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[katewht]

I've just been diagnosed with very low levels of thyroxine I have been put on 100mcg daily. I've got all of the symptoms and I've been hospitalized twice in the last two weeks feel dreadfull. Not able to work either at the moment been signed off how long till I feel better and go back to work

[Clutter]

Welcome to to the forum, Katewht.

It's good practice to ask for a printout of your thyroid test results with the lab ref ranges (the figures in brackets after your results) as you can post them and it will help members advise.

It's not possible to say how soon you will feel better and able to work. It usually takes 7/10 days for Levothyroxine to be absorbed and start working so you may feel some improvement but all your symptoms may take a few weeks after you are optimally medicated before they resolve. Generally people on Levothyroxine are comfortable with TSH just above or below 1.0 and with free thyroxine in the top half-three quarters of range.

Take your Levothyroxine with a full glass of water on an empty stomach one hour before, or two hours after food and drink, two hours away from other medication and supplements and four hours away from vitamin D3, calcium, iron and oestrogen.

Ask your GP to test ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate as hypothyroid patients are often deficient/low and these deficiencies can cause musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and low mood similar to hypothyroid symptoms. Post your results with the lab ref ranges (the figures in brackets after your results) in a new question and members will advise whether supplementation is required.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/diagno...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[Clutter]

RFU, 75mcg-100mcg is the recommended starter dose for patients under 50 years of age and without heart disease. Unfortunately, too many GPs like to fiddle around with 25mcg and 50mcg initially which means it takes patients longer to recover.

[Hidden]

Yes, we talk a lot on here about adjusting meds slowly. To hit someone with 100 mcg seems a bit OTT.

No wonder you feel wiped out, Kate. It will take your system time to work out what to do with all that hormone. However, down the road a piece you should start to feel better.

You could try halving that dose for a few days and see if you feel better, then build back up. It will probably mean cutting pills up. I use a craft knife. You can get pukka pill cutters.

Hope the meds start to help you very soon.