Hi, I'm 22 and yesterday I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. My GP suspects Hasimoto's and has asked that I have another blood test to confirm this and referred me to a specialist.
I was relieved at my diagnosed as I have been battling depression since I was 16 but have suffered an enormous relapse in the last 8 months which led to a mental breakdown, having to take time off work and me not being any kind of decent mother to my daughter. My diagnosis explains a lot of this as well as the usual rapid weight gain although my mental health and exhaustion was my primary concern.
I thought it was going to be as simple as taking my medication once a day and everything would be fine but after doing my research I can see it is going to affect everything in my life, especially my diet as I currently use a lot of Soy products.
Any tips, tricks or advice would be more than welcome because I do not know anyone else with hypothyroidism and am a bit loss with the huge amount of information there obviously is to take in.
Thank you!
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Shansloan
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Other than avoiding unfermented soy products there is no need for dietary changes unless you are confirmed to have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) and then 100% gluten-free diet may be helpful in reducing symptoms and antibodies.
For maximum absorption Levothyroxine should be taken with water 1 hour before or 2 hours after food and drink, 2 hours away from other medication and supplements, and 4 hours away from calcium, iron, vitamin D supplements and oestrogen.
It takes 7-10 days for Levothyroxine to be absorbed before it starts working and it will take up to six weeks to feel the full impact of the dose.
You should have a follow up thyroid test 6-8 weeks after starting Levothyroxine. Arrange an early morning and fasting (water only) blood draw when TSH is highest, and take Levothyroxine after your blood draw.
Most people will find symptoms resolve after their TSH drops to around 1.0 with FT4 in the upper range but symptoms can lag a couple of months behind good biochemistry.
I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.
Thank you so much for your advice! I have already got an appointment for my follow up test 8 weeks from now so hopefully that will tell me if my dosage is right.
Get into the habit of asking for a printout of the results and ranges (figures in brackets after results) from the GP receptionist or GP so you can monitor your progress.
Im interested to know what you can do with the information about having Hashimotos because I have that and am gluten free. However, what more can be done and what does it actually mean? I have high antibodies but Im not sure that means anything.
From the way my GP was talking it was more about having answers as to why I have hypothyroidism - he kept referring to my age although I cannot be the only young person he's ever met to have a thyroid issue. And at the end of the day whether I'm 22 or 62 I'm still going to be on the medication every day so I'm not dwelling on it.
Also have the following tested - B12 - Ferritin - Folate - VitD. All need to be at a good level for you to feel well and for the Levo to work well in the body.
Low B12 is so very often linked to depression and other neurological issues.
Which one are you taking and how much ? Did you know your level before starting B12 ? I would continue taking them along with a good B Complex to keep all the B's in balance. I have just posted a video about B12 - next post down at the bottom of this page !
Shansloan I have no idea what age has got to do with it, do these doctors think that certain conditions are only allowed when you reach a certain age?
Warning - I am having an anti-doctor rant at the moment
My hypothyroidism started in my mid 20s. My daughter's step-daughter is 14 and was diagnosed hypo last year and is on Levothyroxine. Younger children have been diagnosed. My mother was 60 when she was diagnosed. It's random. If these doctors want to pigeon hole diseases into age groups then they'd better have a word with the almighty disease maker and tell him to get his act together.
I totally agree - at the end of the day I'm going to be taking medication for this for the rest of my life. I've no time to be woe is me about the fact that I'm 22. I'd rather be 22 and diagnosed than wait another decade for a diagnosis. I just want to focus on learning how to help my body feel better.
That's a great attitude to have Shansloan . Ask as many questions as you want, there is support and advice in abundance here. You will know far more than your doctor soon.
If you want to be one step ahead on Hashi's here is a bit of reading to get you going
Children can be born with thyroid problems, it can occur during and after pregnancy and then clear up.It can occur at any age but there does seem to be an increasing number of 50 plus folk being diagnosed .I was 69.
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