Feeling unwell with underactive thyroid

[Angelica122345]

Keep feeling unwell I have underactive thyroid and my partner is getting fed up with me

Have you spoken to a doctor about thyroid hormone replacement therapy? If not, YABU.

Yes I’m taking tablets but my levels go up and down

Managing an underactive thyroid can be tricky. How long have you been on the medication? Have you had lots of changes/stress in your life?

I've been diagnosed about 7 years and have had some periods of stability but just as many periods of it being all over the place and needing regular blood tests and tweaks - always connected with stress. It's really shit.
I know some people take different medication from the standard stuff you get from the doctors, and some have very strong feelings about certain brands of medication so maybe this is something to look into

I'm with you. I had an overactive thyroid and now it's underactive. I've gone from having constant diarrhoea and the shakes to being constantly exhausted, constipated and piling on weight. It's shit.

I take levithyroxine .is there different medications ?

I hear you, my thyroxine levels are v up and down atm and it’s definitely been stress related for me re: omicron, was doing so well before this fresh hell!!

(Also levothyroxine here - 100 mg)

I feel better now i don’t take medication (discussed with consultant) but it’s still on the low side but it’s not as low as it was, it’s really important to get you thyroid checked regularly

I never not feel tired, often short of breath and just always feel low in energy that impacts my mood

For some this isn’t the case and with medication it balances everything out. I’m also peri menopausal so much of the symptoms cross over

I found different males of medication would impact me differently.

Here too, I take 200mg thyroxine a day but still feel like crap most of the time

Has anyone changed their diet or done something to help ? Tried going back to the gym but I’m exhausted the next day

I take Levothyroxine too.

My main change was taking it a nighttime. That helped me massively.

Secondly eating little and often through the day. And I hate to say it, it cutting back on alcohol. But it really helps, I feel utterly awful on an hangover & I need stable bloody sugar.
In terms of exercise, it helps a lot for me, but I do little and often and do not push it. Build up slowly.

Lastly, worth getting bloods taken regularly.

Some people find going gluten free helpful. A study found women with Hashimotos had improved levels of Tpo antibodies on a gluten free diet

Here is the study:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30060266/

Here is some info I just came across

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hypothyroid/hypothyroid-treatment-options/?fbclid=IwAR0GzZguqKPoX9Y7G3e-d4ElfVFU7kLQYXL648BJYNxQNrZXRC2npowBDgc

Thank you so much for your help everyone xx

Do you take any vitamins?

I’m not taking any vitamins at the moment / can u recommend some good ones x

Try and get your vitamin b12, iron and vitamin D towards the top of the recommended ranges. This seems to help your body convert the lelevothxronimote effectively. I have b12 injections when mine dips below the bottom range. Gives me much more energy.

I have had an underactive Thyroid for 20+ years. It took ages to settle down, you should he having your levels checked regularly, as you might not just be underactive .
I found that my medication was most effective if taken am then wait 1 hour before eating or drinking anything. See if your GP will refer you to an endicrinologist if your levels keep fluctulating.
As a pp said try also taking supplements, if you are perimenopausal, seriously consider HRT, as the menopause mucked up my levels.

Sorry to hear you’re unwell with UAT. I was diagnosed nearly two years ago and have really struggled with my health. I spent the first 4 months of 2021 in bed, I was so ill. It can take time to get your levels right with Levothyroxine. Definitely see your GP and ask for a review and blood tests. Also check your Vit D levels, folic, iron and B12. Your GP should do this. I’m now on Levo (T4) and Liothyronine (T3). I’m gradually improving but have very bad days, fatigue and have put on a lot of weight.

This forum is super helpful, some very knowledgeable people on there, have a read…there’s so much to learn about the thyroid/ healthunlocked.com/thyroiduk

I take vitamin d and evening primrose oil. Also HRT now, I was exhausted all the time before that. How old are you?

@Angelica122345

Has anyone changed their diet or done something to help ? Tried going back to the gym but I’m exhausted the next day

Yes, give up gluten this helped me 100%! I can't remember the exact science but there is something in gluten that if you are even slightly sensitive to it will cause your immune system to attack your thyroid. Also another thing that has been very helpful to me is keeping my blood sugar stable. You can get a testing device from Amazon and you can find out which foods cause your blood sugar to spike. Interestingly anything with wheat in causes my blood sugar to go high.

I’ve had it since I was 21 and now 47. I now manage my energy levels and weight really well but it took about ten years to find the formula. Here is what I do:

Make sure I keep my TSH levels between 1 and 2. Anything out of this range abd i can start to feel rough again. I do this by having levo tablets of both 100 snd 25 available and getting my levels tested every few months and then adjusting meds between 150mcg and 150mcg a day. Don’t let doctors tell you anything outside this range is ‘nornal’. I feel awful with a tsh above 3.

Do weights at the gym not cardio. Weights will help your metabolism.

Eat low carb when you can. Not every day if it’s too difficult or if you’re going out etc but most days.

Fasting like rhe 16:8 can also work.

Stay on top of vitamins. I can always feel it when I come off then for a few weeks. Take a multi vit, additional D3, omega 3 and magnesium as the latter helps me with my mood.

Thank you, for all your lovely comments . I no longer feel I am alone with this xx