hashimotos & high blood pressure

[RosWel]

hi, I was diagnosed as hypothyroid at 22. I was put on 100mg levothyroxine. It was then noticed that I had high blood pressure (172/106 24 hour average). This was looked into for 7 years until I was put on 15mcg T3 (5mcg 3X a day). My blood pressure dropped back to normal & stayed within the ideal range for a few years, until I gave birth to my son. Although this was temporary. It has then hasn't really been tested for the past 2 years until recently where it is slightly higher again (134/96).

I am back on the same 100mcg levo & 15mcg T3 as I was on prior to pregnancy. & my recent results are:

TSH 0.04 mU/L (normal 0.30 to 4.20)

T4 13.4 pmol/L (normal 9.0 to 19.0)

T3 5.4 pmol/L (normal 3 to 5.4)

my T3 is slightly higher than it was before pregnancy. So I don’t think I need to increase my T3. All other results are normal but my gut tells me it is thyroid related again.

Any thoughts or advice is greatly appreciated, as I really don’t want my GP to put me on blood pressure medication again.

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

hello, your FT4 looks like it could be low if it on the 12-22 range?

Could you edit your post to include the ranges on those tests (because they differ so much between labs) .

If it is that you could increase T4 by 25mcg but might want to drop T3 back to 10mcg as the higher T4 and resulting higher FT4 may cause you to convert more to FT3.

[RosWel in reply to Regenallotment]

hi, thank you! That all made sense, until I looked at the normal range which is: 9.0 to 19.0. So I’d have thought my T4 is pretty satisfactory?

[helvella in reply to RosWel]

Suggest you use the calculators to work out where you are within the ranges.

Thyroid Test Results Calculators

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[RosWel in reply to helvella]

Thank you! That’s very helpful!

[greygoose]

FT4: 13.4 pmol/l (Range 9 - 19) 44.00%

That's quite low. A lot of hypos need it higher than that even if they are taking T3 as well.

The need for T4 is a very individual thing. Some people, like me, don't need any at all. Others need it up around 75%. And the only way to find out where you need yours is by trial and error. Experiment. After all, high blood pressure can be a hypo symptom - it was with me.

[RosWel in reply to greygoose]

Thank you! That’s very helpful! Maybe I will try upping my T4 & reducing my T3 slightly. The high blood pressure was certainly a symptom previously. & although it’s not as high this time, I still feel it’s a sign I need to tweak my thyroid meds slightly

[silverbelle51]

Same thing happened to me. It is right in the Mayo Clinic literature. Sadly my doctor never mentioned and when a year later showed up with low grade hypertension he labeled as essential hypertension instead of what it was "drug induced hypertension" . I essentially figured out after feeling darn sick for 4 3/4 years I didn't have hypothyroid and had never ever had any symptoms of hypothyroid . I read extensively and carefully weaned myself off all the drugs ( I did tell him ) and my BP went down , but I continue to use Dandelion Root daily to support my injured system and I have been left with some joint issues related to Levothyroxine which he never acknowledged were a problem in the first place with Levothyroxine . I mentioned the Mayo Clinic site only because I didn't want to just take my word for it . Wish you well!

[RosWel in reply to silverbelle51]

I am sorry you went through this! I hope you are feeling well now. X

[silverbelle51]

I am better, but going through it all "blind" sort to speak meaning a physician who was not forth coming was difficult . I found honesty and truth including where to research on a another site which I can't find and now this one where people seem to be honest and try to help by sharing their experiences and what they have learned . Loosing quality health needlessly is alarming since I long trusted healthcare practitioners. Thank You so much for asking !