I'm feeling terrible and want to know how long it takes meds to kick in. Have been hypo do 2 yrs but never needed to change medication.

[Nat_kiwipom]

Had a very stressful time before Christmas and I think it's had an impact on how I feel. I am tearful, weak, shaky, think I'm dying, can't live with this feeling. Night times are getting worse too. My TSH has come back at 5.5 but T3 and T4 are normal. Does anyone else feel like this? What else can I do for myself? I'm only taking 50/ 75 every other day if levothyroxine. Does anyone else feel like me.... I thought I had other problems not just hypo, cancer maybe.... Please help/ advise. Most thankful....

[HarryE]

Hi Nat, you sound like you aren't on enough meds to me. TSH is way too high.

P.s. might be best to stick to one question so all your answers end up together

welcome x

[Nat_kiwipom in reply to HarryE]

Thank you. May be I will only ask one question. I take 50mg every day but also take an extra 25 alternate days. Doc wants to up meds slowly. Never had a problem whilst taking just 50 for the last two years.... Just wish it would go away. Never felt so bad. I really want to help myself but don't know where to start,

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Nat_kiwipom]

What is doc's reasoning for raising meds so slowly that your tsh is over/at the top of the normal range?

[Nat_kiwipom in reply to puncturedbicycle]

He just said he wants to do it slowly to get it right.

[HarryE in reply to Nat_kiwipom]

Well it's not right if you feel so ill. Can you go back and see him?

[Nat_kiwipom in reply to HarryE]

Maybe I should have said I've only just started taking the extra, so it's not had chance to kick in.... But how long does it take? I understand everyone is different, but on average?

[HarryE in reply to Nat_kiwipom]

Thyroxine takes some time to build up in your system, but I would have though you would start to feel a little better within a few days. But I've never taken it, so hopefully someone else will know. But you will get better xx

[Nat_kiwipom in reply to HarryE]

I hope someone can help, but thank you for the reassurance.

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Nat_kiwipom]

I don't see why he doesn't do it by raising your dose, doing a test in six weeks, then raising again if still undertreated, test in six weeks, lather rinse repeat. When you're in the high end of the ranges for t3 and t4 and you feel better, then he can leave it where it is. It shouldn't be done too fast, but if you're ill he needs to be on the ball and get it right.

[Nat_kiwipom in reply to puncturedbicycle]

So 2yrs ago I started with 50mg a day, now doc has recommended I take 50mg one day and 75mg the following to up it slowly. I am due for blood tests in 6 weeks to evaluate... Hope it has some effect as I don't want to feel like this for long. When first diagnosed my levels were very out. My tsh went up to somewhere in the 80's when I started medication instead of coming down but has been steady until now. I couldn't complain.... Until now.

[HarryE in reply to Nat_kiwipom]

About the question - I just meant that you seem to have posted your query twice, and I didn't want you to lose track of any answers you might get. Perhaps go and delete the other one?

[Nat_kiwipom in reply to HarryE]

I'm new to this and didn't know where to start. I will go and do that. Thank you

[puncturedbicycle]

As HarryE says your tsh is far too high. When you say your t3 and t4 are 'normal' do you mean they're in range? They should be high in the range. Can you post your results here with ranges? It does sound like your dose may be too low.

Have you had the other tests - ferritin, folate, iron, d and b12 - ?

When I was undermedicated I felt like I was dying, and I'm not melodramatic or always handwringing about health. It isn't only you.

[Nat_kiwipom in reply to puncturedbicycle]

Apparently they are in the normal range but I don't have exact figures. Never had the others tested except iron. Iron level ok but stores are low. What do you recommend my first step to do is? Other than wait 6 weeks to see if upping the meds slightly will change.... Thank you for your time. It's good to know I'm not alone, in the nicest possible way

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Nat_kiwipom]

If they're low in the range that will be why you feel ill.

I would suggest that tomorrow morning (or afternoon if they're less busy then) you should ring your gp and ask the receptionist if they will print out your last test results and any other blood test results you feel might be relevant. It's good to have a history to put it into context. They may ask for a small fee if results are more than 40 days old. (The fee should be 'reasonable', not £50.) Then do a 'question' thread with test results asking people to have a look at your results.

You're definitely not alone!

[Nat_kiwipom in reply to puncturedbicycle]

I will do this. And in future ask for a copy. I'm a pom living in NZ. So it's the middle of the night for me. I woke up feeling awful and thought I'd see how others are feeling. Thank you for your time.

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Nat_kiwipom]

Bless you, I'm sorry you feel ill. It can be very hard to get it right with this illness and it takes time and can make you feel awful.

Keep your chin up though because you can find the answers and feel better eventually. Just keep at it and learn more and you'll get there in the end.

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Nat_kiwipom]

PS. What I've said about test results applies in the UK so may be different in NZ. As well as posting here, see if you can also find an online group in NZ to keep up with relevant details like what you're entitled to from your gp. Good luck!

[Nat_kiwipom in reply to puncturedbicycle]

Thank you punctured bicycle.

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Nat_kiwipom]

No probs.

[shaws Administrator]

Change your doctor. He appears to be making you very, very unwell as he obviously hasn't a clue about treating hypothyroidism.

For a start, 50mcg is only a starting dose and should have been increased after 6 weeks and so on by about 25mcg at a time. Doing so gradually until you feel well. Many mistakenly believe that it is fine to keep you 'within range' (which is wrong if patient still feels unwell). The fact that you have been diagnosed for two years and THS is 5.5 and you feel so unwell I am not surprised in the least.

It is now time you took your health into your own hands, like most of us on this site have had to do, being failed by the guidelines laid down and doctors not being trained in clinical symptoms apparently.

Does your GP realise by keeping you undermedicated he can cause more serious health problems. You need at least 75mcg levo per day, taken either in the morning with a full glass of water and wait about an hour before breakfast. If you prefer you can take it at bedtime, not having eaten two hours beforehand as you need an empty stomach. On the morning of your blood test, have it as early as possible and don't take you medication until afterwards. If you decide to take it at night, miss this dose and have after blood test. Always get a print-out from the surgery with the ranges and post on a new question if you need help.

[Kitten-whiskers]

Hello Nat,

I have had similar problems and would recommend you have your adrenals tested - the ASI test is great for this (done by genova logistics) I did feel how you did and put it all down to the thyroid but in my case it wasn't just that, it was mainly my adrenals. If they are not working properly then your Thyroid meds don't work as well and you can feel shocking. Adrenal fatigue is terrible and something that the docs just aren't interested in helping with. Thankfully you can get great books on the subject and get sites to get adrenal support at a good prices.

I hope you feel better soon