Introducing myself!

[shamicuk]

Hey everyone. I've just joined the hypothyroid club (what fun!). Feeling very tired, not much energy, terrible mood, more forgetful than usual. Doc has put me on levo 50 mg, and blood tests in 5 weeks time. Not looking forward to the blood tests, I'm don't like needles, or the bruise the nurse leaves after taking blood! Still have the bruise from the last blood session :/ Anyway, just here to see what kind of things I have to look forward to!

[Hidden]

Hi and welcome! This is a great forum. and I think you'll like it here!

I take it 50 mcg of T4 is a starting dose, and hope that your doctor will continue to raise it according to labs...?

Good luck drawing blood, and don't forget that there is a lot of expertise and experience here if you have any questions!

[shamicuk in reply to Hidden]

Yep, starting dose. They are keeping an eye on bloods and adjusting the levo till it reaches the right dose. Hopefully next time I get the other nurse, she is better at taking blood, lol

[shaws Administrator in reply to shamicuk]

Welcome to our forum and am sorry you are hypothyroid.

As you have just joined and are newly diagnosed I will just mention that 'adjusting the dose of levothyroxine until it reaches the right dose' doesn't always make us well. What makes us well is sufficient thyroid hormones so that all clinical symptoms are relieved and we feel good.

Any blood tests for the thyroid hormones should be at the very earliest and don't eat before it but you can drink water.

If you are on levothyroxine allow 24 hours between your last dose and the test and take it after the test.

This allows the TSH to be at its highest as doctor might reduce the dose according to the TSH which might not be good for us.

Also ask for Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate to be taken and also ask for thyroid antibodies too. Antibodies would confirm whether or not you have Hashimoto's the commonest form, also called Autoimmune Thyroid Disease.

Always get a print-out with the ranges for your own records and you can post if you have a query.

[shamicuk in reply to shaws]

Must ask for that next time. Thanks for the info.

[Hidden in reply to shamicuk]

Ask now.. get a copy of your last tests.

[shamicuk in reply to Hidden]

Will do. Making an appointment this week.

[Pastille]

Hello and welcome shamicuk . keep asking questions because you will always be learning and you will never graduate

[shamicuk in reply to Pastille]

Always good to know where to go and ask the questions I forget to say to the doctor!

[NatChap in reply to shamicuk]

Unfortunately/fortunately (depending on which way you look at it!) you will get more sense and help here than from your GP

[shamicuk in reply to NatChap]

Knowledge is always good!

[Anthea55]

Quick tip I was given to prevent that bruise - if you raise that arm for a bit after the draw it doesn't bruise as much. Put pressure on it as well.

[shamicuk in reply to Anthea55]

Thanks for the tip! Nurse Una is the good one at taking bloods, never feel a thing with her. The other one, not so good.

[silverfox7]

Welcome! Has your doctor explained the best way to take your medication? Just in case he hasn't most take first thing, take it on an empty stomach with a full glass of water. Leave an hour before food or drink. Leave two hours after your medication for other meds, vitamins etc and 4 hours before calcium vitamin D and iron. The last time you want to do is to mix it with anything that can hinder the absorption.

Post your results anyway till you get used to what they mean. Many doctors say you are normal if you are in range but the ranges are rather wide and it's where you are in the range that has a bearing on how you are feeling.

[shamicuk in reply to silverfox7]

Going to make an appointment with the doc for as much info as she can give. Was told over the phone about the medication and underactive thyroid, I think she was just happy she found out what was actually wrong, instead of chasing some phantom lung condition! I've a history of pnumonia so she was thinking along those lines for a few weeks to try and explain the symptoms.

[silverfox7 in reply to shamicuk]

Just remember we are all here for you. Ask away if there is something you don't understand and nothing is too trivial, we have all been there!