Recent hypothyroid diagnosis.

[Deli321]

Hi, I was diagnoses with sub clinical hypothyroidism 6 months ago. I felt unwell for about a year. Very lethargic and migraines and sleeping or lack of sleeping have increased along with a number of other symptoms. Is the target tsh 0.15? I was told then I was 8 when I went to the go. Afterwards I felt wrotten and went to hospital with arythmias 2 months ago. 3 ecgs showed nothing. I was prescribed 50 mcg of levothyroxine by my gp hich I didn't take as I hadn't had anymore bloods done. Last week I had bloods done and they rang the next day to advise my tsh was now 15.8. I commenced levothyroxine 6 days ago. I've lost a stone and a bit through sheer determination in the past 3 months but it's been very slow and I work out in the gym. How dangerous is a 15.8 tsh count? 

[greygoose]

It's not dangerous in and of itself. But it's going to make you feel pretty unwell.

Target TSH is when you feel well, and you can't put a number on that in advance. But, certainly 15.8 is much too high. Is TSH all they tested?

Your weight gain was probably due to your hypothyroidism, and working out in the gym has probably made it worse by lowering your T3. If I were you, I would give up the gym until your TSH has come down considerably.

6 days is too soon to feel any benefit from Levo, it takes at least six weeks for it to really kick in. So, Don't forget to go back for a test in six weeks time. Arrange your test for early morning - before nine - and fast - just drink water. And leave 24 hours between your last dose of Levo and the test.

[Deli321 in reply to greygoose]

Many thanks for your reply. Yes I had my t3 n t4 and other blood tests done but I will have to look out the results again. I've just moved house 4 days ago and been working 2 x12hr shifts too so haven't had chance to unpack anything. Should I b asking to be referred to an endocrinologist too? I imagine night shift will exacerbate symptoms too.

[greygoose in reply to Deli321]

Unless your results are rather extraordinary, your doctor will refuse to refer you because GPs think they can handle hypo themselves. So, give it a while before you start nagging about that. lol It's still very early days, yet.

I Don't know what sort of effect working nightshift will have on your symptoms. It's not something I've done very much of, and have never read anything about it. You'll just have to see how it goes. It's all trial and error, anyway, because we're all individuals.

Good luck with the unpacking! And, as soon as you find those results, post them on here.