Hi new member and posting my results. I am 23 years old and newly diagnosed hypothyroid. I take 25mcg of levothyroxine and symptoms are sweating easily, weight loss, tiredness, goitre, hiccups, bone pain, pins and needles, hard stool and heavy periods.
Advice appreciated.
Serum TSH 36.8 (0.2 - 4.2)
Serum free T4 10.7 (12 - 22)
These blood test results show you are hypothyroid and need quite a bit more levothyroxine. A starting dose of 25 mcg is usually reserved for the elderly or patients with a heart condition. Your doctor has started you off on too little. I would go back to your doctor and ask for an increase now. Sweating and weight loss are not so common with hypothyroidism although they do happen. It is likely you have autoimmune hypothyroidism, this can lead to fluctuating thyroid hormone levels until your thyroid gradually packs in. I would supplement with magnesium citrate and vitamin B12 as these may help with your pain, hard stools and pins and needles.
As a hypothyroid patient you are entitled to free prescriptions, ask your doctor for a form.
Jay7803 You could possibly have been started on a higher dose of Levo, 25mcg is usually prescribed for children, the elderly and people with heart problems.
You will need regular testing every 6 weeks with increases of 25mcg each time, until your symptoms abate and you feel well. The aim of a hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it is needed for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective reference ranges if that is where you feel well. Make sure you get these tests and always book the earliest appointment of the day, fast overnight (water allowed) and leave off Levo for 24 hours. This ensures the highest possible TSH which is needed when looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction.
And because some of your symptoms can be indicative of low nutrient levels, ask for the following to be tested
Vit D
B12
Folate
Ferritin
Also ask for thyroid antibodies too.
Post any results on the forum for comment.
I think I have autoimmune hypothyroid antibodies are TPO antibodies 556.3 (<34) and TG antibodies 276 (<115)
Indeed you do. The antibodies fluctuate and can cause fluctuations in symptoms and test results. To help reduce the antibodies you should adopt a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members. Also, supplementing with selenium L-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can help reduce antibodies.
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...
Jay,
Welcome to our forum.
Possibly all low thyroid hormone symptoms ? / .... a TSH of 36.8 shows your pituitary gland is working too hard in encouraging secretion of further thyroid hormone.
A mega 25mcg dose of Levothyroxine can make a struggling thyroid gland take a break and produce even less than it was as the pituitary gland senses some additional thyroid hormone.
T4 levels are still very low (under range ) .. also indicating you need a dose increase.
How long have you been medicating Levo ? ? ...
Have you had thyroid antibodies TPOAb and TGAb tested ( indicating Hashimotos ? ? ) ..
Have you had Vit B12, Vit D, ferritin and folate tested ? ? .... all commonly deficient in people with hypothyroidism.
Been medicating on levothyroxine for 2 weeks
Usually it's 6 weeks at starter dose, then retest and increase in 25mcg steps - retesting again etc until TSH is in lower part of the range - around 1)
All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take any Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after
With Hashimotos very many find significant benefits from changing to strictly gluten free diet
Your B12 should be over 500 and some say at the top of the range .Take B13 in the methylcobalamin form plus B complex to keep the B vits in balance.
@treepie means B12 not B13 I think
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