Brain function

[Wilfred123]

Hello All. I'm hypothyroid and am on Levothyroxine. I've never fully understood all the different levels and conversions of t3 t4 tsh etc and probably never will despite trying to follow discussions on here!My question is, I've recently moved house on my own and struggled and was quite stressed out. I gradually forgot to keep taking my levothyroxine and guess that I've now not taken it for nearly a month nor magnesium or vit D which I usually take alongside my levo. I've found that my brain function deteriorates so badly I get to the point that I don't even get a prompt from my brain that I've missed taking it, it simply doesn't come up. I feel quite debilitated and a bit frightened by how my brain feels like it just doesn't work properly and my mood drops considerably. I feel like I'm in a straight jacket unable to complete tasks and each day feels like ground hog day on repeat of nothing achieved despite maximum effort.

I've finally resurfaced after being in the new house a month, struggling so badly trying to get organised but not able to achieve anything before its dark and bedtime again. Does this sound like it's solely caused by being unmedicated?

Thankyou.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your previous post 2 years ago

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Your GP was going to do FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

Did that happen

What were results

Get yourself a weekly pill dispenser for levothyroxine to keep next to your bed

Take levothyroxine everyday…..retest after 6-8 weeks on constant unchanging dose and brand of levothyroxine

Test full thyroid and vitamin levels

Exactly what vitamin supplements are you normally taking

I've now not taken it for nearly a month nor magnesium or vit D which I usually take alongside my levo

Levothyroxine must be taken on its own, on empty stomach, and no supplements within 2 hours

Vitamin D tablets and magnesium should be at least 4 hours away from Levo

Are you taking any B12 or Vitamin B complex

[Wilfred123 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hello SD, just posted my results from 2 years ago and last summer for reference below. Will book in for blood drawers in 7 weeks and report back. Much appreciated.

[Obsdian]

I have all kinds of phone alarms that go off all day telling me what to take. That helps me a lot.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Obsdian]

I agree that is a very helpful approach for many of us.

I take/apply my medicines and supplements in four separate "sessions". And, while I can actual feel one if I miss it, that can take a few hours to be noticeable. And it is then past the point at which I can avoid the sensations. So an alarm does quite well at reminding me before I reach that point.

It isn't that I can't remember, or even that I often don't remember, but it catches the odd occasion where I might have done so. Plus, it maintains a record of things taken.

[Wilfred123 in reply to helvella]

Yes that seems to be the way forward. I am setting up a distinctive alarm tone for tablets now to ensure they are taken and refilling my weekly pill box. Thankyou.

[Obsdian in reply to Wilfred123]

I don't know about your phone, but mine let's me write a comment for the alarms so I write what to take there.

[Wilfred123 in reply to Obsdian]

Brilliant, thankyou.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Obsdian]

Some people use devices like Alexa to remind them.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

I'm not a user of Alexa, but what happens if you are not in the house at the time? Does it, can it, come through on a watch or phone or whatever personal device you have?

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to helvella]

Tbh I'm a Luddite but my MIL uses it as shes a type 2 diabetic on insulin, however she's also housebound so its not an issue for her as she's always in 😁

[helvella Administrator in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

In which case, as you say, no issue.

[Wilfred123 in reply to helvella]

I've found an app on my android phone that speaks the alarm title you put on it when it goes off! Game changer, called alarm clock beyond!

[pennyannie]

Hey there again Wilfred :

In short - yes :

You promised us results and ranges last time around -

SDragon has given you the link to your first post on the forum - maybe try and reread your replies - as I can't really add more until you give us more information -

the challenge of moving and all that it brings with it - has likely exhausted you even further -

Your thyroid hormones are likely very low, causing a further decline in your cognitive functions -

please go and register and talk with your new doctor and get back on track :

[Wilfred123 in reply to pennyannie]

Hello ! Sorry, my results:

2 years ago were: Vit D - 78.0 nmol, TSH 5.01, Plasma Parathyroid 2.97pmol (range 1.95 to 8.49).

July 2023 were TSH 0.41 mU/l (range 0.35 to 5.5), Free T3 4.6pmol (range 3.5 to 6.5), Free T4 16.2pmol (range 10.5 to 21.0).

I've not had any tests this year as I felt really settled for the first time in a while. Then the move happened and went crazy from mid summer to just recently when I inadvertantly weaned myself off taking any and all meds. I will NOT do this again, but as in my first message this morning just wanted to know if what I've been experiencing i.e. quiet severe lack of brain function is likely due to my thyroid being unmedicated. Thankyou for your responses so far. I will as advised by SlowDragon get back on track and book in for a full thyroid blood screen with my GP in 7 or so weeks to see that everything is where it should be and that I feel less impaired and able to function more reliably! Scary stuff feeling like this.

[pennyannie in reply to Wilfred123]

Ditto - as I have experienced similar -

though while still taking T4 thyroid hormone replacement -

My NHS surgery refused to run the necessary blood tests for me -

and I paid for a T3 and T4 blood tests to be run together -

and found my T3 on the floor with my T4 o/range - like being stuck sky high on a seesaw -

I doubt you'll be on a seesaw - as both your T3 and T4 will likely be too low to function on :

Most important to also get your ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D run as no thyroid hormone replacement works well until these core strength vitamins and minerals are at optimal levels -

Just being in a NHS range - anywhere, somewhere does not equate with good health :

As for these old results - once on thyroid hormone replacement we generally feel best with a T4 up in the top quadrant of the range at around 80% with the T3 tracking just behind at around 70% through its range.

Your T4 was at just 54% with your T3 at just 35% - so under medicated in July 2023:

Doctors are advised - once on thyroid hormone replacement that the TSH should be maintained under 2 - as hypothyroid symptoms start creeping in over a TSH of 2 -

and we generally feel best towards the bottom of the range :

I now aim to maintain my ferritin at around 100 - folate around 20 - active B12 at 125 ( serum B12 - 500 ++ ) and vitamin D at around 125.

[Wilfred123 in reply to pennyannie]

Thankyou pennyannie. Can I ask how you supplement your b12 ( you aim for 125?), folate and ferritin please. Many thanks.

[pennyannie in reply to Wilfred123]

I now just need maintenance doses - and once we know your levels you will be advised exactly what best suits you -

Initially - I couldn't tolerate the NHS iron tablets so ended up buying my own -

Solgar Gentle Iron - but with hindsight any Iron Bisglycinate supplement will be kinder on your stomach - and my level of ferritin very low so was taking a full dose a day + Spatone liquid sachets x 4 and eating liver twice a week - now I manage to maintain through my eating of iron rich foods :

I purchased separate B12 and methyfolate supplements - and now just take Ingennus Super B vitamin complex -

and for vitamin D I take Doctors Best capsules with the vitamin D suspended in just extra virgin olive oil + its co-factor Healthy Origins K2 - MK7 - which diverts the vitamin D towards teeth and bones rather than arteries and heart.

There are varying strengths of all vitamins and minerals so we need your levels before recommending the dose level to build you back up again.

[Wilfred123 in reply to pennyannie]

That's incredible, I just order standard ones from BetterVits. Love the sound of your vit d and how it works.

[pennyannie in reply to Wilfred123]

Well - other than cutting me open - who knows - ??

but I have never had such long strong finger nails in all my 70 + years -

I garden, cook and clean for myself and just accepted that I was destined to have sad, short, splitting nails - who knew !!

Also haven't needed any fillings these past 6 / 8 years and have most of my own teeth.

[Obsdian in reply to Wilfred123]

I didn't answer that question fully so adding more.

I have other conditions as well but, If find for me my level of brain fog is directly linked to my level of fatigue. I can't tell if it's thyroid or multiple things causing it but definitely linked with my fatigue.

[sparkly]

Please get back on thyroid medication and vit d. Place then on show so when you wake they are on your bedside. Also are you on hrt and feel you're on the right dose? Are you on testosterone too? Testosterone banished my brain fog but sadly didn't help with memory. The two are different for me but I know some ladies get there brain back when they start testosterone. It was life changing for me but sadly didn't help my memory issues.I understand completely how you feel. Thyroid and menopause can really affect the brain. Make sure you are optimised for both.

[Wilfred123 in reply to sparkly]

Hi Sparkly. I've been on hrt for about 4 years after goung trough early menopause. I tried testosterone and have run out, it's nearly £250 to access testosterone at my private clinic for an annual consultation before purchasing the cream at a further £100! Guess I'll have to spend it now. I can feel how pathetic I sound but I also stopped my hrt over last few months as my new pharmacy kept not giving me my entire script if one item was missing so you end up running all over town to every pharmacy trying to get it all and the right brands, then they make you cone back because they're busy with flu jabs etc! So I'm hopeful picking them all up tmr and will set up alarms etc throughout the day. Menopause has exacerbated all my hypothyroid symptoms as it basically double whammys them. Gives me comfort to hear you saying the same. Many thanks.