Thyroid

[Joono]

New here

Not on thyroid medication

Not diagnosed

GP wants to see me about these results

Am worried

Are they bad?

Thankyou

TSH 38 (0.2 - 4.2)

Free T4 10.9 (12 - 22)

TPO antibody 833.5 (<34)

[jimh111]

These results show you have autoimmune primary hypothyroidism (antibodies are damaging your thyroid gland). As your fT4 falls the pituitary puts out more TSH to try and stimulate the thyroid to produce more hormone. Your thyroid gland will eventually fail. You need to start thyroid hormone now to get rid of your symptoms, doctors usually prescribe levothyroxine. Assuming you are not elderly and don't have a heart condition a starting dose would be 50 to 100 mcg levothroxine.

You will have to take levothyroxine for life, the good news is that if you are in the UK you can get a prescription exemption card so you don't have to pay for prescription medication. It will take a couple of weeks before you start to feel better but it may be months before you are more or less normal.

[Anthea55 in reply to jimh111]

I totally agree with Jimh111.

You will find that it's really useful to learn as much as you can about thyroid problems. The Thyroid UK website is a good place to start.

thyroiduk.org/index.html

Come back here for any help you need. We have plenty of experience even if we are not medically trained.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your GP should arrange to have your blood rechecked 6-8 weeks after starting on Levothyroxine. They may give you a blood test form for this at the appointment

Levo should be taken on an empty stomach and nothing after it, apart from water for an hour

Many take on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective to take at bedtime.

verywell.com/should-i-take-...

It will take a few weeks for the dose to get into your system. Be kind to yourself while getting accustomed. If you feel tired, rest, don't push yourself