Hypothyroidism.. never felt like this!

[MyOrangeDog]

Hi I e had a borderline under active thyroid for three years .. started losing my apetite and feeling nauseous about two months ago. Just been put on Levothyroxine 25ng . Feel tired, like I’m away with fairies, my knees feel like my legs are going to give way, losing weight which worries me as I’m very slim. Trying to eat but don’t really want anything. Have discomfort in tummy and various aches and pains. Has anyone else felt like this? Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

MyOrangeDog

What brand of Levo have you been given? If it's Teva then that brand upsets a lot of people.

25mcg is a very low starter dose, usually given to children, the elderly or those with a heart condition. It can start to shut down your own thyroid hormone production but it's not enough to give you what you need to bring your hormone levels up. Normal starter dose is 50mcg if you don't come under the other categories.

Do you have any test results to share with us, if so can you add them to your post and please include the referencer ranges as well as these differ from lab to lab.

[MyOrangeDog in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes it is Teva. Unfortunately I have no actual results. I only managed to get the meds I did because I kept pointing out I felt ill, eyebrow hair come out, cold a lot if the time, nausea, gastro upset, irritable, tired etc etc. just couldn’t drag myself to work and, as I’m self employed that is not good! my GP did a ‘full MOT’ set of bloods that all came back fine. I then got 25mcg L.thyroxine with a review in one month. It wasn’t until I spoke to a 111 doctor two days ago that she said my TSH level was high that I even knew. Ive not been thinking clearly and it didn’t enter my head to ask for the actual levels; probably because I wouldn’t know what they meant but in hindsight I could have found out. With my normal head on that’s what I would have done.

[BadHare]

Lack of apetite may be a sign of low B12. Have you had this tested recently?

I had a false negative test due to not knowing to stop B complex prior to testing.

Also that low a dose of T4 can be enough to stop your own thyroid hormone production & make you feel worse. Best to get levels of both checked out as well as all the other usual cofactors.

[MyOrangeDog in reply to BadHare]

Well my GP did a ‘full MOT’ blood tests which were fine (apart from thyroid) ( see above) ...

[BadHare in reply to MyOrangeDog]

GP fine is quite a long way from most of our personal fine, else this forum would be a fair bit smaller. Rather a lot of us are here as a consequence of being told the same thing.

Best get a copy of your results to see for yourself. Micronutrients & thyroid hormones are best at the top of the range, & TSH at the bottom. You’re legally entitled to know do don’t let the practice fob you off!

[DippyDame]

We really need test results to help out but 25mcg is a tiny dose and I suspect you are undermedicated.

"Borderline underactive" is not a diagnosis it only refers to where your results sit on the "normal" range....I guess yours are at the bottom of the range!

TSH should be close to 1 but the important results are FT4 and FT3. They should be at least 75% through the range for good health.

In addition, vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin should be optimal for effective thyroid function.

The NHS tests are limited so many of us test privately....

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

This list of symptoms may help...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Losing your appetite when you feel miserable is understandable and can lead to weight loss.

When you are adequately medicated you should feel much better....test results (including ranges) will help members advise on next step

In the meantime the patient experts here are always willing to advise us.

Take care

DD

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

It would be best if you can get an increase to 50mcg Levo and change the brand.

[MyOrangeDog]

Thank you. I will look at that link and will make sure I am more informed when I return in a month for my review. I’m so cross with myself because I’m usually so switched on. I’ve felt so crushingly low as I’m usually out with the dog, at the gym, working. Etc.

[Hidden in reply to MyOrangeDog]

I think that if I was feeling unwell,as you are and on only 25mcgs Levo,I would not want to wait a month before getting an increase in dosage.I hope you can be helped sooner than that. All best wishes.

M

[Beani2]

Hi Susie it sounds like they need to up your meds if your feeling like that, Ask your Gp about a B12 injection for the aches and pains as I had that and I have a B12 injection every 3 months. If you have a good Dr then get them to do another blood test to check all your levels again.

[Tapper67]

Yes I'm exactly the same I also have anxiety too which all comes with over active thyroid. My doc said my blood test was boarder line so I'm going t a private doc where they test for things ur own doc doesn't

Zoe x

[MyOrangeDog]

Good luck..let us know how u get on. I just can’t believe how poorly it makes u felt. I worry as my appetite has gone completely and I’m very slim as it is.

[Gingernut44]

Don’t wait a month for your test results, ring your surgery and ask for a copy, you are legally entitled to them. Better still, sign up for online access then you will be able to see them each time you have a test. Do it tomorrow

[MyOrangeDog in reply to Gingernut44]

I will. Thank you

[ednafdg]

Hello , I have hyperthyroidism which is the opposite of your condition but I would like to suggest to read on goitrogens on:

healthline.com/nutrition/go...

and

the book: 'Healing the Thyroid with Ayurveda: Natural Treatments for Hashimoto’s, Hypothyroidism, and Hyperthyroidism', you don't have to go for ayurveda but the information on nutrition and other lifestyles patterns that affect detrimentally the thyroid is life changing.

Hope you feel better soon.

[MyOrangeDog in reply to ednafdg]

Thank you! That is very kind.

[GKeith]

It sounds like you have an overactive thyroid, not an underactive thyroid but I could be wrong. You have many choices for medication besides Levo-alone, you have NDT & T4, T3 combination; let you GP know you have heard of these other doses and she what he/she says. Ask about seeing an endo, although many endos don't know much more than many GP's. Peace be with you.