Newly diagnosed

[NikkiBlandford]

Hi, I am new, I am 30 yrs old. I was diagnosed today with underactive thyroid gland, I have been advised to take 25mcg Levothyroxine. I have symptoms of

Constipation

Feeling cold

Sweats

Anxiety

Dry skin

Joint pain

Heavy periods

Puffy eyes

also sweating and I am quite thin despite eating a lot, please can anyone advise as to if I will lose weight on Levothyroxine, I am really worried! Thankyou

[Kayleysherborne86]

I’ve just been diagnosed today aswell hun it’s all so complicated isn’t it!! I’ve been given the same dose to start on aswell xx

[NikkiBlandford in reply to Kayleysherborne86]

It is complicated! The GP told me it would take a while for my levels to improve. I had a feeling for a long time something wasn't right - mood swings since 2008, low body temp, draining periods since 2004. x

[Kayleysherborne86 in reply to NikkiBlandford]

Aww hun I’m the same sweating at night even with windows open it’s really awful I was expecting to have low iron now this it’s really knocked me for six xxx

[silverfox7]

Ladies you have been started on a very low dose of medication given so your body can get used to it. I hope you Doctors have told you to go back after 6-8 weeks for bloods to be done again. You mostly likely will rewiire an increase and then the sequence begins again, dose small increase then 6-8 weeks retesting and this. Intinues until you are on the right dose for you. Tests should be done as early as possible fasting although you can have water and can take your meds straight after the blood draw. I hope your doctor has told you how to take your medication-on an empty stomach and washed down with a full glass of water. After it's been swallowed no eating for an hour though you can still drink water.

If you look on the Thyroid Uk site, they run this forum, there are many other tips and information which you will find useful. Shout out if anything you don't understand and we shall help you.

[NikkiBlandford in reply to silverfox7]

Thankyou no I haven't been told I need repeat tests

[silverfox7]

Please follow it up. Some people left on 25 can feel worse than having not treatment. Sometimes our body feels lazy. Apparently it can think why should I bother making Thyroid work when I'm getting it done elsewhere! So instead of being left with 25 mcg plus what you are producing anyway you could be left with just the 25 mcg which my intial reply say wasvery low dose. So another good reason to look at the Thyroid Uk site as this forum is recommended by NHS Choices for dysfunction of the thyroid so if the site says do whatever then it's recommended advice for the NHS patients! If you look at other threads you will begin to see that many are on 100 mcg plus. We start low so our body can get used to it but then we need to find out what dose our body needs, we are all different so it's a case of re testing and increasing our meds by 25, then waiting another 6/8 weeks for it to build up then testing again. And this continues till you are on the correct dose for you. A usual starter dose now is 50 and 25 only given if elderly or have a known heart problem as then it's given more slowly. I started on 25 but it was over 30 years ago now but as now are being diagnosed then it is now concidered that 50 is a starter dose for most patients.