I’m really struggling to get on top of the pain in my neck, that runs up past my ear & causes headache/migraine on the same side.
I’ve had migraines before but this has become an everyday occurrence with the difference being the neck/side of face pain & starting in the night, making my mornings very difficult. Paracetamol & ibuprofen sometimes help to a degree & my migraine tablet helps but it’s not sustainable. I’m also slightly concerned at taking regular pain relief at the time of day when I take levothyroxine?
ENT consultant has pushed for another US scan but the date keeps getting moved. My GP appeared uninterested & only focused on taking levothyroxine. ‘Just take over the counter pain-relief’….
I have Hashimoto’s & hypothyroidism & have had right hemi & just completing first 6week dose of levothyroxine.
Am I missing anything here, in terms of pain relief or other solutions?
Thank you so much for this opportunity 🙏
Written by
Oatsforlife
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Thank you for your help - I’m on 50mg Hillcross accord. The regular headache/migraine has been for last 2weeks of the 6weeks I’ve taken them but the neck/ear pain has been much longer & getting worse.
I meant to ask if you think taking an orodispersable migraine tablet would be less of an absorption risk - struggling with the hour wait & being hungry increases the risk of the migraine 🙈
No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.
Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away
(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
Thanks - I think I’ll try Levo at night as I can’t cope with migraines as well as neck pain. I haven’t had regular migraine like this for years. I also have mouth sores & an incredibly itchy scalp.
I’m ok with taking supplements & BP tablets later in the day normally.
I was hoping orodispersable tablets (dissolve on tongue) might be like a spray but they only give 6 at a time! So Levo at night gives me flexibility for pain relief during the early hours too, thank you very much.
If my Medicheck results don’t support a dose increase then I’m probably going to have to go private, I can’t see my GP supporting it - without advice from endocrinology anyway - and that’ll take time.
Hi, Just wanted to say that I switched to taking Levo at night & gradually the intensity of my migraine reduced until I’m only using OTC pain relief, which I need for my neck anyway.
When I contacted my GP to ask for my dose to be reviewed as my T4 is low, she asked for my private blood test results and hasn’t responded. They didn’t respond to me politely challenging being prescribed propranolol either. I’ve given up with my GP practice for now.
My ENT consultant says the result of my latest neck scan shows continued evidence for the pain I’m in & referred me directly to Endocrinology - appointment within 2 weeks. I was ‘lucky’ to have consultant care for my sinus problem and he’s got involved with my thyroid too. I hope Endocrinology will help….
Thank you for your advice - I definitely think taking Levo at night has made a difference for me - even if it just allowed me to get pain relief from other things earlier in the day, it’s helped 🙏
Oh my goodness, I feel gutted. I phoned the GP about my migraines as I ran out of Zolmitriptan and they’re starting me on propranolol as a preventer. In his words, migraine, neck/ear pain and mouth/tongue sores are nothing to do with hypothyroidism. I had to tell him about my Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and thyroid inferno in the remaining thyroid - he couldn’t help with that, he’s leaving it to ENT. So it sounds like I have to go private to get someone to understand?
Wow, so my doctor insults me by saying my neck pain is nothing to do with my thyroid, I don’t need more Levo as my hypothyroidism is mild and well medicated, my migraine isn’t connected & then gives me tablets that could reduce absorption…..
I hope my Medicheck test works & moves me forward as I don’t know what else to do.
Adults usually start with a dose between 50 micrograms and 100 micrograms taken once a day. This may be increased gradually over a few weeks to between 100 micrograms and 200 micrograms taken once a day.
Some people need a bit less than guidelines, some a bit more
If symptoms of hypothyroidism persist despite normalisation of TSH, the dose of levothyroxine can be titrated further to place the TSH in the lower part of the reference range or even slightly below (i.e., TSH: 0.1–2.0 mU/L), but avoiding TSH < 0.1 mU/L. Use of alternate day dosing of different levothyroxine strengths may be needed to achieve this (e.g., 100 mcg for 4 days; 125 mcg for 3 days weekly).
Thank you. As far as my practice is concerned, I have mild hypothyroidism, my first TSH result after treatment is normal so I’m well managed now! I think I’ll have to go private. The GP who called me is the senior partner, I can’t go any higher!
I’ll look at all that information, thank you. There’s lots of information about migraines & tongue sores being linked to UA, isn’t there? Would you mind commenting on my Medichecks (if it works)?
Yes - I can normally cope with one thing but this is just a downward spiral. Sleep deprivation, not being able to eat often & stress makes migraines worse. I’m getting 2 cold flannels - one for head, one for neck! Hope you’re ok x
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Muscle spasms in neck
Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Goitre with subacute thyroiditis ?
update on subacute thyroiditis
