Hello all, 19 year old male here from the U.S. This forum appears most active to all I’ve looked at and gives great advice so I chose to join. Currently 6 weeks into being diagnosed with hashimotos, was given 50 MCG Levothyroxcin, and have felt a little better, but still dealing with bone numbing fatigue/ aches, that’s really my only issue along with not being able to gain weight. These are my blood test results from 6 weeks ago, and am waiting on results that were just taken, along with vitamins. I just need some reassurance I will feel better soon, it’s so silly how a thyroid can make you feel so poor. Thanks all!
Also, was an extremely active athlete, worked out 6 days a week, best shape of my life and it all went down hill basically overnight. Every test possible done and hashimotos was what came back. I know what it’s like to be active and feel well, haven’t felt that in a long time, 2-3 months or so.
You will - hopefully - feel well in time, but it may take a while - dealing with thyroid is notoriously slow! You are currently on a starter-dose of levo - so when you get the next blood results, you can see if you need an increase. Current UK guidelines suggest 1.6 mcg of levo for every kilo (2.2 lb) of body-weight - which I assume is more than you are currently taking! But low and slow is generally a sound way to progress.
To get the most from your levo, take it every day, on an empty stomach just with water, 1 hour before or 2 hours after food and other drink. It doesn't matter if you take it in the morning or last thing or split the dose. Have your blood tests as early in the morning as you can manage - 24 hours after taking your previous levo.
Hashi's is very common - so don't worry. A number of people find it helpful to go gluten-free (even if not coeliac) so you may want to try that.
Post your next results when you get them. Your previous TSH was too high, with plenty of scope for your free T4 and free T3 to increase without going over-range. Good luck
Hello over there.... from us over here. Good choice. there's nice folk on here
Thyroid hormones are running nearly all your cells , brain , muscles , reflexes, digestion,skin, temperature regulation , you name it , they're involved . So you will feel really bad when they're not there in the right quantity, or varying quantitys. It's not a little thing , so don't feel silly that it can make you feel so lousy. If you didn't fix it you'd die....... it might take 60yrs, and be a really boring way to go......, but they are really important.
I can't say how long it will take before you feel better, because when i was 19 it was 1985 and i've forgotten what 19 feels like!
I can tell you how long it takes a 38 yr old woman with 2 kids to feel better , but i imagine that's not a useful comparison.
You must feel pretty lonely as a man with Hashimoto's at such a young age, there's not so many blokes who get it , and the ones i've met were in their 30's. I guess you're special !
There are a few fella's on here though, so they'll be glad of another mate.
But hopefully once you are on the full replacement dose for you, you'll start to feel a lot better quite quickly. There is talk nowadays of starting young fit people on 100 straight off , rather than titrating up slowly from 50/100, so your doctor will probably put yours up as soon as they can. It takes 6 weeks after a change in dose to get a representative Blood test , but that doesn't mean you take that long to feel the effects. But it can feel up and down for a while , there is a lot on compensation going on while your body get's used to having more when it's had to make do with less for months.
Be kind to yourself while you get to the right dose whatever that turns out to be exactly. your system's had quite a shock.
Best Wishes
Tat
Just watched a great sunrise over here...... i've sent it over to you...... be about 5 hrs or so depending how far into the Wild West you live
Hello! Thank you, I really appreciate the response. Yeah it’s quite uncommon to be a male with it, and one so young with it. It is undoubtedly very very hard to deal with currently, and many around think it’s depression. I have had to assure so many times that it isn’t depression, and it’s simply thyroid. Lots don’t understand how a thyroid can make you feel so lousy. Luckily my parents have understood how happy and healthy I am pre diagnosis, so have been able to understand I just need meds and I’ll feel better. Seeing an endo on Monday and will likely request to go on 100 MCG of Levo and possibly request a T3 medicine as well, to help give me a quicker result of getting back to myself. I will see what he thinks. Another weird quirk is that I have seen this endocrinologist since I was 8 years old due to a growth hormone issue, so luckily one I trust. Thank you for the kind words!
Jumping from 50 to 100 and considering/expecting T3 as well is running at it like an express train.
Maybe you do need to raise to 100 now, but even if that is prescribed, consider trying 75 for a few days or a week or two before going to 100. Just because you need it doesn't mean your body is able to deal with it immediately.
There are many stories about people who find that exercise takes a lot out of them. When you do feel like restarting whatever regime, take it easy. Build up slowly. Always consider if you are actually wiping yourself out by doing too much, too soon.
Hi and welcome. Comes as a huge blow doesn't it. I was juggling 2 full time top jobs and at the gym and being active every other moment. Then I started pilling the weight on, feeling completely run down, exhausted and everything else. You will start to feel better once you are on the correct dose.
I can only talk about my own experience but now I can't put any weight on. I'm on 150mg of Levo. Stick with this site if you have any questions as there are a LOT of knowledgeable people and administrators on here who should be able to offer you help/ advice/ suggestions and understand any blood tests. Just want to wish you all the best. Take care
as is jimh111 , (it's not obligatory to agree with jim, i think some people on here who shall remain nameless like to disagree with jim as a matter of principle )
Hey 👋 Welcome. We won’t hold it against you that you’re American, all are welcome 😂
I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this at such a young age but kudos to you for taking control and getting to know your condition for and by yourself. There are many who have gone 10/20/30 yrs with hypo and trusting their docs. Unfortunately many of the medical profession here in the UK and States don’t know how to get us back to optimal health. Hence why it’s important to read and become knowledgable because you are now going to have to be your own advocate.
Start by always asking for a record of your own blood test results. Always ask for a full panel. I take you’ve already had the antibody testing because you’ve said you have Hashimotos. But always ask for FT3 as well. Also make sure your Vits/minerals are optimal. Start with Ferritin, folate, active B12 and Vit D. Our autoimmune condtion means that despite a healthy, varied diet it seems to be quite difficult to keep these optimal so supplements may also be life long.
If it’s been 6wks, it’s time for another blood test and probably a raise. Always increase by 25mcg at a time and repeat blood tests 6-8wks after increasing untill you feel optimal. There is no ‘normal’ in this world. Always talk about optimal. What’s good for you isn’t for me. We’re so individual.
Once all your ducks are in a row you really can live the active life you enjoy but take it slow this first 6mths/year.
Most patients with Hashimoto’s are overweight but it sounds like you are similar to her where she was very underweight. She is a pharmacist and has a lot of useful input about supplements. One thing about Hashimoto’s is that people tend to have poor nutrient absorption and this is another reason you won’t feel very well. The best thing to do is to start with some basic vitamins and selenium. Also as others have suggested it’s best to eliminate dairy and gluten.
The abbreviated reason why is because some people say they confuse your body as being thyroid antibodies and cause inflammation and inflammation progresses auto immune disorders. I am in the US to you I found this form to be so helpful and the people really kind.
Please don't run before you can walk. You are in no way able to decide you need to add T3 yet. T3 is difficult to manage and if you can get better on Levo alone that is most definitely the way to go. You are on 50mcg a day now, next step is 75mcg, then 100, then 125 etc until you find your sweet spot when you no longer have to think about feeling awful. If you go too far too fast you will still feel terrible and you will think you need more and yet each increase will make you feel worse. Please don't jump to 100 levo and add T3. That would be a disaster at this stage.
You can get well. It takes time. You can't cut that time down. I'm still determined to get well, but I'm 7 years in the struggle. Menopause has made that harder for me, plus unresponsive GP's who don't understand my more complex situation (I have a faulty gene so I don't convert T3 to T4 very well), obviously you are in your prime so I hope your journey is much more direct and faster.
I delayed comenting because your case looks a little tricky and I think recovery will take a little longer. Usually patients take three months before they really start to feel better and it takes quite a bit longer to fully recover. Your thyroid hormone levels are qute good apart from a slightly elevated TSH. However, elevated TPO antibodies seem to cause problems although nobody knows why.
I would suggest you supplement with selenium 50 mcg or possibly 100 mcg as it has been shown to reduce autoimmunity. Also if you have gastric problems get checked for helicobacter pylori (HP) infection, again there is some evidence that erradication of HP can reduce very high TPO antibody levels. There isn't strong evidence for any other interventions affecting antibody levels.
Also, take a magnesium supplement such as magnesium citrate, magnesium deficiency is common and it can lead to enhanced sensitivity to chronic pain. I assume your growth hormone is under control as it is needed for tissue repair after day to day micro-trauma. In this respect good sleep is important as 80% of GH is produced during deep sleep.
Continue to exercise but within your new limits. Make sure people know about your hypothyroidism and that is has substantial effects, that you can't do as much as you would want to.
Hello. I've had Hashimotos/Graves disease for over 30+ years. I just had a TT so now I'm back to hypo. You will feel better. It takes time. Write down your symptoms on each dosage you're given and see on what dosage you feel the best. Be sure to do blood test every three months after levels are normal. Your levels might maintain. Mine fluctuated a lot, but that was do to the fact that I have Graves /Hashimotos. Now that I had a TT, my endo said my levels should be more consistent. So give yourself time and grace, it will improve.
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