Working life at the beginning of Hypothyroidism.

[Nicolet89]

Hey, so it's been three weeks since I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and I still feel rubbish - when does Levothyroxine 'kick' in?

I'm a teacher, which is a full on job when you're feel 100% so I'm really struggling to complete my job to the best of my ability being back now.. Putting on a brave face and pretending I'm ok is even more tiring. My school have set up an appointment with occupational health but I'm not to sure what they are going to say to help make my life at work easier?

How has everyone else at the start of hypothyroidism coped with work?

xx

[Ruthi]

Well, the three years before I was diagnosed were the worst, because, of course, no-one (including me) knew what was wrong. I lost my job because of that.

You should start to feel some benefit within six weeks (and most feel better after 2 or 3) but it can take a long time before you are 100% - like a year or more. They can't raise your dose more than every six weeks, and will usually test before that so that's another week or two, so it can take months to get to your optimal dose.

[Nicolet89 in reply to Ruthi]

My dose is very low, she's started me on 25. My hair is still falling out (which I really hate), still no life in my libido (which my partner hates lol), always feel weak, fatigued, fuzzy head, some headaches and still not my happy self.

The only difference I've noticed is that I've had to eat more frequently otherwise I go really weak, pale and shaky so don't know if that means my metabolism is working better?

[Ruthi in reply to Nicolet89]

25 is a very low dose. Do you know what your test results were on diagnosis?

[Nicolet89 in reply to Ruthi]

My last post showed my test results if you want to look. I'm not very good at understanding what they showed.

[Ruthi in reply to Ruthi]

Sorry, I should have looked first. You are not borderline, and need more Levo. No wonder you feel bad!

[Nicolet89 in reply to Ruthi]

No worries, thank you for looking. I think because my T4 was just in the normal range she started me on low?

[Ruthi in reply to Nicolet89]

Yes, but she didn't test T3, and that is the active hormone. If you aren't too good at converting then your T3 will be down. When you were well your body will have just made enough T4 for your T3 to be right, but no-one measured it then.

Most people who feel well have a TSH of around 1.00 - lower if they are on levo. And most people who feel well have a free T4 towards the top of the range. Likewise with free T3.

A TSH over 6 is a clear indication that you need more hormone. Mine was 3.6 on diagnosis. I had already lost my job, and my relationship was on its knees, but I hadn't hit the magic number so had to go private. Its over 15 years ago, and I am still angry!

The object of hormone replacement is to make you feel well, not to make some arbitrary figures match up. I rather suspect that your doctor hasn't really subscribed to that.

[Nicolet89 in reply to Ruthi]

Thank you for the information, that makes sense. I've read that lots of doctors don't test for T3, how could I get that test?

[Ruthi in reply to Nicolet89]

You can do it privately with Blue Horizon, just a finger prick test too. But if I were you I would wait until you have been on the maximum dose the doctor will give you for six weeks. And even then there is no need to do it if you are feeling fine.

The only reason for testing would be if you still feel rubbish, and the doc won't raise your dose any further. It has happened, sadly. And then I would ask the doc to do it. Mine does - I pay for my own medication and just ask him to test once a year.

[Nicolet89 in reply to Ruthi]

Thank you, I will bare this all in mind over the next year!!!

[Ruthi in reply to Nicolet89]

Hopefully it will all be quicker and you will be pleasantly surprised!

[Ruthi in reply to Nicolet89]

Hopefully it will all be quicker and you will be pleasantly surprised!

[Bexy77]

I was diagnosed a year ago and I have good weeks and bad weeks. I've just lost about 2 stone in weight and my dose has been decreased slightly (25mg on one day) and two weeks on I still feel awful and the brain fog has decended. I work long hours - am normally out of the house for 12 hours a day so am starting to think of changing my hours and reducing them a little.

Be honest with occ health, they maybe able to help. It took probably 2 months of starting to take meds that I started feeling a little more human. Hopefully, you will start to feel better soon

[Nicolet89 in reply to Bexy77]

Thanks! Hopefully they will help me. I could do with being in one classroom so I'm not walking all around school the whole day.

12 hours, that's a very long time - you must be so tired 😢 I can at least have a little nap when I get home after meetings before getting back on my marking and planning.

[Nicolet89]

Interesting read! Well I definitely feel worse. I'm on 25 so maybe when I have my blood test in three weeks she will hopefully up the dose and I will see more of a difference.

[Lulu_65]

Hi Nicolet89

A topic very close to home for me at the moment. I was diagnosed in February. I was ok at work as long as I didnt do anything else. Would come home straight into my pj's. In July I had 2weeks off on leave and just crashed. I got more and more unwell and was signed off sick for 4 weeks before I was due to return. Last week was my first week back but I worked from home.

I used the time to find out what I coukd about the condition so that I could proactively try to improve the way I feel and increase energy levels. I've made some progress (thanks to this forum) but have a long way to go. I'm back to work properly fron Tuesday so will see how I get on.

My advice to you would be to learn about the condition and take a proactive role in optimising your health (not easy I know as there's so much to learn and consider with the thyroid and wellbeing); Be open with your colleagues and employers; accept that for a while you will have to chose between either a career or a social life; and last but not least..... Don't be a hero. I kept going (probably to the detriment of my adrenal glands) and ended up bed ridden.

The doctors would have us think being hypothyroid is nothing at all, just take a pill everyday and you'll be fine..... nothing coukd be further removed from reality. It can be very serious, can make very ill and take literally months or even years to get medication to a level where you feel well.

You will get there, but patience and knowledge are key.

Lu xxx

[Nicolet89 in reply to Lulu_65]

Thank you! I think I'm trying to be a hero as I don't want to let the school or kids I teach down with OFSTED looming but it's taking too much out of me. I think I need a timeout but feel a bit of a baby if I ask for a sick note 😑 I think if I struggle the next week I will have to bite the bullet and just take some time off, my health should be a priority.

I know this site is amazing for advice! I've already started to change my diet to gluten free although I love bread so finding that hard.

[Lulu_65 in reply to Nicolet89]

I have been gluten free 4 weeks tomorrow. Like you I love bread and did wonder how I'd get on. Strangely after the first week I stopped craving toast and sandwiches and now at 4 weeks I wouldn't want it! I always had an ache where my thyroid is and the feeling of pressure and swelling in that area of my neck but that's all gone now. Also lost almost half a stone in weight!

how long have you been gluten free?

Lu x

[Nicolet89 in reply to Lulu_65]

Not fully gluten free, trying to ween it out but maybe it would be better to just go cold turkey lol xx

[jimh111]

Although your thyroid blood tests are not strongly indicating hypothyroidism your body is. Your doctor is dithering, get them to increase your dose to 50 mcg now, before your next blood test. Point out the effect on your life and say you want to take control of your health. If they find the 50 mcg dose is too much (they definitely won't) they can always reduce it. Ask for definitive treatment as the risk to your health from undertreatment is great than it is from temporary overtreatment.

[vm133]

Another teacher here - I was diagnosed 7 weeks ago but have been feeling unwell for about 2+ years. I have visited several doctors at my practice before finding one who actually seemed to have some idea what he was talking about. I was on 50mg for 6 weeks which brought my TSH into the normal range but am still feel awful - he is aiming for my TSH to be 1 or lower so has upped my dose to 75mg. So my advice would be to try and see a different doctor within the practice - I didn't realise until recently that ours publish the doctors' specialist interests on the website and this one had an interest in chronic fatigue so I made an appointment with him - maybe your practice does something similar.

I have coped with teaching by going going part time which is probably not very helpful advice but there is no way I could continue teaching full time. Could you asked for a reduced timetable or temporary part time until you are feeling better? I would certainly ask to be signed off work for a while. I would also find out from your union what your rights are and hope that you have a decent and sympathetic head.

[crystal5]

Hi,

I also work in an ofsted looming environment! I feel your pain.

I've had Hashimotos for 9 years.

Give yourself a break, take some more time off, until the levels are better. Honestly, I would.... Do some lesson planning at home.

it is a long road as others have said but you will feel better in time! Best advice I took on is that you will be 90% of your former self!

Xx