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Chronic headaches with hyperthyroidism?

Posted , 10 users are following.

donna10297
donna10297

does anyone get chronic headaches with hyperthyroidism, iv been on 50mg of levothyroxine since January and not feeling much difference yet, the fatigue and aching joints is terrible and chronic headaches also, does anyone else feel the same? Also does anyone suffer heartburn sometimes as well? Thanks in advance

1 like, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • gill43753
    gill43753 donna10297

    Posted

    Hi Donna,

    Do you mean HYPERthyroidism? I would think you are taking the levothyroxine for HYPOthyroidism (underactive thyroid).Anyway,yes I suffer with awful headaches,which have become worse with the increase of my levo.Try googling 'Unacceptable side effects of levothyroxine'.It will lead you to the discussion on patient.info,which I've found very helpful,even knowing that you're not the only one suffering with a particular symptom helps.Also if you use Facebook,search thyroid problems,which gives you a patient to patient support group.Good luck.

  • zoe110
    zoe110 donna10297

    Posted

    Hi Donna

    I share what Gill said, the replacement thyroxine being fr under active thyroid. I had radio iodine treatment last April and have been given increasing dose of levothyroxine (now 150 mg) and feel terrible. Aching joints, daily headache, foggy head, blocked nose as if I have sinusitis/hey fever, which I've eve had, gritty sore eyes but also now getting hot sweats, red palms and sudden irritability (like I had when I was over active thyroid). It is really helpful to see what others experience - is there anything that can be done about it? My last consultation with the consultant seemed to suggest it was 'all in my head' but eading these posts it seems that many of us are suffering and in the same way ... any suggetions reatly received. Many thanks

     

    • gill43753
      gill43753 zoe110

      Posted

      Hi Zoe

      Completely agree with your description of symptoms.I have sinus headaches so much,continual aches and pains,and the hot sweats,especially at night.These have definitely got worse with the increase of Levo.Unfortunately these symptoms are so much like the menopause,its easy for doctors to blame them on that.I've had them for years,but just happen to be the right age now for the menopause,being 50.I still feel I'm suffering with Levothyroxine side effects.I hope the new endocrine specialist I'm now referred to in Oxford will be more helpful.Unfortunately a while to wait,appointment in June!

    • gary19610
      gary19610 zoe110

      Posted

      I had all your simtams and it was my levo so drop it down to 50mg all simtams went away.I was on 75mg know on 85mg
  • zoe110
    zoe110 donna10297

    Posted

    Hi Gill/Donna

    Thanks for your reply, it really helps. Can I ask how you got referred to a different endocrinologist? The one I see seems to be loosing patience with me. 

    Zoe

    • gill43753
      gill43753 zoe110

      Posted

      Hi Zoe,I have very complicated medical problems.My GP is great and very understanding,but knows when more expertise is needed.I'm under an endocrine specialist,having had a pituitary tumour,so have had hypopituitarism since 1997,but now also have hypothyroidism,which I'm not coping with well on Levothyroxine.Because of the pituitary,I'm on a load of medication,which doesn't help as far as interactions are concerned.I'm also on Warfarin for life.SO,having discussed everything with my GP,he agreed,in fact suggested,I see a different specialist for a second opinion.Oxford is where they really specialise in endocrine issues.I also had my pituitary surgery there in 1997.It wouldn't hurt to ask your GP if you can see another specialist for a second opinion.I told my GP that I'd decided to learn and understand more about the thyroid,so I bought a book,and joined forums online,so that I could tell him what other people were saying about thyroid medications,tests,and side effects.I'd never done any of that before,but when I felt my increased Levo was causing more problems,I felt I needed to take more control,and to do that,I needed to understand more.I'm on 250 micrograms of levo.,and still not feeling better.Sorry to go on.Hope I've helped in some way.Keep in touch.Gill
  • zoe110
    zoe110 donna10297

    Posted

    Gill thank you that has really helped and I wish you all the best when you see the consultant in Oxford. Let us know how you get on and I'm going to start reading some more and insist I get to see the consultant again. It is very hard to remain confident and assertive in the face of Drs dismissing you. To make matters worse that I'm a psychologist and work within mental health ... I have certainly questioned my sanity over the last 4-years I've been hyper and now hypo...so reading all the things that others write really is helping and restoring my sense of myself. All the best Zoe  
    • gill43753
      gill43753 zoe110

      Posted

      That's great,Zoe.

      I've had so many years of feeling a nuisance seeing doctors,but in truth I'm very complicated,and have had rare conditions.I can't help that.Gill

  • MikeD2
    MikeD2 donna10297

    Posted

    What works so well for my symptoms is giving up, or severely limiting, wheat and processed foods. I am not allergic to wheat (celiac) because I can tolerate a limited amount of wholemeal bread, but if I avoid white flour products completely my symptoms almost disappear after 3-days. Try it for 3-weeks as our complete digestive system is regrown every 3-weeks.

    If your hypo thyroid condition is autoimmune then it could be a different problem as they all seem to be associated. I suffer from dryness (Sjorgrens syndrome) which is often a cockatiel with thyroid problems. My sinus dry up and give me a fuzzy head in the morning and I awake with a headache. Reumatoid arthritis is another autoimmune  condition (aches and pains).

  • carmel83758
    carmel83758 donna10297

    Posted

    I was only taking a tiny dose of thyroxide and got bad side effects. Then I tried the natural alternative which is made of pig or ox thyroid, they gave side effects too, depending on which one I took. The thing that helps me is iodine supplements so long as it comes from seaweed such as kelp.

    Just two a day helps me a lot and replaces thyroxide etc. I do get thirsty and a blocked nose but I much prefer that, the rest was far worse.

  • kimberly40084
    kimberly40084 donna10297

    Posted

    Hi I have a thryoid nodule for almost 3 years now but my doctor never gave me anything! I was 17 yrs old when I found out I had it I'm 19 now almost 20 and I just started having these symptoms you all have been having and they won't give me health insurance and that frustrates me!

  • wendy38395
    wendy38395 donna10297

    Posted

    I'm so glad to find out I'm not crazy.  I am hyperthyroid on treatment for hypothyroidism, too, and no longer have an irregular heartbeat.  I sleep fine - more than I should probably, I have a constant headache, muscle cramping, and general fatigue.  I no longer have heartburn since I went off gluten - most grains in fact, but I do occasionally eat white rice cakes or just cooked rice or gluten free oatmeal.  I read somewhere that calcium is a good thing to try for the cramping.  I already take 500 mg magnesium daily along with B vitamins and D3.  

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