Whanting to feel normal

[Happy-puppy]

Hi im new here , i just sarted taking levothyroxine for 2 days now do we ever get back to feeling normal?

[Lalatoot]

I have 6 friends with thyroid problems. All of them on levothyroxine. All of them leading normal lives. Yes it is possible!

Don't get scared by what you read on here. We are the ones who need a different treatment for various reasons.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Levothyroxine takes several weeks for each dose to have full effect

Important to take levothyroxine everyday on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

How much levothyroxine have you been started on?

Important to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

See you have Crohns, so low vitamin levels often an issue there too

Important to test thyroid antibodies too

[Happy-puppy in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, thay have started me at 50 mg.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Happy-puppy]

Come back with new post once you get full thyroid and vitamin testing after 6-8 weeks on 50mcg

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 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)

[tattybogle]

Hello . welcome

yes . it's quite possible you will. But not in 2 days see how you feel in 2 month's , and be kind to yourself in the meantime.

The people who do feel normal again once they are on the right dose of levo for them ,( or at least normal enough) , are mostly out and about in the world, rather than hanging out here searching for the missing link.

Everybody does have to deal with feeling a bit better , then a bit less so, each time their dose of levothyroxine is adjusted upwards initially, because Gp's can't start you an the full replacement dose straight away. They have to wait for 6 weeks at least for your blood test to be representative after introducing Levo, or changing dose.

So they have to wait for your blood test's to tell them what they need to know .

And you have to wait weeks rather than days for you body to settle down, and get used to a different amount of thyroid hormone.

Having said that.... i think i felt a lot better after 2 weeks on Levo. but it was a long time ago so iv'e forgotten what it felt like to be honest.

You will find lot's of lovely helpful folk on here who will help you understand what's going on while you are 'getting there'.

[Happy-puppy in reply to tattybogle]

Thank you for the info on ur response!😊

[Happy-puppy]

Thank you so much , i really apreaciate the info.😊

[Marz]

I was diagnosed with Crohns at 27 - now 73 - and Hashimotos at 59 ... I would suggest ensuring your VitD is at least 60ng/L - as it is anti-inflammatory - a steroidal pro-hormone. So much more than a Vitamin. Also ensure B12 - Folate and Ferritin are optimal. This will help your other symptoms too.

Read as much as you can absorb and keep asking questions here when you need suggestions.

[Happy-puppy in reply to Marz]

Thank you i will💟

[fuchsia-pink]

All good advice The only thing I would add to the mix is that, as you're new to all this, the jargon may be confusing, so have a look at helvella 's excellent glossary - it's a pinned post, so you can find it by clicking on "posts" at the top and scrolling through the pinned posts.

Good luck x

[Happy-puppy in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Ok thank u💯👍