So tired and first post

[Mandie76]

Hi, I joined and watched this group about a year ago, but have only just started medication 3 weeks ago, levo 50mg. I feel more tired than I did before and I am literally having to scrape myself out of bed for work.

I was told just over 3 years ago I have boarder line thyroidism but when I called last time for my results and said how long does this carry on before I get medication as I have so many symptoms but the worst is my hair falling out and I’m just exhausted. The dr said she would start me on medication just like that. Anyway since starting the tablets, I read on here that I shouldn’t take vitamin D so I stopped, but I feel more tired. Is this normal, how long do I wait before I feel better, or is it because I stopped the vitamin D as well?

I just want some energy back, I’m 45 and feel 85.

[Hidden]

Those with more knowledge than me will be along soon but levo is a hormone and it can take a really long time to get back to normal. Personally I'm at 13months and counting. I feel enormously better than I did but I'm not back to normal yet.

It's not like paracetamol that makes you feel better almost immediately, it's a slow burn.

But you've found this forum and you will find support is freely given to help you navigate this bit of life.

Vit D is encouraged here if you need it.

Do you have your latest test results to share? Ideally;

TSH

T4

T3

Antibodies

Vit D

Active B12

Ferritin and

Folate

[Mandie76 in reply to Hidden]

I will start it again and get my results from the GP

[Mandie76]

Thank you. I thought I read that vitamins can absorb the tablets so you don’t get the full potential of the tablets. I’ll read the articles thank you

[Hidden in reply to Mandie76]

That's correct but only if you take them too close together. Most need to be taken 2 hours from levo. Some 4 hours.

As Espeegee said, check out Seasidesusies posts. She's the vitamins queen!

[J675]

I'm new to this forum and I've read and learnt SO MUCH in the past couple of weeks. I've picked up on so much good advice and I've realised that my diet and how I take my levo and supplements makes a lot of difference.

Following advice given to others, I now set my alarm stupid early o'clock to make sure that I take my levo on a completely empty stomach and well away from other meds and food. I've also realised that taking all my supplements in one big handful is pointless and counterproductive and now split them up throughout the day for optimum effectiveness.

It's a long old process and as impatient as I am to feel better, I'm also aware that it may not happen for many months. Meh.

[Hidden in reply to J675]

Not necessarily pointless! I take all mine at once and maintain good levels so while it may be optimal to take them throughout the day it's not a waste to take them all at once.

[Mandie76 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I feel I’m taking medication all day as I also have rhinitis as well so have to take things to clear my nose. (Basically allergies that affect my nose) plus my heart tablets and it would be better if I could take vitamins with my heart tablets.

What are the best vitamins to take or is it just how your results are first.

[Hidden in reply to Mandie76]

Best to test and see what you need first.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Mandie76]

Mandie76

What are the best vitamins to take or is it just how your results are first.

You need to test the key nutrients first, see what your levels are compared to recommended/optimal levels, then if necessary you supplement those needed at the correct dose.

Some vitamins are water soluble and generally any excess is excreted, but that doesn't mean we should take them willy nilly, we still need to test.

Some are fat soluble and any excess gets stored and leads to toxicity so we must make sure that we take what we need and monitor out levels.

First step is to test

Vit D - fat soluble so must be sure we need it, take the correct dose and also take D3's important cofactors of magnesium and Vit K2-MK7

B12

Folate

Ferritin - we need a certain level of ferritin for thyroid hormone to work properly, but need to be careful about iron supplements as too much iron can be as bad as too little.

I would get these tested before supplementing anything, post results on the forum, along with their reference ranges plus the units of measurement for Vit D and B12, then we can help with what you may need to supplement with.

All supplements should be taken 2 hours away from thyroid meds, with some needing 4 hours, those being Vit D, magnesium, iron.

[Mandie76 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you. I did request vitamin B12 before and vitamin D and I was told that everyone in the UK will have a slight deficiency of VIT D because we live in the UK. So they wouldn’t test me. I’ll ask again in my next tests in a few weeks. Thank you. I think I’ll carry on with VIT D for now as I’ve seen a massive change since I’ve stopped taking it.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Mandie76]

Many of us do private tests when GPs refuse.

[Mandie76 in reply to SeasideSusie]

sorry so many questions, any ideas of where is the best place?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Mandie76]

Cheapest way is with a full thyroid/vitamin bundle with one of our recommended labs.

At the moment Medichecks have 20% all their tests until midnight on 1st August. Their Advanced Thyroid Function test does the full thyroid panel plus key nutrients:

medichecks.com/products/adv...

£79 less 20% for the fingerprick version, you can arrange venous blood draw at extra cost.

Code is at top of page in the pink banner.