Newly Diagnosed

[plokmijnuby]

Hi all,

I've just been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism at 23, and been put on 100micrograms straight away. I hadn't noticed any major symptoms and was having my blood tested for possible anaemia! Not sure whether these levels are normal?

Anyone got any advice, or comparable experiences?

Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

plokmijnuby If you post your thyroid test results, with the reference ranges, then members can comment. Without these there isn't really anything anyone can say other than some people are started on 100mcg Levo, some on a lower dose.

Hopefully you have had TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested, a bonus would be Thyroid Peroxidase and Thyroglobulin antibodies tested.

[plokmijnuby in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for responding: My numbers are:

TSH: 15.22 mu/L - range of 0.27 - 4.2

T4 6.8 pmol/L - range of 12 - 22

Hope this helps

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Plokmijnuby.

You haven't included your results and ranges but as your GP has started you on 100mcg Levothyroxine your thyroid levels will not be normal until the Levothyroxine restores thyroid levels which usually takes at least 6 weeks and quite often several months longer.

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.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

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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.

[plokmijnuby]

Thanks for responding: My numbers are:

TSH: 15.22 mu/L - range of 0.27 - 4.2

T4 6.8 pmol/L - range of 12 - 22

Hope this helps

[Clutter in reply to plokmijnuby]

Plokmijnuby,

Click on the green Reply button underneath the post you are responding to and the member will be sent an email and on site notification that you have replied.

TSH 15.22 is high because T4 6.8 is very low. TSH rises when the pituitary gland detects low T4 hormone. TSH will drop when sufficient T4 is detected. Most people are comfortable with TSH around 1.0 or lower with T4 >16.0.

[plokmijnuby in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter - hopefully those numbers will be reached by my next blood test in 8 weeks time.

Still not sure whether these numbers are borderline hypothyroidism - as I'm not seeing many symptoms that align with other peoples comments.

[Clutter in reply to plokmijnuby]

Plokmijnuby,

You are fortunate not to be symptomatic. Your results are overtly hypothyroid, not borderline. I doubt your thyroid levels will have resolved in 8 weeks but they should be greatly improved.

[Helena877 in reply to plokmijnuby]

I am the same in that I attended GP convinced I had anaemia. My only consistent symptom is afternoon fatigue where an hour's cat nap helps. My TSH is 10.3 and my GP states I am borderline. I am probably text book case of being borderline as I'm just over the treatment level. It's likely age that we have in our favour for not having many symptoms; although at 39 I am a few years older than you.

[plokmijnuby in reply to Helena877]

Hopefully we can get balanced ASAP and avoid any major symptoms!

I feel like my diagnosis has made my a hypochondriac - constantly assuming any headache etc. Is due to this!

[Helena877 in reply to plokmijnuby]

That's how I feel - we are fortunate to have not had symptoms with our levels. Maybe our taking the medication will not be the struggle others have had to endure.

I do think being positive and making informed choices is paramount.

I went skiing yesterday and felt out of breath and I was like OMG it's the hypo kicking in, heart failure alert!!!! My friend just laughed and said - I get the same, we have just become unfit! Don't blame your thyroid for that.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to plokmijnuby]

plokmijnuby Your TSH is way over range. Anything over 10 is the trigger for prescribing Levo in the UK. Your FT4 is way under range too so again confirms the diagnosis. Well done to your GP for dealing with it straight away (but he didn't really have a choice) and you are lucky you didn't have any major symptoms.

Clutter has explained how to take your thyroxine and about retesting. You might like to have a look around ThyroidUK's main website to help you understand about hypothyroidism thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/ Start at 'About the Thyroid ' and work down the purple menu on the left hand side.

Come back with any questions, members are happy to help.