newly diagnosed

[clairelizzie]

I have had a rough few days being in hospital having every test going I think and have now been diagnosed with an under active thyroid.... over the years I have suffered with tiredness and head aches and have always put it down to a busy lifestyle. however, I have been in hospital due to the weaknesses in all four limbs I could hardly walk use my arms and had slurred speech. I have been discharged still under a neuro consultant and still have the weakness in my right side. They have told me my tsh levels were 9.38 I presume this isn't good.

Has anyone else had the same problems?

thanks Claire x

[rosetrees]

Have they tested your Vit B12 level as well? You are definitely hypo and it is common for hypo people to be deficient in B12, Vit, iron, folate and/or ferritin. All should be tested and all should be well in range, not just bottom.

Ask for a print-out of all the tests they did while you were in hospital. Then ask your GP to do any of the above tests that have been missed.

What treatment are they starting you on?

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, ClaireLizzie.

TSH 9.38 is high and explains your fatigue and posssibly the headaches. You should be prescribed Levothyroxine to replace low thyroid hormone. It takes 7-8 days to be absorbed before it will start working and up to 6 weeks to feel the full impact of a dose so don't expect instant improvement and it may take several months until you are optimally dosed and most symptoms resolve.

Take Levothyroxine with water on an empty stomach one hour before, or two hours after, food and drink, 2 hours away from other medication and supplements and, 4 hours away from calcium, iron, vitamin D and oestrogen.

You should have a blood test via your GP 6-8 weeks after starting Levothyroxine as you will probably need a dose adjustment until TSH is around 1.0. Leave 24 hours between last dose and blood draw.

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

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

[clairelizzie]

thank you for your replies. every day is different with the things I can do last week I was on holiday and everything was fine although I was very sensitive to the sun and felt tired. Then I had swelling in my legs and then numbness and weakness in all my limbs. I am still struggling to wash my hair as can't hold my hands up long enough, can't dry my hair because of this can't apply my make up. Open anything a car door a wrapper, simple very day things. Every day one arm seems to be worse than the other some days my walking is ok other days I'm back to limping. I feel dizzy, sick and spaced out. Ive been put on Levothyroxine and have been taking for the last 2 days as well as being on Pregablin for my nerve/muscle ache. Has anyone else experienced the same symptoms and do I need to take my Levothyroxine at the same time every day?

thank you Claire x