I'm a 52 year old male who has recently been diagnosed (July 2017) with an under active thyroid after a general 'well persons' check up, including a routine blood test. I was initially very shocked as I've never had anything 'wrong' with me and considered myself quite healthy, also the condition is far more common in women. However, since reading up on thyroid conditions, I realise that I have been suffering from many of the symptoms described, such as gaining weight, brain fog, 'moody/irritable' and becoming very tired suddenly. I was prescribed levothyroxine which made an immediate improvement at first. However, I now still have moments of the above stated symptoms, notably 'dizziness/light head/faintness'. My doctor said to leave it 6 months before being retested, but I am thinking of going back sooner for blood retest. I've read dizziness could be down to iron deficiency but not sure. Does my story ring common with anyone? Kind regards, John.
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JohnnyGForce
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Hi John, yes it does come as a huge blow but when you start to weigh up the symptoms it begins to make sense. I just want to say I'm not an expert with this. There are plenty of others on here that can advise.
I was diagnosed maybe 5 months ago. At first I thought the Levo was great and then the exhaustion and brain fog hit me with a vengance shortly after. It takes a while to get used to them and I guess it depends on what you're starting on 25, 50 or 75mg etc. I don't think you can see any immediate results hence the recommended 6 weeks ish. Personally I now take them in the evening before I go to bed. A few hours after I've eaten or drank anything. I also went Gluten Free (if you have high antibodies). Both of these have worked 'better' for me. I still have days but the symptoms aren't what they used to be. Certainly couldn't go back to having the Levo in the morning, but if you do, make sure you leave a gap between eating. Wouldn't be a bad idea to take iron suppliments and vitamin D tablets. Personally I think if you hadn't had those symptoms before taking the Levo I'd put it down to that. Wishing you all the best.
Post your most recent Thyroid test results, TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus thyroid antibodies
Plus if you have them Vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 results and ranges
What dose were you started on? Blood tests should be 6-8 weeks after starting.
All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results
Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. Many take on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime
Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable. Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.
Hi Johnny, I'm glad you are pursuing information at this stage (before doctors put you in a box with a bunch of pharmaceuticals). So levo will supplement your hormones for a while but it does nothing for the disease you have. Brain issues are very involved with autoimmune conditions and they relate to the gut and adrenals as well. I hope you have time to catch up. Do you think you could abstain from gluten and dairy for a few weeks as a test? I say that because the six blood tests to prove anything won't be offered and may be quite expensive to do through medichecks or labs who do private testing.
It gets very complicated unless you know about amino acid chains, molecular mimicry and understand how glial cells work in the brain but there are so many chemical reactions going on in the brain and I'm sure conventional doctors avoid going there like the plague. Because of the brain/dopamine symptoms you display and cross reactions with certain foods it is becoming more certain that this is something that hypothyroid patients face. I just posted info from Dr. Kharrazian's interview and they bring up dopamine which has a lot to do with mood swings. If you could see a functional medicine doctor who treats leaky gut it would save you hours and hours of study. There are many online experts like Izabella Wentz, Dr. Tom O'Bryan, John Bergman has excellent you tube videos. This is Dr. Kharrazian's newsletter which after many years have found this connection being the most profound because of the brain involvement with autoimmunity.
Six months is too long. You should be retested six weeks after starting the initial dose, and six weeks after every change in dose, and your dose increased until all your symptoms are gone. Your doctor is obviously like so many others, hormonally illiterate! He knows nothing about treating thyroid.
Don't believe your doctor - that you should stay on a starting dose for six months. They are so uneducated I really wonder why they are allowed to diagnose and prescribe.
You have to have a blood test every six weeks with a 25mcg increase in levo until you are symptom-free.
Levo should be taken first thing with one full glass of water and don't eat for an hour as food interferes with the uptake of levothyroxine. (or you can take at bedtime if you prefer as long as you've last eaten about 3 hours previously).
Blood tests have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards. This helps keep the TSH at its highest as they are apt to adjust the dose according to the whereabouts of the TSH is from the pituitary gland, not the thyroid gland. The most important tests we can have is Free T4 and Free T3 and these are rarely tested. We can get private ones if necessary.
Next time ask GP (as you've taken advice from the NHS Choices for help/advice on dysfunctions of the thyroid gland, Thyroiduk.org.uk) to test TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. (The frees may not be tested). B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate are also required as all vits/minerals need to be optimum.
Always get a print-out of your results with the ranges for your own records and you can post if you have a query.
Hi it would be beneficial to listen to the good people on this site. Because of the information I have received I am now back to my normal self which is a great feeling. I does take time and patience but don't give up, please.
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