I will start medication with low does 12.5 micogram of Levothyroxine (where my TSH is subclinical 5.9). But I feel cold most of the time and have pain in my foot & hands. My GP told me to start the medication as above. I'm 62 years with a controlled diabetes HbA1c 6-7.
What worries me is the fact that once you start taking Levothyroxine, you cannot stop it. Do I really have to start taking it as my GP said or try other supplements that can help my body to produce the required level of thyroid hormone.
Welcome to the site DrHafez People have been known to take it and stop. Either because they have become euthyroid ( their thyroid has returned to normal ) or they want to switch to something else to treat it. You are still under active. Your TSH is way too high. It is only 'subclinical' by various lab ranges which are rarely efficient to base treatment on. Most people don't feel relief from their symptoms until they have a suppressed TSH of below 1. I would be suprized if the minute amount of 12.5 did anything, it is no where near enough to treat hypothyroidism with that TSH reading
Pastille,
... [ ... Most people don't feel relief from their symptoms until they have a suppressed TSH of below 1.... ] ..
The O/P hasn't started medicating yet and as subclinical may find relief through other means or medicating with a higher TSH.
Many on this forum only function well with a low TSH because the majority have Hashimotos and are in the very small subset of patients who don't tolerate T4 well.
That's a good point, do you have antibodies, Mr Hafez?
I am not sure, Radd, that the percentage which needs t3 has yet been robustly established.
No.. Don't have antibodies. My Ft4 & Ft3 are normal