Hi, I am newly diagnosed Hypo, G.P said my level is 11(not sure exactly what that means?).

[caroline35]

Been reading a lot on here, there is so much information! Started Levo just yesterday and was just wondering how long before I may start to feel an improvement. Any information and advice would be very welcome! Car.xx

[anjibebe]

Hi, to be honest I've no idea what my levels are and am back at GP's later this week. I started feeling an improvement within about 2 weeks however my symptoms can be different from one day to next. I did alternate between 50 and 100mcg

g as 100 was making me dizzy initially. The last couple of weeks tho I've stuck with 100 n feel ok.

[caroline35 in reply to anjibebe]

Hi glad you are feeling a bit better. Four weeks on levo now and do feel slightly better, although, as you say, you can be up and down.

[Jackie]

Hi First ask the receptionist for a print out of results + ranges, routine. Most blood tests are different. ideally tests for TSH, T4 and Free T3. I think this is TSH ( I expect so) then high. It takes a long while, often a year ,to be on the correct dose to feel OK. How you feel is as important as blood results. If T4 fine and Ft3 low, and you still feel ill, then you probably need some t3 on a script in addition to the T4 ( Levo).

Best wishes,

Jackie

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[caroline35 in reply to Jackie]

Thank you so much for your reply, sorry I have taken so long but only managed to pick up my results today. I think I understand the TSH level but the rest is a bit of a mystery. I would be grateful for an opinion. (results prior to commencing 50mcg levothyroxine):

TSH 11 mu/L (0.27 - 4.2 ) "High"

"Serum free T4 level" 11.0 pmol/L (12 -22) "Low"

"Total white cell count" 11.3 10*9/L (4 - 11) "High"

"Haematocrit" 0.368 1/1 (0.37 - 0.47) "Low"

"Mean platelet volume" 10.6 fl (6.5 - 10.5) "High"

"B12/folate level"

"Serum vitamin B12" 297 pg/ml (191 - 663)

"Serum folate" 8.4 ng/ml (4.6 - 18.7)

Not sure if all of these are of relevance but thought I would include them.

Four weeks after commencing Levo I feel slightly better but seem to be up and down..I know it's very early days and have to be patient. Have to return for follow up bloods in August.

Hope I am not a hopeless cause lol and look forward to hearing from you.

Best Wishes

Caroline

[Jackie in reply to caroline35]

Hi Caroline, First of all you are on a starting dose, you will need to go higher gradually.Ideally t4 should go to top third of range. Ft 3 needs testing and often you need T3 too, FT3 normally needs to be top of range, helps a lot with the symptoms but also lowers the TSH more than T4 on its own. Yours if very high. If T4 goes too high on more treatment and FT3 stays low it generally means that the T4 is not converting enough T4 to FT3, so on a script too. This is very common, only the 3 blood tests show it. You should feel terrible twith such a high TSH, but good as plenty to work with ie harder if very low and T4 and FT3 very low.White count is slightly high, infection, but at that result negligable.B12 is in range but most people with thyroid disease need it higher in range, have a retest in some months, then treatment if it does not improve, ponitious amnenia ( sorry , spelling, dyslexic) You also need Iron/ferritin and vit D ( hormonal) and if low, corrected calcium before treatment, D makes it rise and essential to keep it in range.Also Diabetes, hormonal and autoimmune ( type 2). all these have similar symptoms to thyroid disease.Usually when you start treatment , the dose helps then you go back wards , then after tests dose increased , also usually if proved T3 included. retest after 6 weeks etc until better and bloods good. Try not to worry , you are on the right track. I think another test in 6 weeks for TSH, T4 and Free T3 would be good, on line? if Gp unwilling.

best wishes,

Jackie

[shaws Administrator]

As Jackie says, get a print out ofblood test results plus ranges. Keep a copy for your own records and can post results here if you have a query. The GP should aim to get your TSH below 1 but some need it lower and some GP's keep you within the reference range.

If you haven't already done so, get a blood test for Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as the first two are usually deficient in hypo. Again some GP's say 'you are in range with these' but we do need to have an optimum level and may need to supplement which would be B12 methylcobalamin (sublingual if you wish) and Vit D3 (not 2).

[caroline35 in reply to shaws]

Thank you for your reply, please see my post above.

Best Wishes

Caroline