Just diagnosed after years of symptoms

[Sweenco]

Hey

After years of not feeling great I’ve finally been told what I always expected my thyroid is knackered. Ever since I can remember I’ve had a foggy heavy head always tired light headed tinnitus eye floaters blurry vision etc etc I’ve probs had about 4 occasions over the last 8/9 years when I’ve had periods of illness which lasted about 5-8 weeks were I’ve felt awful and been fobbed of by doctors telling me it’s viral and will eventually go away(which the did) but again I was always left feeling like there’s something off in my body. My thyroid levels were always borderline I was told 🙄

This time I’ve been feeling awful for about 5 weeks spaced out tired weak aches and pains tremors twitches tinnitus floaters and stomach problems wake up about 5 times every night and sweat like a maniac. Back again to the doctors bloods all normal and I’m told to come back in 3 months to check my thyroid......this happens every time so I decided to ask what my result was from the last test and this test,so last test my tsh was at 5.5 which I now know to be high but it’s now 11.5 WTF!!! So I asked in fact I told my doctor I wanted another proper test which he arranged and low and behold he’s just phoned me apparently I was right and my immune system if attacking my thyroid and I’ve to start medication ASAP.

He was going to retest me in 4 months when my tsh was at 11.5 🙄🙄

[SlowDragon Administrator]

NHS guidelines saying standard starter dose is 50mcgs, unless elderly or frail

beta.nhs.uk/medicines/levot...

Sounds like you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results. Politely ask for copy when you see GP or see if you can register for online access for test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need enhanced access to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up. They can no longer charge for printing out, rules changed after May 25th 2018)

You should be given results and ranges for TSH, FT3 and FT4, plus have you also had thyroid antibodies tested

Also helpful if had vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested. These are often too low when we are hypothyroid and may need supplementing to improve

If not been tested, ask GP to do so

Always take Levothyroxine 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

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

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. Teva brand upsets many people, so try to avoid starting on this brand (unless you are lactose intolerant)

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased

Bloods will be retested in 6-8 weeks.

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. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

Dose is increased in 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range

[Sweenco]

Thanks for the reply’s guys. I just feel really awful just now cant be bothered with anything, is it normal to feel this bad?

I’m currently off work I feel a lot worse in the morning shaky and feel really sick that tends to go as the day progresses but I’m left with all my joints cracking back,hip,leg,groin pain constantly bloated after eating which is really annoying, bowels all over the place, tinnitus and eye problems really tired and weak it’s murder 😢

James