Hi, I'm trying to find out more about how thyroid conditions can affect voice. My dad got a very hoarse voice when he became hypothyroid. I think he had Hashimotos. Now my voice is sounding similar. I'm trying to work out the cause - whether thyroid could be a factor.
Does anyone know: how bad does thyroid have to get before voice is affected? My TSH is still within normal range, but FT4 is low and I have raised thyroid antibodies.
My TSH is still within normal range, but FT4 is low and I have raised thyroid antibodies
Likely this is affecting your voice
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
is this how you did your test
Please add actual results
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
High thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease
What vitamin supplements are you taking
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
Post all about what time of day to test
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing
Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
support.medichecks.com/hc/e...
I did a fingerprick blood test in the morning, but not before 9 a.m. Will try that next time.
My TSH was 2.59 mU/L (normal), FT4 11.4 pmol/L (abnormal low), FT3 3.6 pmol/L (normal), TPO antibodies 137 IU/mL (abnormal - raised). 'Unusual pattern' apparently.
I seem to be only slightly outside normal range with FT4. 'Sub-clinical' perhaps? But I'm wondering if even being slightly hypothyroid can cause hoarse voice.
What’s range on Ft4 and Ft3
TSH is frequently unresponsive or sluggish with Hashimoto’s……levels hop around so much it gives up
Low vitamin levels also tend to lower TSH
Get vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels tested
Privately if necessary
And improve all to optimal levels by supplements
Normal ranges (as given by 'Monitor My Health' blood test)
FT3: 3.1 - 6.8 pmol/L
FT4: 12 - 22 pmol
I get other symptoms like feeling much colder than everyone else I know. I saw an endocrinologist several years ago about the raised TPO antibodies, but he said loads of people have them. He didn't seem to see it as much of a problem! as long as the TSH was normal.
So you will need Levo
Get vitamin levels tested next
Request GP do them or test privately
Optimal vitamin levels are
Vitamin D at least over 80nmol
Serum B12 at least over 500
Active B12 at least over 70
Ferritin at least over 70
Folate towards top of range
come back with new post once you get results
improve as necessary
Then retest thyroid and vitamin levels
Meanwhile get coeliac test done
Anecdotally, this for me was notable right after I was diagnosed. So at that point I was aware of my symptoms like being cold and joints aching and a bunch of other stuff. I hadnt connected the dots but was slowly crashing.
For me, it was partly going a little hoarse, but also an achy sore muscle feeling in my throat when I talked or sang too much. Now that I’m treated, it’s slowly gotten better .
I’d be curious how many other symptoms you have - and second SD’s suggestion in getting full thyroid and key vitamins tested soon.
If your body is going out of whack bc of your AI thyroid issue, waiting will likely just dig the whole deeper that you have to get out of.
Thanks, that's interesting to know. Glad to hear your voice is getting better.
I too feel cold and wear more layers of clothing than anyone else I know. I seem to have quite a few other symptoms. The trouble is, like tiredness for example, they could be caused by so many other things.
I'm going to do another blood test soon (and hope to find an understanding endocrinologist who is a specialist in these issues).
Come back here with your blood test results when you have them.
You can start a new post when you do.
I think Thyroid UK has a list of endos that are more likely to be understanding and knowledgeable.
But the 140,000 people on this forum from all over the world are an indication of how hard a good thyroid endo is to find!
This forum is a great place to get a first, second or third opinion along the way : ) It has saved a lot of people a lot of time on their journey to feeling better.
GP should be doing coeliac blood test at diagnosis of Hashimoto’s
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances.
Most common by far is gluten.
Dairy is second most common.
A trial of strictly gluten free diet is always worth doing
Only 5% of Hashimoto’s patients test positive for coeliac but a further 81% of Hashimoto’s patients who try gluten free diet find noticeable or significant improvement or find it’s essential
A strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential due to gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and may slowly lower TPO antibodies
While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first as per NICE Guidelines
nice.org.uk/guidance/ng20/c...
Or buy a test online, about £20
Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet
(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)
Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
drknews.com/changing-your-d...
Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and autoimmune disease
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/296...
The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported
nuclmed.gr/wp/wp-content/up...
In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned
restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...
Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.
Similarly few months later consider trying dairy free too.
Approx 50-60% find dairy free beneficial
With loads of vegan dairy alternatives these days it’s not as difficult as in the past
Post discussing gluten
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Recent research in China into food intolerances with Hashimoto’s
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
More interesting Chinese research on Hashimoto’s and leaky gut
nature.com/articles/s41598-...
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
acid reflux is common when hypo due to LOW stomach acid
This can affect throat and vocal cords
Thousands of posts on here about low stomach acid
healthunlocked.com/search/p...
Web links re low stomach acid and reflux and hypothyroidism
nutritionjersey.com/high-or...
stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
How to test your stomach acid levels
healthygut.com/articles/3-t...
branchbasics.com/blogs/food...
meraki-nutrition.co.uk/indi...
huffingtonpost.co.uk/laura-...
lispine.com/blog/10-telling...
Useful post and recipe book
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Thank you SlowDragon! that's all very helpful info.
hoarse voice and choking 
Voice change 
Lost voice :(
Hoarse
Three months later after full thyroid removel.haven't got my voice back
