Hello! I've recently been diagnosed with an under active thyroid (results in photo below). This was found as part of a blood test prior to an operation - a laparoscopy for endometriosis. I'd had no other obvious symptoms of under active to date. I'm lucky enough to have BUPA at work so I've been seeing a consultant in London who has put me on 100mcg of thyroxine per day. He was keen, as was I, to get the issue sorted ASAP as we are due to start IVF early in 2015.
I've been taking the drugs for nearly a month now and I'm starting to feel a little odd (can't describe it in any other way). I'm constipated, and although I'm sleeping I don't feel I'm getting the deep sleep that I used to. I've also lot my appetite and around 3kgs. Now these could be due to other things, I've got a lot on my plate at the moment and last week I had a second laparoscopy.
I'm seeing my consultant on the 15 Jan following a second blood test but am thinking maybe my dose is far too high? Any thoughts?
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SparklyT
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Normally, when first diagnosed with hypothyroidism, the dose first prescribed is 50mcg and around 4 to 6 weeks later, increased by 25mcg each time until we reach a dose which makes us feel well. (My TSH was 100 when first diagnosed and GP prescribed 25mcg only (I should have been started on 50mcg).
Maybe that's why you have lost weight.
Your other symptoms cross over with being under-dosed i.e. constipated, sleep disturbance. I wouldn't reduce levo until your blood test although I would be tempted to reduce by 25mcg and see if it makes a difference. Whenever we are taking thyroid hormones, it has to be done gradually, either increasing or decreasing.
We have to read and learn as much as possible so that we can suss out when things aren't progressing as we imagine they should. It's not always plain sailing but we have to take thyroid hormones for a lifetime, so we should know how we are responding to different doses/medication.
Do you take levo first thing with 1 glass of water. Do you wait approx an hour before eating. (food can interfere with the uptake of levo). Do you take supplements/other medication 4 hours apart from levo.
When you have your next blood test, don't take levo before it, take it afterwards. Have the blood test as early as possible as that's when the TSH is highest. Many doctors take more notice of the TSH than the clinical symptoms and it's the symptoms we are trying to eradicate. If your GP hasn't tested Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate ask for these as we are usually deficient and we need levels towards to the upper end, not middle or lower.
Re constipation. Try 1 cup/glass of warm water with 1/2 juice of fresh lemon (unsweetened preferably) plus 1 or two fresh fruits before breakfast. (Vitamin C also helps to convert levothyroixine (T4) into sufficient T3 (liothyronine). T3 is the active hormone and T4 the inactive which should convert to sufficient T3.
I'm sorry if I've loaded you down with links but, I just thought of this one. If you have good treatment and get your hypothyroidism treated optimally, maybe you wont need IVF.
Thanks very much for all this info, I'll get reading! Unfortunately I'll still need to have ivf even if I get my thyroid sorted - my endo is so bad it has affected my Fallopian tubes.
Please have Saliva Hormone testing done by someone who specializes in bio identical hormone replacements. You could get rid of Endo, by balancing your hormones. Do you have Hashimotos? Very important to find out, as it is the number one cause of hypothyroidism and an autoimmune disease, which badly effects fertility. I have had all that you have mentioned.
Sparkly, 100mcg may be a little high as you don't need your TSH suppressed, but you do need it in the low normal range of 0.4-2.0.
Constipation and unrefreshed sleep are hypo symptoms. Although your bloods show you are adequately medicated it can take several weeks more for the hypo symptoms to resolve. Loss of appetite and weight can be due to overmedication but usually slight tremors and palpitations would be experienced too, so possibly they aren't due to overmedication.
I'd be inclined to remain on 100mcg until you see your consultant in Jan. Remember, you shouldn't take your Levothyroxine until after your blood draw.
Did you know, that they are saying, that Endometriosis is a symptom of a poor immune system or autoimmune in and of it's self? I had it and developed Hashi's later. Ended up with a hysterectomy. Also, they are finding that balancing the hormones, with safe bio identical hormones, like Progesterone and stop Endo. I wish i had known to have Saliva Sex Hormone Testing before letting them hack me all to pieces!
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