Feeling worse since starting levothyroxaine.

[Julietilly22]

Hello all, I'm not sure if it's all in my head but since starting levothyroxaine a week ago I'm feeling alot worse. My starting dose is 25mg ( I'm 51) I was extremely tired before starting it and still am but I'm getting slightly constipation now too which I rarely suffer from and have had some episodes where I've been extremely cold and had to put my heat blanket on full and my mood is getting lower and lower. I also think I'm getting bloated too. I know I should give it time but didn't expect to feel like this. I was on two minds whether to go on it in the first place due to what they think is transient sub clinical hypothyroidism from having De Quervains thyroiditis.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

It's not all in your head. On low starting doses, especially only 25mcgs its not enough to replace your own production of thyroid hormones so symptoms can worsen until you reach a higher dose. 50mcgs is the standard starter dose unless you are elderly or have heart issues in which case 25mcgs is more appropriate.

I know you were diagnosed with De Quervains but you also had positive anti thyroid antibodies so you also have Hashimoto's disease for which there is no turning back once the thyroid has been damaged.

Did you get an ultrasound scan done in the end?

Have you had your key vitamins checked - ferritin, folate, B12 & D3 as low thyroid levels equal also low vitamin levels due to low stomach acid.

Have you tried a strictly gluten free diet which many with Hashi's helps symptoms.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

previous post from month ago

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

have you now tested vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin …..

what are results and ranges?

Heavy periods are common when hypothyroid and frequently leads to low iron and ferritin…. ask GP for full iron panel testing for Anaemia

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

Serum ferritin level is the biochemical test, which most reliably correlates with relative total body iron stores. In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing. It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron 

If GP won’t do full iron panel test

Medichecks

medichecks.com/products/iro...

If not tested vitamin D, folate and B12 levels yet also get done asap via GP

Or if have to test privately wait 6-8 weeks after starting levothyroxine and include thyroid testing at same time

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test 

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65 

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies) 

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here 

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

Have you had coeliac blood test done yet

Best to rule out before starting trial on strictly gluten free diet

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Standard starter dose levothyroxine is 50mcg

Starting on too low a dose will make symptoms worse

Get thyroid levels tested at 6-8 weeks and then get dose increase to 50mcg

Likely to need further increases in levothyroxine over coming months

Which brand of levothyroxine have you started on