Newby here :-)

[Tiff35]

Hi all

I'm 35 and a mum of 4 with my last baby born 6 months ago. I haven't been feeling right since the birth of my daughter (tired and dizzy) which prompted some blood tests which have highlighted my TSH as 10.4 and antibodies were 549. I'm waiting for my GP to call me and have been told by the receptionist an ultrasound has been requested? I'm guessing I have a hypo thyroid and possibly hashimotos? Sorry hazard guesses here as no official diagnosis! What sort of dose of levo are people started at? I'm wandering if I have had this a long time or whether it's pregnancy related? Any personal advice or support on the subject would be greatly received! Thanks

[shaws Administrator]

I am sorry you are hypothyroid, especially with a new baby and other children to look after.

Your doctor should still prescribe levothyroxine, or maybe he wants clarification first of an ultrasound.

I shall give you a link to clinical symptoms:

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

50mcg of levothyroxine is a starting dose and should be taken first thing with one full glass of water and wait about an hour before eating. Food interferes with the uptake of levothyroxine as does coffee.

If antibodies are high, yes it is hashimoto's. Going gluten-free can help reduce the attack on your thyroid gland, ~They wax and wane so sometimes you feel hyper and other times hypo.

All blood tests for thyroid hormones should now be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow 24 hour gap between lat dose of levo and blood test and take afterwards.

Ask GP to test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as everything has to be optimal.

Always get a print-out from the surgery with the ranges for your own records and you can post if you have a query.

You should have a blood test and increase about every six to eight weeks until you are symptom-free, not until you are somewhere in the range.

[Tiff35 in reply to shaws]

Thanks that's really helpful. I'm going to do some further research on the subject to get my head around it. Seems there's lots of variants and I just want to make sure Im doing the best I can

[silverfox7]

Little bit of 'good' news if you can call it that. Doctors now don't want to treat you until your TSH is over 10 so you should tick that box. However he may want to do a further test in a few weeks as a virus that you need not be aware of could also do that.

Have a look at the Thyroid Uk site-they run this forum. Lots of good info to read but there is also a list of symptoms so take a copy and tick the ones you have. If he says you should t get info off the internet then you can point out that the advice is from Thyroid Uk who are on NHS Choices for thyroid dysfunction!

[Tiff35 in reply to silverfox7]

Thanks for that! Following a call from my GP I'm not convinced she's too knowledgeable and has decided it could be a virus but has ordered an ultrasound to look into it further? What will an ultrasound pick up? No medication prescribed but she said she is going to speak to an endo and get back to me which is good I guess. Looking at symptoms I'm suffering with tiredness (but could be sleep deprivation with little ones!) joint pains and oddly can't remember the last time I sweated! I also have dry eyes, dry skin brittle nails........ there are a few!! I have low ferritin levels at 5 (taking iron) but normal vit d and b12

[silverfox7]

Well I expect she is looking for nodules. I'm pleased she seems responsive to looking further. The other problem is that often the labs stop doctors getting the right tests done which does t help. Lots get there results privately. But keep posing and let us know the outcome

[Tiff35]

Update:

My GP has spoken to endo and has started me on a low dose of levo (25mcg) as I am symptomatic (exhausted, light headed and pains in my joints) I have to have my bloods retested in 4 weeks (t4 tsh and antibodies) and if the antibodies reduce it's likely to be post baby related and should go away but if no major improvements I'm to be classified as autoimmune hypothyroid? Still having a scan in a few weeks. Can anybody tell me If joint pains are typical symptoms for low thyroid? They seem to be worse over the last few weeks for example my hands hurt when grasping things tight..