I have just been told I have an underactive thyroid. Was after some tips really on how to manage this. I literally hit rock bottom before going to the doctors. I'm a teacher and thought I was just stressed I also recently lost my dad and my mum has had to go into a home due to having dementia. (my beautiful perfect family was literally changed over night). So as you can see I thought this was my problem. I eventually went to the doctors on my knees, I had blood tests and was told I have an under active thyroid. I am on the initial dose of 50mg which I have been told will go up to 100mg in a week or so. I have been signed off of work as to be honest have no energy at all and feel pretty horrible. I am normally a real up-beat person and finding this all quite difficult to deal with. Being told I have to go with it and things will improve. What I would like to know is what things can I do to maybe speed things along. Started to feel a bit better and began to try and do things which was lovely then to crash back down again. Any advice and tips would be great. Thank you for reading my rambling post.
Written by
Floydy102
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Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear you have had such a tough time. Thyroid problems can be exacerbated by stress
Standard starter dose is 50mcg and dose should step up SLOWLY in 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range
First thing is, 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.
ALWAYS get actual results and ranges at each test. Keeping good record of how you feel at each dose and test
It takes few weeks for each dose to have full effect. Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase
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
Ask GP to test vitamin levels and thyroid antibodies if not been tested yet
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.
Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten.
So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
First tip is: DON'T try to speed things up. Hormones have to take their time, and they take a lot of time to improve. Trying to take short cuts and increase too quickly will quickly backfire and you'll find yourself back at the beginning again.
Second tip: learn about your disease. Don't just assume that the doctors 'know what they're doing', because most of the time they don't. Don't want to scare you, but endocrinology is the area of medicine that doctors know the least about. So, if your doctor doesn't know what he's doing, you have to.
Learn to read your body and the signs it's giving you. The fact that you felt better and then felt worse again is just your body telling you that, whilst it was lovely to have a bit more hormone, it's not enough. You need an increase in dose. That said, it's not wise to increase sooner than six weeks. Did your doctor tell you to go back six weeks after starting the levo for a retest? But, I really don't think that a jump from 50 mcg to 100 mcg is advisable. It could be too much for you and stress your system. Much better to increase by no more than 25 mcg every six weeks.
Learn to read blood test results, and know what they mean. Always ask for a print-out of your results, with ranges. Don't just accept a verbal account, or a bit of paper where the receptionist has scribbled down the results off the screen. Mistakes can be made, and you need to know exactly what was tested and exactly what the results were.
Keep our own records. When you get your print-out, write on the back what you were taking at that time, and how you felt. This can be invaluable in the future.
Get plenty of rest and eat well. Do not over-exercise or try to go on a diet, even if you are putting on a bit of weight. You need calories and you need nutrients, just avoid all forms of soy, artificial sweeteners and processed seed oils. Limit sugar, but eat as much as you need of everything else - including good fats. And, just gentle walking or swimming, to stop you going rusty, for the moment. No going to the gym.
I think SlowDragon covered the rest, and that's enough to take in for now. But, keep reading on here and you will soon know more than your doctor!
The above link is to the Kindle version, but it is available as a paperback too. Make sure you buy the Second Edition, not the first. Dr Peatfield's book was the first one I bought and I found it very helpful.
The owner/author, Izabella Wentz, has Hashimoto's Thyroiditis herself. She has written a few popular books but I've never read them. She also has a Facebook page.
That is probably enough to get you going! Good luck.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
But, keep reading on here and you will soon know more than your doctor! 
has anyone had their doctor tell them that they don't have a condition.
I'm new here. My Medichecks results suggest I have Hashimoto’s disease & antibody problems. I don't know anything about the condition...
Under active thyroid diagnosed at 56yrs but could I have had the condition most of my life?
Do you have to have a specific condition to be hypothyroid?
New to forum and have a few questions:
