I am new to blog sites and a diagnosis of hypothyroidism.
Got confirmation 3 weeks ago (TSH 14.4) and started levothyroxine 25mcgs 2 weeks ago. I know this is a very low dose, but should I be feeling even a little bit better by now?? Still SO tired and extreme difficulty in concentrating.
Have tried to search the internet for dietary advice to help but it is so baffling, does anyone have any advice or can recommend a good source of information re diet please???
Many thanks.
Hello Calrya96,
Sorry to hear you are feeling unwell and welcome to our forum.
Levothyroxine takes up to 6 weeks to initially saturate the body which will only tolerate small increases at any one time.
Your doctor should retest your thyroid hormone levels after 6 weeks and adjust the dose according to results.
It is important to take your pill on an empty stomach with a glass of water, 1 hour before food, 2 hours before supplements and 4 hours before calcium, iron or vit D supplements. I take mine as soon as I wake up in the morning.
Depending on how long your hypothyroidism has remained undiagnosed, your symptoms may continue for a while, but be assured that you should start to see an improvement once you are wholly medicated.
People with thyroid issues often have vitamin deficiencies and it is recommended that you have tests for B12, vit D, folate and ferritin as optimum levels are required to ensure thyroid meds are absorbed.
Hope you start to feel better soon,
flower007
Welcome to the forum, Calrya. Levothyroxine takes 7/8 days to be absorbed before it starts working but 25mcg isn't likely to be very helpful. You should have a follow up blood test 6-8 weeks after starting Levothyroxine as your dose will probably need increasing. Leave 24 hours between last dose and blood draw and try to have the blood draw early in the morning when TSH is highest. The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status and for most people that means TSH just above or below 1.0.
Flower007 has advised how to maximise absorption and vitamin/mineral tests to ask for. Don't try dieting to lose weight, it won't work while your TSH is high. The main dietary advice is to avoid all forms of unfermented soy which are very bad for the thyroid. Otherwise make sure there is fat and protein in your diet to provide essential nutrients.
Sometimes a low dose like 25mcg can just make your thyroid, which has been struggling to produce enough thyroxine, take a bit of a break and produce even less than it was. I would expect you to end up on a dose of 75-100mcg before you start to feel better, and if your thyroid is gradually giving up the ghost (usually due to antibody attack) you will probably end up on 150mcg or more.
Thank you everyone.....O know feel I at least have a little more understanding and not waiting on the "quick fix". My next question now......will I have to wait 6-8 weeks between each dose increase?
New diagnosis of underactive thyroid
New Diagnosis.
Advice on new Hypothyroidism diagnosis please
Hello - new here 
New Diagnosis. Very confused.
