Feeling down and tired with an underactive thyroid

[Nicolek92]

I have an underactive thyroid, i take 120 grams of levothyroxine and am constantly feeling down and tired still and I feel like I don't have any emotions, does anyone know what can help me at all? I would really appreciate anything.

Thank you.

[Hidden]

I can honestly say swimming and a little gym has really helped me and has definitely given me more energy. There were days when I was just sat there falling asleep. Hope you find something that helps everyone is different. Take care x

[Nicolek92 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much I will try these x

[Hidden in reply to Nicolek92]

😊

[startagaingirl]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

What you are experiencing are classic symptoms of under-medicated hypo. Before we can advise on specific measures we would need to know your current situation, by blood results. If you are in UK you are legally entitled to a copy of any done in the NHS so ask your GPs receptionist for a copy. You are looking for any you can find of Tsh, ft4, ft3, antibodies TpoAb & TgAb, vit d, vit b12, folate and ferritin. Interpretation requires ranges so they should look something like Tsh 2.3 (0.4-4.2). It is unlikely that your GP will have tested all of these so try asking them to test them. If they won't, as is likely, many of us use home testing through Blue Horizons (thyroid plus 11) or Medichecks (thyroid ultravit). Once you get what results you can, post them in a new thread and we can give you help to feel better.

On a general point, very few doctors know anything about handling thyroid issues and we have heard multiple examples of really bad treatment. The real way forward is to become an informed patient who takes an active role in their own treatment. A good place to start is our parent website thyroiduk.org. There is a lot to learn, but there are a lot of expert patients here who will be very willing to answer questions and help with results, doses, options, etc.

Gillian

[marsaday]

Do you have your blood test results ? You may well be under medicated and need more thyroid hormone, or possibly the introduction of some T3.

Also vitamin D levels are lower over the winter months and this has a big impact on metabolism. It is often the case when we move into autumn we start to feel a little lower in mood. It is down to lower vitamin D levels and lower cortisol production as we have less light in the day.

The B vitamins also want to be addressed as does low iron (more common in women).

There is a lot you can do to improve your metabolism, but it does require some research and trial and error. Over time you can work out what your body responds to or doesn't and add or remove things as you go along. Working all this out can easily take over a year to get really optimised, but it can be done.

[greygoose]

I very much doubt you're taking 120 grams of levo, that would be a huge dose! More likely 120 mcg, which isn't much of a dose, and you could be under-medicated.

Do you have a copy of your latest blood test results? If so, post the results and ranges here, and let's have a look.