Soooo tired & lethargic 😢

[Thyroid999]

Free T4 10.1 pmol/L + TSH 0.80 mU/L + Free T3 4.4 pmol/L - my GP just started me on Levo 50mcg, says I must build up gradually. How long before I feel better? This tiredness is in my very bones ! Should I start taking supplements e.g. ThyroAid ? Is B12 e.g. vegansafe B12 drops an important supplement to take to help alleviate symptoms? Nearly 1stone weight gain which is partly due to my binge eating - is hypothyroidism the cause of binge eating? I feel so bloated & constipated too 😢 Any advice gratefully appreciated ....,

[shaws Administrator]

50mcg is a starting dose and you should have an increase every six weeks until your symptoms are resolved. Some doctors stop increasing when the TSH reaches a certain point but as your TSH is low I think your doctor may take more notice of the FT3 and FT4s (hopefully as most don't).

Fatigue is a common symptomt with hypothyoidism as we're not producing sufficient T3. T3 being the only active thyroid hormone in our receptor cells which drives our metabolism. Levo is T4 only and has to convert to T3.

I'd wait a few weeks to see how you progress but ask GP to check B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as we can be deficient. He should also check thyroid antibodies. If you have antibodies you'd have a condition called Hashimoto's (Autoimmune Thyroid Disease).

Testing thyroid hormones: should be at the very earliest possible and fasting although you can drink water. Also allow a 24 hour gap between the last dose and the test and take afterwards.

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

[Thyroid999 in reply to shaws]

Your reply is very much appreciated - I can go back to my GP with an informed list this time of tests 😁

[radd]

Thyroid999,

Welcome to our forum and sorry to hear that you are not feeling well.

Have you been medicating Levo a while ? ? .. Although you don't supply the ranges (numbers in brackets) your results appear good as the goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. (For most people that means TSH just above or below 1.0).

Thyroid hormone replacement must be introduced slowly or the body will not tolerate it and takes up to 6 weeks to initially saturate the body, at which time your doctor should retest and adjust dose according to results.

Leave 24 hours between last dose of Levo and the blood draw and have the blood drawn early in the morning whilst fasting (water only) as this is when TSH is highest (so less chance of an irrelevant and possibly damaging dose reduction).

It is important to take your pill on an empty stomach with a glass of water, 1 hour before food, 2 hours before supplements and 4 hours before calcium, iron or vit D supplements.

Depending on how long your hypothyroidism has remained undiagnosed, your symptoms may continue for a while as symptoms can lag behind good biochemistry by several weeks//months.

Ask your GP to test Vit B12, folate, ferritin, Vit D and post results complete with ranges (numbers in brackets) for members to comment.

"Thyroidaide" isn't recommended when medicating thyroid hormone replacement as will alter thyroid function making it difficult to dose thyroid meds correctly.

[Thyroid999 in reply to radd]

Very much appreciated 😀

[Rapunzel]

Oh you poor thing. I remember how ill I felt with a TSH like yours.

No-one is going to tell you that you'll soon feel well...with the possible exception of your GP, I'm afraid, who is apt to think that taking this little wonder tablet will sort you out just fine. But please persevere with levo and if your GP says, triumphantly after a blood test, 'You're in range ! Your current dose is enough !' do post your results on here, or wait a month, maybe, then have some of your own done there's lots more info here

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Support Thyroid UK here

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/index....

they are our champions and work on our behalf to make thyroid conditions better understood. I hope you start to feel better soon, but this is a long journey, sometimes with twists and turns. Welcome

[Thyroid999]

Thanks for your great reply - yes I shall read up on the ThyroidUK site

[Hidden]

You should start to feel better fairly soon. Have you had vit levels tested?

[Thyroid999 in reply to Hidden]

GP told me to come back in 6 weeks for thyroid tests so I shall ask then - I am learning so much through this forum thanks 🤔

[MissFG]

What was your TSH? My levo was increased after 3 weeks from 50mcg to 100mcg as my TSH was 149. My gp rang an Endo at the hospital for advice as was told to increase it. I also had blood tests every 4 weeks to monitor my levels. 10 months on I'm still very fatigued and poorly but under a Rheumy now she thinks I have connective tissue disease and coeliac. But need more tests. I supplement and am trying to go totally gluten free it's just hard. I've just started taking selenium too now. And although tired I'm joining the gym this week as the sauna helps my muscles and me to relax. But keep positive. Help yourself by supplementing and go gluten free. And if you don't begin to improve push for more tests and a referral to an Endocrinolgist. And use this forum for support and advice it's really helped me x

[Thyroid999]

Much appreciated advice & support Miss FG - thank you

[mistydog]

Don't forget to have your blood tests on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. And don't take levo on the day of the test, wait till after. If you take it at night, then skip the night time dose.

[Thyroid999 in reply to mistydog]

Will do thanks 🙏