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[Lia112]

Hi I am new here my name is Lia and I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism recently. Since taking levothyroxine 50mcg I have been getting achy and breathless are these normal on medication? Thankyou

[radd]

Lia,

Welcome to our forum and sorry to hear that you are feeling unwell.

Levothyroxine takes up to 6 weeks to initially saturate the body which will only tolerate small increases at any one time. Your doctor should retest your thyroid hormone levels after 6 weeks and adjust the dose according to results.

Leave 24 hours between last dose and blood draw and have the blood drawn early in the morning whilst fasting (water only) as this is when TSH is highest.

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 and being achey & breathless are common in hypothyroidism but you should start to see an improvement once you are wholly medicated.

The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status and for most people that means TSH just above or below 1.0. Symptoms can lag behind good biochemistry by 6-8 weeks.

People with thyroid issues often have vitamin deficiencies. Ask your doctor to test Vit B12, Vit D, folate and ferritin as optimum levels are required to ensure thyroid meds are properly utilised.

If you post any future blood test results complete with ranges ( numbers in brackets) members will comment.

[Lia112 in reply to radd]

Thanks I have results of these