Diagnosed today

[Jodyfmurphy]

I got my diagnosis today over the phone and the doctor left me a script for levothyroxine with a starting does of 100mcg I noticed this was the highest recommended starting dose is this standard or is it an indication of my levels?

[leabrook]

Hi jodyfmurphy. I'm not too experienced and others will be more helpful, but 100mcg sounds quite a high starting dose to me. In April I was started on 25mcg for 1 week than increased to 50 mcg. Have had steady 25mcg increases since, and today have been increased to 125mcg. Hope all goes well for you.

[Jodyfmurphy in reply to leabrook]

The Dr actually said on the phone 125mcg but gave me 100! I stupidly didn't ask for my results not that they would have made much sense anyway

[leabrook in reply to Jodyfmurphy]

Results can help a lot on this forum...someone will always help you analyse them. They are a clever bunch.

[LindaC]

Hi Jodyfmurphy! I'm with leabrook - I don't take the stuff [did for a short while and I'm sure I was started low] but that does seem quite a high starting dose. I know not, others here will.

Maybe laypeople like us should not be commenting on the medical opinion given to another without us knowing the details. That said, if it were me, I'd like someone to let me know so that I could check it out further.

Hope it all goes well for you and do not be afraid to question... this is YOUR health.

Linda x

[SAMBS]

hi Jody that was my starting dose from 200 to 2008 without ever seeing a blood test result, when I used to phone for annual blood test result I was told yes stay on same dose! Needless to say the symptoms of hairloss / dry skin / feeling cold more, than I had done , didn't disappear. This year in 2015, a different blood test - not just TSH - on recommendation of folks on here showed I had autoimmunethyroiditis (Hashimotos).

it's a long story, I've just posted today, asking if there's a difference in normal hypo and autoimmune hypo. That's a question I'd also like answered!

[Jodyfmurphy]

Thanks ladies looking back I believe I have suffered from this for about 12 years which was when I started having problems with my weight I'm 32 now and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia last year so had resigned myself to a life of pain and tiredness, it's been the past 6-8 months I've got really bad barely able to stay awake all day, getting confused and putting weight on despite eating less than 1000 calories a day. I didn't even think to ask the doctor the underlying cause

[shaws Administrator in reply to Jodyfmurphy]

The usual starting dose is 50mcg with 25mcg increments around every six weeks until you feel well. Not till the GP says your TSH is fine.

If I were you I'd take 50mcg for at least 4 weeks for your body to settle into taking the extra hormones. I had a TSH of 100 and was prescribed 25mcg which I now know is too low but 50mcg is usually the introductory dose.

Some people get palpitations when starting levothyroxine and I hope you don't.

Regards

[Ansteynomad]

There is published research which says that starting a person under 60 without obvious signs of heart disease on 100mcg saves dragging things out and is better for the patient. I waved that paper at my GP and he negotiated me down to 75, but I felt benefits from the very first dose.

I reckon your doc's on the ball and, based on my experience, I'd give 100 a go.

[galathea in reply to Ansteynomad]

I would give the 100 a go too. The old way used to be to titrate up slowly but more studies advise staring at a reasonable dose. You can always drop down if it doesn't suit you.

This paper says people on a good starting dose took only 4 weeks to show positive results. aafp.org/afp/2006/0401/p127...

Xx g

[MariLiz]

I was started on a dose of 100mcg by my endocrinologist, my GP was sure I would feel agitated and hyper on such a large dose. Well I didn't, I think my body had been crying out for help for so long, all I noticed was feeling better. MariLiz

[Jodyfmurphy in reply to MariLiz]

Marilyn I think that's the case with me too 2 years ago I hired a personal trainer, o followed his diet to the letter and was exercising 4 times a week yet whilst people were losing 2-3 stone in 4 weeks I lost 1/2 a stone the trainer told.me I was doing something wrong as it wasn't possible that my weight wasn't changing if I stuck to his diet assuming now my thyroid was the issue even then

[MariLiz in reply to Jodyfmurphy]

I gave up going to a Slimming club for the same reason, I was paying out money week after week, and losing hardly any weight. Everyone else seemed to be losing stones in weight, while I struggled to lose a few pounds. I just do walking and Yoga now. Best wishes MariLiz