Diagnosed today, advice welcomed

[Applejuice123]

I've been diagnosed today with hypothyroidism from a blood test. My TSH level is 16, and my T4 10.3. I've been prescribed 50mls thyroxin. From these results can anyone please provide me an idea how long it will take to start to feel better and for my levels to return to a normal level? Thanks in advance

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

It takes a few weeks for dose of Levothyroxine to have full effect. Typically around 6 weeks

The standard starter dose is 50mcgs Levothyroxine. But you may need to have further increases over time

The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range

NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Also what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any dose change in Levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Have you had thyroid antibodies tested and vitamin levels checked?

[Applejuice123 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks so much for all this really useful information. Antibodies came back fine, but I've not had vitamin levels checked. Would the gp facilitate this or do I need to sort that out privately?

Once again thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Applejuice123]

GP should test. May have done already

do you have any actual blood test results?

if not will need to get hold of copies.

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

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.

If vitamins not been tested, ask GP to test at next Thyroid test, or sooner

[Applejuice123 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks I'll do this

[Treepie]

It can take upto a year to lose all symptoms but maybe you did not have many as your TSH was not very high .Mine was 102.