Newbie checking in ☺

[Lealea1981]

Hi everyone! I am new to this site so I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Leanne, I'm 35 and I have just today been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. I hope you are all doing well and look forward to meeting you all. Best wishes

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum Lealea1981

I'm sorry you have been diagnosed with hypo and hope your doctor is able to reduce your clinical symptoms.

When you have your next blood test, it should be the very earliest possible and fasting. Allow 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take it afterwards. This allows the TSH (which the doctors make the priority) to be at its highest as many doctors adjust our doses according to the whereabouts of the TSH which doesn't do us any favours.

Always get a print-out of your blood test results with the ranges and when next one is due also request B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as we are usually deficient and we need them at an optimum.

Levothyroxine should be taken with one full glass of water when you get up and wait about an hour before eating. Taking food interferes with the uptake of our hormones (levothyroxine) which converts to the Active thyroid hormone, T3). If you prefer you can take it at bedtime as long as you've left about 3 hours after eating, As we are hypo everything slows down and that means digestion also, so we need time to elapse before taking hormones.

[Lealea1981 in reply to shaws]

Hi there,

Thankyou so much! I'm feeling a little overwhelmed today so I really appreciate you taking the time to fill me in on the basics. I don't know anyone else who has Hypo so I'm feeling a little lost. I happened across this site when I was Googling for some info about my diagnosis and I'm so glad I signed up now!

[shaws Administrator in reply to Lealea1981]

I understand completely how you feel as I hadn't a clue about hypothyroidism. Neither did the doctors/specialists I saw and I went on and on until a First Aider suggested it. He was right.

You can also become a member of Thyroiduk.org.uk who is the people behind the scenes, trying hard to change the mindset of the NHS with the diagnosis and treatment. We also have a Conference every few years and the last one was great with excellent speakers.

There is also lots of good info on the website on the left-hand side and we get a quarterly Magazine.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/

[KarinHandley in reply to Lealea1981]

Hello there fellow newbie

[KarinHandley in reply to shaws]

Hello

I too am newly diagnosed and Am also feeling shell shocked ! The GP in saw for anemia tested me but seems very blasay having read all the posts on here I've made an app to see a specialist. Good luck on your journey too x

[JellyQ]

Hi LeaLea 1981

Sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis but welcome to this great forum. Im also fairly new & have read so much great advice on here...youve definitely come to the right place for help & support x

[Lealea1981]

Aww thanks both of you! Its comforting to know I'm not alone in all of this ☺ you have both just turned my terrible day around. Thankyou!

[Lealea1981]

Hi karin! Nice to meet you ☺yes I was originally in for suspected Anemia. Bit of a shock hey? Nice to know we aren't in this alone x

[mel35]

Hi lealea 1981 it's all so overwhelming when you first get diagnosed but at the same time I felt relieved that there was a reason for feeling so rubbish, the people on here are so knowledgable and have helped point me in the right direction, as you will soon learn that most gp's are a bit in the dark where thyroid conditions are concerned, but at least you should now be on the way to feeling a bit better, good luck xx