Newly diagnosed

[Healthanxietyhater]

I'm still really new to this thyroid thing I haven't even met my endo yet and won't till February. From my results people have told me I have hashi's honestly I was a bit anxious and scared at first but I think I'm becoming more accepting. I just want to know do any of you have normal lives with this problem?

[jezebel69]

Can only speak for myself but I know theres a real danger of it taking over and an even bigger danger that I will see every little thing as a thyroid symptom - not helpful lol

But what is normal? Now that my medication is (almost) right I don't think my thyroid or Hashimotos stops me doing anything I want to do. I'm 69 and still working.

[Healthanxietyhater in reply to jezebel69]

Oh so you're saying that you developed health anxiety almost? Well that's great because I have that so hopefully I will have enough coping mechanisms to dealing with it lol.

From the forums I read it was always about people "missing their old selves" I was just wondering if being medicated ever brought your old self back. I'm glad you're still working that's one of my main worries, being out of work.

[jezebel69 in reply to Healthanxietyhater]

Its a horrible chicken and egg situation. We worry about our health and don't realise how that worry impacts physiologically. I don't believe we have an old and new self - we have a constantly evolving one, changed by so many experiences we encounter, physical mental and emotional. If we start to believe we're not ok in any of those we start a problem. WE ARE OK

[shaws Administrator]

Yes, I have a normal life. It didn't happen immediately after being diagnosed but by joining Thyroiduk.org.uk as a Member and then this forum was formed within the Healthunlocked forums - particularly for dysfunctions of the thyroid gland.

We have to read, learn and ask questions and many return to normal health when their levothyroxine (or other thyroid hormones) are optimum. Optimum means a TSH of around 1 or lower not 'somewhere' in the range as most doctors seem to believe.

It is just that our thyroid gland has begun to fail and doesn't produce sufficient thyroid hormones which runs our whole metabolism, from Head to Toe. Heart and Brain contains the most T3 Receptor Cells. T4 (levothyroxine) is inactive (or also called a prohormone) and converts to T3 (liothyronine) which is the only Active Thyroid Hormone. We have to have sufficient (gradually increased by 25mcg every six weeks) until our TSH is 1 or lower. Free T3 and Free T4 have to be towards the upper part of the range.

Blood tests always have to be at the earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24hours between the last dose and the test and take afterwards. This helps keep the TSH at its highest as doctors can adjust dose unnecessarily.

Always take levothyroxine on an empty stomach with one full glass of water and don't eat for about an hour. Usually this is first thing when we awake. Food interferes with the uptake of levo.

Some prefer bedtime dosing, so they'd last have eaten about 3 hours before. It is best to get into a routine and shortly you don't even think about it.

We have a starting dose and then a blood test every six weeks with an increase of 25mcg of levothyroxine until TSH is 1 or lower.

If you've not had B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate tested ask for these at your next blood test for thyroid hormones. Usually this is every six weeks until TSH is 1 and you feel better.

[Clairewalker751]

Hi I was diagnosed in February this year and now feel completely different to what I did before diagnosis but I've done a heck of a lot of reading and followed all the advice given on here i still don't think I have my dose quite right and have just switched to taking some NDT, I think we absolutely can get well but it takes time and knowledge and some lifestyle tweaks. Good luck

[Rmichelle]

Hi there im relatively new to hashis aswell diagnosed with hyperthyroid in july and later found out that i had hashis in september- i use this forum alot to gain knowledge from other people and learn from their experiences as i have the time as i am off work sick still for 3 months now as dosage is still not correct for me, it has been rubbish but i do have my good days and my bad but i always think im a fighter and i will get there in the end, put on your boxing gloves and fight it!💪

[eeng]

Most people with hypothyroidism do very well on Levothyroxine and live perfectly normal lives. This forum exists for the ones who struggle. Don't worry about it, but educate yourself and if you still don't feel well once your doctor has done what she/he thinks is right then this forum is a great resource.

[Hidden in reply to eeng]

The forum actually exists for the people who are brave enough to want to become well again. I know plenty of people on Levo alone who have struggled feeling unwell for years but still accept it and do not bother to join this brilliant site.

[Healthanxietyhater in reply to Hidden]

Do you equally know people who are on Levo and feel better?

[jezebel69 in reply to Healthanxietyhater]

I do. The best example is a very old friend of mine who was diagnosed about the same time as me. She is on levo only and you wouldnt think there was anything wrong at all. No weight gain, no fatigue. She eats and drinks whatever she wants with no ill effects. Its the same as everything else - you only usually get to hear when theres a problem

[Hidden in reply to Healthanxietyhater]

No but I would like to, do you? It would be great to be able to draw up a chart but it's impossible with people being so diverse.

I have no hash's but still couldn't take Levo. All of my other bloods tests were optimal as well. I never had a problem before my thyroid was removed in Oct 2015. I was not on any medication.

[Crzygirl]

I have almost every symptom of hypothyroidism but ALL bloodwork has been normal. And I’ve had EVERY test done. My doc was convinced I had Hashis . I would love to get a diagnosis, best of luck, it’s actually pretty common.