Hi I'm Articat 😺

Hi ,I'm Articat.. and I love cats 😺 in June was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, after having been increasingly unwell for months ,kept being told ,it's your mental health (I have BPD) I kept saying it's not ,till a gp would finally listen..that part took about 4yrs....Started levothyroxine 50 microgrammes and life has changed so much for the better..😺

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Important to regularly retest thyroid levels 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

Have you had levels retested since starting on levothyroxine

50mcg is only a starter dose

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine at each prescription

Many people find different brands of levothyroxine are not interchangeable

Have you had vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 and thyroid antibodies tested yet?

Are you currently taking any vitamin supplements?

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

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease

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)

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon....yeah my levels been checked and now at normal level...I feel great I'm on vit D 25mcg have been over a year ,as it was a bit low and it's also at normal level .

Already I've found issues with levo ,started with mercury pharma...no probs ..then was given Teva.argh my IBS became daily ,mannitol the prob ..on Friday started Northstar and no probs ,lactose has no probs .

I can't take any sweeteners as I have rls,mines pain and movement and a movement disorder ....and it kicks it all off.

Generally I feel so much better ,fatigue gone ....excema cleared up...dry skin cleared up 🙂

Also have noticed that my tinnitus has quietened a little ,this pleased me very much .

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Welcome to the forum Articat,I’m glad you are feeling better now you have begun taking Levo.

Do you have any blood test results you can post (with ranges), so members can offer advice?

Are you taking any supplements?

What symptoms are you experiencing?

(Ps I love dogs! 🤣)

[Hidden in reply to Buddy195]

Hi Buddy195... It is good to feel so much better...I don't have have any figures just got told that levels are normal again.I take vitD as I was low level a year ago also take omega 3

At mo not experiencing any symptoms 🙂

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Definitely ask for a print out of your results as ‘within range’ is very wide. It’s good to keep all blood test results so you can compare on your ‘thyroid journey’!

[Hidden in reply to Buddy195]

I will see if they will give me them 🙂

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Hidden]

You are legally entitled to them!

[Hidden in reply to Buddy195]

If I ask the receptionist will she get them for me ?

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Yes, but if they are busy they may say pop back for them. You need the ranges too, as different labs have slightly different ranges. Once you have them, start a new post & members will advise

[Hidden in reply to Buddy195]

Ok ,thanks for your advice 🙂

[Sunnydays11]

Hi so pleased for you that your feeling better. I to have felt unwell for about 4 years but hopefully this will improve now I’m taking levo meds you have cheered me up thanks 👍

[Hidden in reply to Sunnydays11]

Hi Sunnydays11...I do hope you feel better ,it took me about three weeks on the meds before I began to feel any different ,it started with several days in a row that I didn't wake exhausted and just continued to improve 🙂

[Sunnydays11]

Hi Articat so glad ur feeling better. I’ve had my med put up to 50 levo so hopefully I will feel better soon but I still get shaky after eating I wonder if anyone has had this problem ? Be great to one day get some energy back to do my housework & look after my g babies. Thanks for ur reply take care 😊