Virus And Thyroxine

[smurfchops]

I have had a virus for three weeks now, my immune system is very low. So I went to the doctor and as my previous blood cell count was low and I have lots of symptoms of an underactive thyroid, she put me on 25 mcg of levothyroxime. I have been taking it since last Thursday. I wondered how long it takes before it starts working. Today i have severe tiredness, I just cant keep my eyes open, still a sore throat, headache and a bit of a cough, shivery and then hot. Could the thyroxine in any way be causing this extreme tiredness? I have never felt like this before, just shattered. I know thyroxine is meant to have the opposite effect but I just wondered. Thanks all. And how long is it safe to take one or two paracetamol a day?

[Sqad]

I am extremely confused..........did she put you on laevothyroxine without a blood test?
25mcgms is a minute dose.......can't see that this will do anything.

The thyroxine is in no way responsible for the onset of your symptoms today.

Sorry, I am not with your case at all.

[smurfchops]

I have been having blood tests for quite a while and have been borderline underactive for a frw years. I catch lots of viruses. Losing hair, cold hands and feet etc. So i went to see him to show him how ill I get when I get a virus and he said he would put me on a low dose of thyroxine to see how I get on. Does it make more sense now sqad?

[shaneystar2]

Levothyroxine takes a while to kick in .
You won't feel any different in just a week and 25mcg is a really low dose .
You'll have to wait and see what the next lot of blood tests show as to your levels .
Some people do actually feel worse until they get to the correct dosage .

[Fusion5]

Suffering thyroid problems makes viruses longer to shift. To be honest unless you know your recent blood test results, 25mcg may not be enough dosage.

Smufy I have had the same virus for 3 weeks I think it's doing the rounds.

[Sqad]

A bit smurfy, but not a lot.

[smurfchops]

I feel a bit better today, I started taking Zinc tablets again just to try and get rid of this virus. I have been taking Zinc because of my low immunity. Should I stop taking them, will it affect my next thyroid blood test ?

[shaneystar2]

This is from a website .
Research has shown that both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism result in zinc deficiency. It also plays a role in the functioning of the immune system.Zinc is needed to convert T4 into T3, so this mineral is a must.

I really don't know if this helpful but zinc is present in lots of foods. So if you eat a balanced diet it shouldn't have much effect on your thyroid function . I doubt it will affect your blood test .
I have an underactive thyroid and I'm afraid it's a long drawn out process before they get you on to the correct level .I know it's not nice to suffer from but you have to be patient ,go for the regular blood tests and see what happens . I have to take 200 mcg per day atm and it's taken ages to get to this" sort of " correct dose .Even now it fluctuates and they bump me up and down by 25 mgc depending on the results .

[smurfchops]

Thanks shaney, I know I am on a low dose, but I have had 'symptoms' for a few years, my blood test always came up as 'borderline', and I have been taking Kelp and Zinc for a while now, although I do eat healthily. The Zinc definitely seemed to help with the viruses, although I managed to get the wful never-ending one I have now, so thought if Dr could see how ill I was, he would give me something, so he just started me on a very low dose of Levothyroxine (probably just to keep me quiet!). However as I said I started taking the Zinc again a couple of days ago (not the Kelp) as I was getting desperate (obviously Dr wouldn't give me anything for the virus, but I felt so bad) and I am getting better now. I just wondered if i should keep taking the zinc, or see of just the thyroxine on its own could help with my immune system/viruses. I don't want another virus!! I used to get them almost every time someone sneezed or coughed ... not sure whether to keep taking the Zinc or not. I feel probably the low dose won't be enough for my immune system.

[shaneystar2]

If the zinc makes you feel better I would carry on taking it .
It's no fun feeling run down .I can't see it having any adverse affect on your next blood test .The important thing is,is that he's put you on the thyroxine .
They are reluctant to give it borderliners as it can make them hyper but with 25 mcg you're hardly going to be bouncing off the walls :)
I hope you soon feel better .