I am on here to ask is it ok to take time off if you're not feeling well on thyroid meds. My TSH is 6.3 (0.2 - 4.2) and Free T4 12.9 (12 - 22) Free T3 4.0 (3.1 - 6.8) and TPO antibodies >1200 (<34) I have been making a lot of mistakes at work and my friends can tell I am not right. I take 100mcg levo diagnosed 2011 with hypothyroid.
Thanks
Marie_p,
I think it depends very much on your employer, your actual job, your circumstances.
If your employer would be understanding, that is a good start.
If your job means that mistakes are very important (think, airline pilot), then you must remove yourself from being likely to cause major issues.
If you are absolutely reliant on your income, have no savings, and no other support, you might find it very difficult.
On top of this, thyroid issues are long-term. Whereas most of us could fairly readily take a day off with a migraine, or a week with influenza, virtually none of us would be able to take the time really needed for thyroid issues.
Having said that, you look as if you are under-dosed - or not absorbing adequately. Could you let us know a bit more?
Thanks mistakes are very important in my job
I take the levothyroxine on an empty stomach about an hour or 2 away from food and drink
Marie_p,
Perhaps you do have to take some time off. I sincerely hope that your employers appreciate the reasons.
You most certainly look under-dosed from those results. (I'd feel pretty bad there.) Have you asked your doctor for an increase in dose?
Thanks yes my employers are very understanding. I am asking my doctor for an increase the next time I see him/her
Hi there i have been off work since august as i was originally hyper and now hypo with hashimotos and also dire iron levels bordering on aneamia, i am still not sorted in feeling much better and my workplace have been very understanding and have been informed by occupational health that having thyroid disease its trial and error with meds and the fact that i have 2 auto immune diseases that this has had a huge impact on my working life and personal life. I think if you go to docs he/she will sign you off. Im lucky as i get paid to be off, just havent been myself in ages. Like you i cannot afford to make mistakes either when it comescto peoples livelyhoods. Good luck.😊
Hi I think you may be under medicated looking at your results ?
Brain Fog is a classic symptom of Thyroid . Check STTM book and website for help
Get an appointment as soon as you can and ask for an increase which should be given by 35 mcg s and retested in 6 weeks to see if you need another on. The aim is to get both FT4 and FT3 in the top third or even the top quarter of their respective ranges.
I had similar issues, it took 18 months to get me to my optimal dose. I listed all my symptoms and filled it in with a column for each dose then colour coded it ( exell v good for this) mostly red at beginning yellow for a change green for ok. Its very visual and worked a treat with my doc, as did my reiterating that the nhs was going to cost me my job (no lie especially as my dept is now at risk so having to reapply for my job) and a small increase would not put me out of range. I also paid for my own T3 tests so when TSH went low I had a counter arguement to ‘the world will end you are hyper’ stupidity they trot out. I also take an ipad full of research to counter heart and osteoporosis grumblings and similar. Insist on 6-8 week retests until TSH is mich improved as they try and leave 3 months which is why it took me so long to get optimal. Also insist on fave to face appts so you can show this stuff and they can see your body language etc. I am lucky that a part of my job is highly measureable so i could prove the effect on my work by my percentage Dropping or rising significantly with dose changes. Repeating job risk is also good it seems to concentrate their minds as if you got sacked for performance you might just try to sue them (probably not successfully but is it worth fighting you with that risk). I also suggested that if in range is ‘fine’ how about we try TSh at the bottom instead of top as that should also be ‘fine’. She had no arguement for that one. If you dont already have it sign up for your electronic records, it saves fighting with receptionists and makes it easier to take advice here before yiur gp appt and we can give you an idea of what they are likely to say, what you should insist on and where compromise may be better.
See your occ health if there is one at work, mine was livid i hadnt been refered as soon as my performance nose dived and she knew far more about thyroid than my gp as common work place issue! She has written a nice report suggesting that i am covered by the equality act (only a tribunal can say for sure) which is now coming in very handy.
If your boss is amenable they could write something for you saying that noticeable performance changes when your meds are changed or need raising, mine notices now when i start going flat and asks if Ive made an appt for bloods (in a positive way not having a go).
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