I too have suffered with the overheating thing for most of the past 30 years. Annoying really doesn't cover it, it's completely debilitating! I've been woken up several times per night every night for most of that time. I too have had sudden overheating happen at the same time every evening. It's bizarre and I can't work out why. When I was younger the Dr's put it all down to menopause and gave me every sort of HRT ever invented, they never mentioned or suggested thyroid. It took me a further 17 years to find that out and start thyroid (self) medication. None of the HRT's made any difference and eventually the doctors, and I, gave up. After reading so much on here I decided, a couple of years ago, to try going gluten free. I didn't notice any difference other than a huge reduction of overheating episodes. For the first time in over 30 years I have been sleeping under a duvet! I do still overheat at night, but have worked out that it happens only when I move and change position. If I can then lie still long enough, I cool down enough to drop off again.

In addition to that I have, for the past couple of years, been working extra hard to get vitamin/mineral levels up to optimum, they're still not but are improved. I also now see a private endocrinologist who has prescribed NDT, T3 and finally T4 as well. The final addition of T4 seems to have made a massive difference. I feel better in all sorts of ways that I wasn't expecting. I'm probably as close as I'll ever get to euthyroid, even though I still get too hot at night it's not as intense and not as frequent as before. We're all so different that there's no guarantee your body would react the same way as mine but if you haven't tried gluten free yet it might just be worth giving it a whirl. Good luck.